We show that when banks and borrowers share the same audit firm, borrowers receive lower interest rates, after controlling for potentially confounding director connectedness. The common auditor effect is observed only for opaque borrowers, and is greatest when the same audit engagement office...

Banks collect private information for the purpose of monitoring borrowers. However, we have little evidence on the sources of private information they use. This study investigates whether and how banks use private information about regulatory oversight of public disclosures through the SEC...

We show that banks with high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings issue fewer mortgages in poor neighborhoods—in quantity and dollar amount—than banks with low ESG ratings. This lending disparity is observed at both the county and census tract level and worsens in disaster...