An Assessment of the Role of Credit Reference Bureau in Influencing Customer Credit Access in Mitigating Against Credit Default in Commercial Banks in Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the role of Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) in influencing customer credit access in mitigating default risk among commercial banks in Kenya. The study was based on the theories of Adverse Selection and Hazard. The study used a Causal-Comparative descriptive survey design. The target population of the study consisted of all the 43 licensed commercial banks in Kenya and the three licensed credit reference bureaus in Kenya under the Banking Act. The researcher used a census of all commercial bank headquarters bank managers and the three headquarters credit reference bureau managers. To collect primary data, the researcher used questionnaires. Secondary data were collected from CBK loan books and CBK annual Bank supervisory reports. Data was analysed using SPSS and results presented using graphical systems. The researcher used descriptive statistics, which included the mean, median standard deviation and range to show the default rate. The inferential statistical tests comprised correlation, ANOVA regression and Chi-square analysis to test hypothesis. P -values yielded were less than 0.05, which indicated that the role played by Credit Revenue Bureau in influencing customer access to credit and mitigation of Credit Default Rate was significant among commercial banks in Kenya.Key words: credit reference bureau, credit, credit access, credit default rate and commercial banks Corresponding Author: Ruthwinnie Njeri Munene INTRODUCTIONFinancial institutions are facing an enormous risk of NPLs noting that larger loans have greater risk exposure, so the variable costs per-dollar is higher. If lenders do not take extra care, there could be more loan defaults. CRB enables banks to determine credit worthiness of their borrowers and therefore reducing the loan default risk. In this respect CRB assists in first, sharing information on default among banks; secondly, eliminating corrupt borrowers and thirdly to provide commercial professional credit reference to prospective foreign investors; and also to identify credible borrowers based on known history and character (Bofondi and Gobbi , 2003) Credit Reference Bureau provides detailed information on a person"s credit history, including information on their identity, credit accounts and loans, bankruptcies and late payments and recent inquiries. Other information shared include: proven frauds and forgeries, cheque kiting, false declarations and statements, receiverships, bankruptcies and liquidations, credit default and