The society has higher demands on both companies and their financiers to adopt more sustainable approaches, of which banks as one of the main financiers of companies can promote this transition. The study examines how banks evaluate sustainability from an environmental, social and governance aspect (ESG) in the credit assessment process for companies, as well as how it affects the granting of credit. The purpose of the study is to describe how banks evaluate sustainability based on the ESG-aspects, and to analyze how companies' sustainability work is important in lending. The theoretical framework consists of previous research in the following five areas: Information asymmetry, ESG, greenwashing, lending and credit assessment. Previous research and theory have been collected to analyze the study's empiricism, where bank officials have been interviewed to inform about banks' sustainability evaluation based on the ESG factors in lending. The study is qualitative with an abductive approach, where the data collection has taken place through semi-structured interviews. The result shows that banks' analyzes within sustainability often include questions that cover certain areas of the ESG factors in order to identify possible risks that may affect companies' repayment, or banks' reputation. However, many banks lack analyzes that specialize in ESG, as well as deeper examination within each sustainability factor. This gives room for development in the area. The results also indicate that sustainability risks can, to some extent, influence banks to refuse credit.

Problemformulering: Hur arbetar banker i sin relation till fastighetsbolag med hållbarhet vid kreditgivning? Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva och skapa en större förståelse för hur banker i sin relation till fastighetsbolag arbetar med hållbarhet vid kreditgivning. För att få en större förståelse avser vi även att se detta utifrån fastighetsbolagens perspektiv. Vi vill utöver detta få en uppfattning om parterna har olika syn på relationen i praktiken. Metod: Denna studie har genomförts med en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och vid studiens genomförande har en abduktiv forskningsansats använts. Den empiriska undersökningen baseras på semistrukturerade intervjuer med nio respondenter. Litteraturstudien genomfördes genom att teorier från tidigare forskningsstudier och från kurslitteratur samlades in.Analysmodellen som har använts i studien utgår från vår egen konstruerade analysmodell samt en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med hjälp av Gioia-metoden. Slutsats: Resultatet av denna studie visar att banker genom en långsiktig relation som präglas av öppenhet och förtroende mellan parterna är det främsta medlet att främja en hållbar utveckling. Bankerna strävar även efter att se en ständig utvecklingsprocess i fastighetsbolagens arbete med hållbarhet. Fortsättningsvis försöker inte banker att påverka fastighetsbolagens organisatoriska beslutsfattande vid kreditgivning och har inte heller några tydliga hållbarhetskrav på fastighetsbolagen. Dessutom använder sig inte bankerna av kapitalkostnader som ett incitament för att styra fastighetsbolagens arbete med hållbarhet. Vid kreditgivning är det den miljömässiga aspekten av ESG som väger tyngst för bankernas bedömning. Bankernas hållbarhetsramverk för bedömning och påverkan av fastighetsbolagens hållbarhetsarbete är i dagsläget fortfarande ytligt och relativt outvecklat. / Research question: How do banks work within their relationship with real estate companies with sustainability in their lending process? Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe and create a greater understanding of how banks in their relationship with real estate companies work with sustainability in their lending process. To gain a greater understanding we also intend to see this from the real estate companies' perspective. In addition to this, we want to get an idea of whether the parties have different view on the relationship in practice. Methodology: This study has been carried out with a qualitative research method and we have used an abductive research approach. The empirical survey is based on semi-structured interviews with nine interviewees. The literature study was carried out by collecting theories from previous research studies and from course literature. The analysis model that has been used in the study is based on our own constructed analysis model and a qualitative content analysis using the Gioia method. Conclusion: The results of this study show that banks, through a long-term relationship characterized by openness and trust between the parties, are the main means of promoting sustainable development. The banks also strive to see a constant development process in the real estate companies' work with sustainability. Furthermore, banks do not try to influence the real estate companies' organizational decision-making when granting credit, nor do they have any clear sustainability requirements for the real estate companies. In addition, banks do not use capital costs as an incentive to guide real estate companies' work with sustainability. When lending, it is the environmental aspect of the ESG that weighs most heavily in the banks' assessment. The banks' sustainability framework for assessing and influencing the real estate companies' sustainability work is currently still superficial and relatively undeveloped.

