Credit portability and spreads: evidence in the Brazilian market

This study examines possible impacts in the Brazilian credit market as a result of the portability resolution. This new law increases the ease of borrowers to change from one financial institution to another whenever borrowers have access better credit conditions. It is expected an increase in the market competition and consequently a decrease of price formation power for these institutions. Using difference-in-differences methodology for 231 Brazilian financial institutions, we find that credit spreads for types of credit susceptible to portability are lower than credit spreads for other types of credit that not benefited by the new law