Move a Little Closer? Information Sharing and the Spatial Clustering of Bank Branches

CentER Discussion Paper Series No. 2018-038

55 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2018

See all articles by Shusen Qi

Shusen Qi

Xiamen University - School of Management

Ralph De Haas

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); KU Leuven

Steven Ongena

University of Zurich - Department Finance; Swiss Finance Institute; KU Leuven; NTNU Business School; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Stefan Straetmans

Maastricht University ; University of Antwerp - Faculty of Applied Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 4 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 17, 2018

Abstract

We study how information sharing between banks influences the geographical clustering of branches. We construct a spatial oligopoly model with price competition that explains why bank branches cluster and how the introduction of information sharing impacts clustering. Dynamic data on 59,333 branches operated by 676 banks in 22 countries between 1995 and 2012 allow us to test the hypotheses derived from our model. We find that information sharing spurs banks to open branches in localities that are new to them, but that are already well served by other banks. Information sharing also allows firms to borrow from more distant banks.

Keywords: branch clustering, information sharing, spatial oligopoly model

JEL Classification: D43, G21, G28, L13, R51

Suggested Citation

Qi, Shusen and De Haas, Ralph and Ongena, Steven R. G. and Straetmans, Stefan, Move a Little Closer? Information Sharing and the Spatial Clustering of Bank Branches (September 17, 2018). CentER Discussion Paper Series No. 2018-038, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3250707 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3250707

Shusen Qi (Contact Author)

Xiamen University - School of Management ( email )

No.422 Siming South Road
Xiamen, Fujian 361005
China

Ralph De Haas

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( email )

One Exchange Square
London, EC2A 2JN
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: www.ebrd.com

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

KU Leuven

Naamsestraat 69
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

Steven R. G. Ongena

University of Zurich - Department Finance ( email )

Schönberggasse 1
Zürich, 8001
Switzerland

Swiss Finance Institute

c/o University of Geneva
40, Bd du Pont-d'Arve
CH-1211 Geneva 4
Switzerland

KU Leuven ( email )

Oude Markt 13
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant 3000
Belgium

NTNU Business School ( email )

Norway

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Stefan Straetmans

Maastricht University ( email )

Tongersestraat 53
Maastricht, 6200 MD
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.stefanstraetmans.com

University of Antwerp - Faculty of Applied Economics ( email )

Prinsstraat 13
Antwerp, B-2000
Belgium

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