The real effects of universal banking on firms’ investment: micro-evidence from 2004-2009

Taking into account banks' business models, this article attempts to fix that issue. Two banking models are considered: traditional and universal banks, the latter providing sophisticated financial services (market-making on derivatives, management of large commitments). Relying on a unique database on credits, banks and firms covering more than 5,000 firms over 2004-2009, the paper shows that in period of high liquidity, both models have a similar credit supply, but in liquidity crisis, universal banks had a significantly lower credit supply, contrary to traditional banks, leading to real effects on firm’s investment.