Background: Small and medium-sized enterprises have a significant importance in society and previous research points out that it can be problematic for enterprises to obtain bank loans as a result of increased digitalization in the credit granting process. Previous theories have also explained that existing corporate clients hold a higher status with the bank, but no further research on the subject has been identified. Purpose: The main purpose of the study is to describe and identify how banks in the Swedish credit market carry out credit assessments of small and medium-sized enterprises as a result of increased digitalization in the lending process. The secondary purpose includes comparing whether the credit assessment is handled differently between existing and new corporate clients. The study intends to contribute with theory development through a model that explains the above aspects. Research question: How does digitalization affect the credit assessment of small and medium-sized enterprises, and are there similarities or differences in the credit assessment between existing and new corporate clients? Literature review and theory: The study's literature review and theory presents previous research and theories regarding credit assessment, how increased digitalization affects credit assessment and different sources of information. The chapter presents, among other things, the 5C model, the agent theory and two well-known lending methods which include relationship- and transaction-based lending. Methodology: The study is of a qualitative nature and has been conducted with an abductive approach. The empirical data is collected through ten interviews from five different banks and the analysis is based on a content analysis. The empirical data is structured on the respondents' answers and categories that have been identified through data processing of the respondents' answers. Conclusions: The conclusions of the study indicate that digitalization has an impact on the credit assessment of small and medium-sized enterprises, but that it is the smallest credits that have been most affected. There is a difference in the credit assessment of existing versus new corporate clients, which is mainly due to the fact that the relationship is significant.

The rapid development of digitization has significantly affected the outside world. Banks in Sweden have developed a lot since digitization took hold, the internet bank has been made more efficient, matters have been digitized, bank offices have been closed and there have been several strategic changes. This study is based on ten interviews from six different banks in Sweden, large and small, with the aim of describing and analyzing how digitization has affected lending to small and medium-sized companies. Including how the bank receives loan applications, how the information is collected, what systems and digital tools are used in assessments and how the relationship with customers has been affected. Digitization has changed the lending strategies in the banking sector as many banks have switched to digitized credit assessment systems. This has increased efficiency but also the risk of misleading assessments. At the same time, the transition to digital interactions has reduced the need for physical meetings, which has increased accessibility but also worsened the relationship between bank and customer according to several respondents. Despite this, the importance of maintaining a human factor in credit granting is emphasized to ensure a correct assessment of the companies' needs and ability to pay. Finally, it is emphasized that digitization offers opportunities for easier everyday life, but that it also involves a social responsibility to use it responsibly. Keywords: Bank financing, digitization, hard information, lending, soft information, SME, lending strategies

Title: Credit risk management for small and medium sized enterprises  A study on how banks assess and manage risk and uncertainty when lending to SMEs. Level: Master's thesis in business economics, 15 hp Authors: Melker Paver & Isak Rosberg Tutor: Hans Landström Examiner: Per-Ola Ulvenblad Date: 2024-05-27 Research question:  ·         How do banks assess risk and uncertainties in a credit assessment of SMEs? ·         How do banks manage risk and uncertainty of SMEs? Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe, analyze how Swedish banks assess and manage risk and uncertainty of SMEs Theory: The theoretical framework is constructed based on sources and theories that illuminate the topics of risk, uncertainty, and credit risk management. Finally, a model is presented, based on the theoretical framework, which outlines the aspects to be considered in the data collection and analysis. Method: To answer the questions and thereby achieve the purpose of the study, the authors have used an abductive approach. For the empirical data collection, the authors have carried out a qualitative research study supported by semi-structured interviews. With the background of the study’s analysis method, it is possible to ascertain how banks assess risk and uncertainty and how banks manage risk and uncertainty.  Empirical Data: The collected empirical data has been obtained through six interviews with employees from six different banks. Five of the respondents worked at the bank as business advisors. The sixth respondent has many years of experience in business advisory and was the deputy branch manager.  Conclusion: The conclusion describes how the assessment of risk and uncertainty is conducted during the credit granting process and how banks manage the risk and uncertainty associated with SMEs. The findings of the study indicate that a combined credit granting model is an essential component in the banks’ credit assessment and management. The results also demonstrate that the management of risk and uncertainty in credit granting to SMEs is a complex and varied environment that necessitates a careful balance between qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study highlights that the relationship between the borrower and the lender is the primary tool employed by banks in managing the risk and uncertainty associated with SMEs.

