Bank Loan-Loss Provisioning, Methodology and Application

A fair level of provisions on bad and doubtful loans is an essential input in mark-to-market accounting, and in the calculation of bank capital and solvency. Few academic studies have analyzed the adequacy of loan-loss provisioning because, due to the private nature of bank loan transactions, few micro data are readily available. Access to data on recovery over time on bad and doubtful bank loans allows developing and applying two methodologies to calculate a fair level of loan-loss provisions. Empirical estimates are then compared to a regulatory provisioning schedule imposed by a central bank