Does banking management affect credit risk? Evidence from the Indian banking system

This study investigated the impact of banking management on credit risk using a sample of Indian commercial banks. The study employed dynamic panel estimations to evaluate the link between banking management variables and credit risk. The empirical results show that an increase in loan portion over total assets does not necessarily increase problem loans. The findings suggest that high capital requirements and large bank size do not reduce default risk, whereas high profitability and strong income diversification policies lower the likelihood of default risk. The overall empirical results supported the 'operating efficiency', 'diversification' and 'too big to fail' hypotheses, confirming that credit quality in the banking industry is mainly driven by profitability, banking supervision, high credit standards and strong investment strategies. The findings are relevant to bank managers, investors and bank regulators, in formulating effective credit policies and investment strategies.