<p>Final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration,</p><p>Mid Sweden University in Östersund</p><p>Spring term 2008</p><p>Title: Abolishment of statutory audit – a qualitative research on banks attitude when credit rating small businesses</p><p>Author: Rima Harouki, Carina Hoffmann</p><p>Supervisor: Anna-Maria Jansson</p><p>Background & problem: In Sweden the statutory audit has been mandatory for every corporation since 1983. With the membership in European Union it became possible to allow exception from statutory audit for small businesses, according to the fourth commission of EG. Today, in the European Union, there are few countries that still have statutory audit for smaller businesses, Sweden is one of them. There are discussions about whether Sweden should follow the trend of abolishment and an analysis management by the justice of the Supreme Court Bo Svensson was recently presented, which ended in the conclusion that statutory audit ought to be abolished. The purpose of statutory audit is to secure the credibility in the information presented by the companies. For banks, as a credit institution, audited material is of great significant. What is their attitude towards abolishment of the statutory audit?</p><p>Aim: Our aim is to find out if an abolishment of the statutory audit affects the decision process of the banks when granting credit.</p><p>Method: The research continues qualitative interviews with representatives of the four largest banks in Sweden. The collection of the material has been brought together, analyzed and resulted in our conclusions.</p><p>Result & conclusion: The study reveals that the banks most likely will continue to request audited economical reports in the future.</p><p>Key words: Audit, mandatory audit, small businesses, credit grant, credit institutions</p> / <p>Examensarbete i Företagsekonomi, Mittuniversitetet i Östersund</p><p>C-uppsats VT-2008</p><p>Titel: Revisionspliktens försvinnande – en kvalitativ studie om bankernas kreditbedömning av småföretag</p><p>Författare: Rima Harouki, Carina Hoffmann</p><p>Handledare: Anna-Maria Jansson</p><p>Bakgrund & Problem: Sverige har haft revisionsplikt för samtliga aktiebolag sedan 1983. I samband med medlemskapet i EU blev det möjligt att enligt EG:s fjärde direktiv tillåta att små bolag undantas från revisionsplikten, vilket är upp till de enskilda medlemsländerna att ta ställning till. I EU är det idag få som har kvar revisionsplikten för småföretag, Sverige är en av dem. Det förs diskussioner om huruvida Sverige ska avskaffa revisionsplikten och en utredning under ledning av justitierådet Bo Svensson presenterades nyligen, där man finner att nuvarande revisionsplikt bör avskaffas. Revisionen syfte är att ge trovärdighet åt den information som ett företag lämnar. För banker, i sin roll som kreditgivare, ingår det reviderade materialet som en del av beslutsunderlaget. Hur förhåller sig bankerna till ett eventuellt slopande av revisionsplikten?</p><p>Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte var att undersöka om avskaffad revisionsplikt påverkar kreditgivarnas beslutsprocess vid bedömning av kreditgivning.</p><p>Metod: Undersökningen består av kvalitativa intervjuer med respondenter från de fyra största bankerna i Sverige. Underlaget har sammanställts, analyserats och resulterat i våra slutsatser.</p><p>Resultat & slutsats: Undersökningen visade att bankerna med största sannolikhet även fortsättningsvis kommer att begära reviderade siffror vid utlåning.</p><p>Nyckelord: Revision, revisionsplikten, små aktiebolag, kreditgivning, banker</p>

<p>Ombildning från hyresrätt till bostadsrätt är ett fenomen som blivit allt vanligare under de senaste tio åren. Genom att genomföra en ombildning får innehavarna av lägenheten, oftast de forna hyresgästerna, tillgång till en värdefull bostadsrätt, vilken till skillnad från en hyresrätt, kan säljas och köpas öppet på marknaden. Eftersom ombildning har blivit så vanligt i Sverige uppkommer ett intresse, för samtliga inblandade parter, att veta hur de åtgärder, som förekommer vid en ombildning, skall företas. Förr eller senare kommer Sverige att ställas inför en räntehöjning, vilken kommer att få stor ekonomisk betydelse. En räntehöjning kommer nämligen att på sikt ge negativa konsekvenser för många hushåll, eftersom de svenska hushållen lånar pengar i mycket stor utsträckning till sitt boende. En del hushåll kommer exempelvis inte att klara en fördubbling av sin boendekostnad, utan obeståndssituationer kommer att uppstå. Som exempel kan nämnas kreditinstituten, vilka till stor del ”finansierat” ombildningen, dels genom lån till föreningen, dels genom lån till bostadsrättshavaren. Har de sina fordringar, genom pantsättning, sakrättsligt skyddade vid en bostadsrättshavares eventuella obestånd?</p><p>Syftet med uppsatsen är dels att kartlägga vilka olika åtgärder som företas vid en ombildning av hyresrätt till bostadsrätt, dels att utreda i vilken ordning dessa åtgärder skall företas för att föranleda de rättsverkningar som samtliga inblandade parter vill uppnå. Syftet är även att genomföra en analys av dessa åtgärder för att visa på vilka juridiska problem som kan förekomma vid en ombildning.</p> / <p>Changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership is a phenomenon that has become more frequent during the last ten years. By changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership, the possessor of the tenancy, normally the tenant, gets access to a valuable tenant-ownership that, unlike a tenancy, can be sold and bought on the open market. Seeing as changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership has become a regular happening in Sweden, an interest for all parties involved occurs, an interest in knowing how the actions that are involved should be preformed. Sooner or later Sweden has to face an increasing in rates which will have great economical consequences. These consequences will have negative influences on some of the Swedish households, due to the fact that lots of Swedish households lends a lot of money to be able to buy tenant-ownerships. If their rates double, many people won’t be able to pay their loans, and this will lead to foreclosures. Banks, for example, finances a great part of the changing of rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership, partly by providing loans to private persons and partly by providing loans to condominium associations. Do they have their depths secured if the borrowers face foreclosure?</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to examine which actions that occurs when you change rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership and in which order these actions should be preformed for the parties involved to accomplish the legal purpose that they want to accomplish. The purpose is also to conduct an analysis of these actions to pinpoint which legal problems that can occur when you change rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership.</p>

<p>När ditt företag söker ett lån undersöker banktjänstemannen företagets framtida förmåga att betala räntor och amorteringar på ditt lån, dvs. återbetalningsförmågan. För att avgöra företagets återbetalningsförmåga görs en kreditbedömning vilken grundar sig på hård och mjuk information. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka om våra tre erfarenhetsvariabler: antal år som kreditbedömare, tidigare erfarenhet av företagande och formell utbildning påverkar informationshanteringen under bedömningsprocessen vid kreditgivning till svenska företag. Vi har valt en kvantitativ ansats för att bättre kunna förklara skillnaderna och försöka generalisera. Undersökningen grundar sig på enkätliknande formulär vilka besvaras genom telefonintervjuer. Respondenterna består av företagsrådgivare (kreditbedömare) från de fyra storbankerna: Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB och Swedbank. Urvalet består av respondenter från bankkontor i Västra Götaland, Halland och Skåne. Vår insamlade data består av erfarenhetsvariabler och bedömningskategorier vilka är kodade och analyserad med hjälp av datorprogrammet SPSS. Våra tester resulterade i två signifikanta skillnader mellan erfarenhetsvariabler och bedömningskategorier. Genom detta kunde vi konstatera att stor oenighet råder mellan kreditbedömarna avseende informationshanteringen. Vår uppsats har identifierat två nya erfarenhetsvariabler vilka delvis kan förklara de skillnader som föreligger i informationsbedömningen mellan kreditbedömare vid kreditgivning till svenska företag.</p> / <p>When your company is applying for a loan a bank clerk investigate your company's future ability to meet interest and capital repayments on your loan, ie. repayment ability. In order to determine the company's ability to repay a credit which is based on hard and soft information. The purpose of this essay is to examine if our three experience variables: number of years as a bank clerk, former entrepreneurial experience and formal education affects information management during the assessment process when giving loans to Swedish companies. We have chosen a quantitative approach to better explain the differences and try to generalize. The study is based on survey forms, which is answered by telephone interviews. The respondents consist of business advisers (credit analysts) from the four big Swedish banks: Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB and Swedbank. The sample consists of respondents from banks in Västra Göraland, Halland and Skåne. Our collected data consists of the experience variables and assessment categories, which are coded and analyzed using the SPSS computer program. Our tests resulted in two significant differences between the experience variables and assessment categories. Through this we found that a large disagreement exist between the bank clerks when it comes to information management. Our essay has identified two new experience variables, which may partly explain the differences that exist in the information management between bank clerks when giving loans to Swedish companies.</p>

Ombildning från hyresrätt till bostadsrätt är ett fenomen som blivit allt vanligare under de senaste tio åren. Genom att genomföra en ombildning får innehavarna av lägenheten, oftast de forna hyresgästerna, tillgång till en värdefull bostadsrätt, vilken till skillnad från en hyresrätt, kan säljas och köpas öppet på marknaden. Eftersom ombildning har blivit så vanligt i Sverige uppkommer ett intresse, för samtliga inblandade parter, att veta hur de åtgärder, som förekommer vid en ombildning, skall företas. Förr eller senare kommer Sverige att ställas inför en räntehöjning, vilken kommer att få stor ekonomisk betydelse. En räntehöjning kommer nämligen att på sikt ge negativa konsekvenser för många hushåll, eftersom de svenska hushållen lånar pengar i mycket stor utsträckning till sitt boende. En del hushåll kommer exempelvis inte att klara en fördubbling av sin boendekostnad, utan obeståndssituationer kommer att uppstå. Som exempel kan nämnas kreditinstituten, vilka till stor del ”finansierat” ombildningen, dels genom lån till föreningen, dels genom lån till bostadsrättshavaren. Har de sina fordringar, genom pantsättning, sakrättsligt skyddade vid en bostadsrättshavares eventuella obestånd? Syftet med uppsatsen är dels att kartlägga vilka olika åtgärder som företas vid en ombildning av hyresrätt till bostadsrätt, dels att utreda i vilken ordning dessa åtgärder skall företas för att föranleda de rättsverkningar som samtliga inblandade parter vill uppnå. Syftet är även att genomföra en analys av dessa åtgärder för att visa på vilka juridiska problem som kan förekomma vid en ombildning. / Changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership is a phenomenon that has become more frequent during the last ten years. By changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership, the possessor of the tenancy, normally the tenant, gets access to a valuable tenant-ownership that, unlike a tenancy, can be sold and bought on the open market. Seeing as changing rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership has become a regular happening in Sweden, an interest for all parties involved occurs, an interest in knowing how the actions that are involved should be preformed. Sooner or later Sweden has to face an increasing in rates which will have great economical consequences. These consequences will have negative influences on some of the Swedish households, due to the fact that lots of Swedish households lends a lot of money to be able to buy tenant-ownerships. If their rates double, many people won’t be able to pay their loans, and this will lead to foreclosures. Banks, for example, finances a great part of the changing of rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership, partly by providing loans to private persons and partly by providing loans to condominium associations. Do they have their depths secured if the borrowers face foreclosure? The purpose of this thesis is to examine which actions that occurs when you change rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership and in which order these actions should be preformed for the parties involved to accomplish the legal purpose that they want to accomplish. The purpose is also to conduct an analysis of these actions to pinpoint which legal problems that can occur when you change rights of tenancy to rights of tenant-ownership.

När ditt företag söker ett lån undersöker banktjänstemannen företagets framtida förmåga att betala räntor och amorteringar på ditt lån, dvs. återbetalningsförmågan. För att avgöra företagets återbetalningsförmåga görs en kreditbedömning vilken grundar sig på hård och mjuk information. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka om våra tre erfarenhetsvariabler: antal år som kreditbedömare, tidigare erfarenhet av företagande och formell utbildning påverkar informationshanteringen under bedömningsprocessen vid kreditgivning till svenska företag. Vi har valt en kvantitativ ansats för att bättre kunna förklara skillnaderna och försöka generalisera. Undersökningen grundar sig på enkätliknande formulär vilka besvaras genom telefonintervjuer. Respondenterna består av företagsrådgivare (kreditbedömare) från de fyra storbankerna: Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB och Swedbank. Urvalet består av respondenter från bankkontor i Västra Götaland, Halland och Skåne. Vår insamlade data består av erfarenhetsvariabler och bedömningskategorier vilka är kodade och analyserad med hjälp av datorprogrammet SPSS. Våra tester resulterade i två signifikanta skillnader mellan erfarenhetsvariabler och bedömningskategorier. Genom detta kunde vi konstatera att stor oenighet råder mellan kreditbedömarna avseende informationshanteringen. Vår uppsats har identifierat två nya erfarenhetsvariabler vilka delvis kan förklara de skillnader som föreligger i informationsbedömningen mellan kreditbedömare vid kreditgivning till svenska företag. / When your company is applying for a loan a bank clerk investigate your company's future ability to meet interest and capital repayments on your loan, ie. repayment ability. In order to determine the company's ability to repay a credit which is based on hard and soft information. The purpose of this essay is to examine if our three experience variables: number of years as a bank clerk, former entrepreneurial experience and formal education affects information management during the assessment process when giving loans to Swedish companies. We have chosen a quantitative approach to better explain the differences and try to generalize. The study is based on survey forms, which is answered by telephone interviews. The respondents consist of business advisers (credit analysts) from the four big Swedish banks: Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB and Swedbank. The sample consists of respondents from banks in Västra Göraland, Halland and Skåne. Our collected data consists of the experience variables and assessment categories, which are coded and analyzed using the SPSS computer program. Our tests resulted in two significant differences between the experience variables and assessment categories. Through this we found that a large disagreement exist between the bank clerks when it comes to information management. Our essay has identified two new experience variables, which may partly explain the differences that exist in the information management between bank clerks when giving loans to Swedish companies.