The year 2007 was when the UK familiarized itself with the term ‘Credit Crunch’. The French banking group BNP Paribas sparked a steep rise in the cost of credit that shook the foundation of the global economy. Although the gravity of this situation was realized in August 2007, the credit crunch itself had begun way before.
Governments all across anticipate a credit crisis as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. What sets the credit crunch of 2020 apart from the 2008 economic crisis, is the fact that this time, banks are aware of the hardships that lie ahead.
To understand the domino effect that causes a credit crunch, we’ve broken down the concept for you. In this article, we’ll understand the concept of a credit crunch and the impact it has on the economy.
Representative Example: £12,000 over 66 months, 31.9% APR fixed. Monthly payment £358.22 Annual interest rate 28.01% fixed. Interest payable £11,642.52. Total repayable £23,642.52. Representative Example: £12,000 over 66 months, 31.9% APR fixed. Monthly payment £358.22 Annual interest rate 28.01% fixed. Interest payable £11,642.52. Total repayable £23,642.52. Representative Example: Loan Amount: £20950.00, Loan Term: 85 Months, Interest Rate: 23.00% PA Variable. Monthly Repayments: £537.44. Total Amount Repayable: £45,682.15. This example includes a Product Fee of £2,095.00 (10% of the loan amount) and a Lending Fee of £714.00 Representative Example: Loan Amount: £20950.00, Loan Term: 85 Months, Interest Rate: 23.00% PA Variable. Monthly Repayments: £537.44. Total Amount Repayable: £45,682.15. This example includes a Product Fee of £2,095.00 (10% of the loan amount) and a Lending Fee of £714.00 Representative Example: Borrowing £3000 over 36 months with a representative APR of 39.9% (variable),the amount payable would be £134.21 a month,with a total cost of credit of £1831.56 and a total amount payable of £4831.56. Representative Example: Borrowing £3000 over 36 months with a representative APR of 39.9% (variable),the amount payable would be £134.21 a month,with a total cost of credit of £1831.56 and a total amount payable of £4831.56.Maximise your options: Compare and apply for loans below with LoanTube
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What is a credit crunch?
- A credit crunch arises due to contractions in the credit/lending market created by financial institutions owing to a deficiency of funds. When an economy suffers a recession, lenders become apprehensive of lending money to companies due to bankruptcies or defaults. Now that the stakes are high, lenders surge their interest rates to compensate for the associated risk. This makes it impossible for companies to borrow.
- Debt deflation is one of the first symptoms of a credit crunch. Debt deflation occurs when there is a decline in the value of income and prices, but the total amount of debt stays the same. As opposed to modest inflation where the amount of debt falls in real terms, the debt stays the same in deflation.
- This issue amplified in 2007 because of the redundancies, wage cuts, soaring unemployment rate that followed the weakening economy.
What causes a credit crunch?
To understand the causes of a credit crunch, let us study the credit crunch of 2007. The following are 4 economic mechanisms – the 4 ticking time bombs that played a significant role in how the credit crunch played out.
- Bad loan write-offs: Bad loan write-offs of over hundreds of billions collectively, set off 2 liquidity spirals. A drop in asset prices led to the loss of capital and stringent lending made it difficult for financial institutions to borrow. These 2 spirals pushed banks to let go of their assets and lessen their leverage. This led to a decline in funding, which worsened the situation beyond control.
- Fund hoarding: Banks were looking for ways to reduce their risk of loss to a minimum. They hoarded funds from borrowers, regardless of their credit-worthiness. This is when the lending channels went kaput.
- A run on banks: As customers lost confidence over solvency, they began withdrawing their deposits from banks. This drastically abraded bank capital.
- The liquidity gridlock: Banks can have insufficient liquidity from time to time. The issue was that this time, financial institutions were both lenders and borrowers at the same time. Thus, they had to settle ongoing payments while receiving payment orders from customers, which is their primary operation. The settlement queues caused by the insufficiency in funds led to a liquidity gridlock.
What happens during a credit crunch?
The knock-on effect of such a drastic downfall in lending made the pendulum swing the other way. As the banks feared incurring more losses owing to defaults, they retrenched and only lent to those with a stellar credit history. This behavior is referred to as flight to quality and is a way of reducing risk for lenders.
How does the credit crunch affect the economy?
The global financial market went ballistic after the credit crunch of 2007, followed by a prolonged period of recession. The points below shed some light on the impact of a credit crunch on the economy:
- The first economic hit was when the banks restricted the amount of money they were lending.
- This was followed by a steep decline in real estate prices.
- Debtors couldn’t afford to repay their loans, causing the economy to shrink further.
- Banks weren’t lending enough and debtors weren’t repaying their ongoing loans. This lead to a halt in transactions.
- Due to the inadequacy of funds, people started to spend judiciously, leading to a harrowing recession.
A recession happens due to a lack of activity across an economy, which usually lasts from 6 to 18 months. The aftermath of the recession of 2008 had a severe global economic impact, jolting developed and under-developed nations alike. It was from this point that nations developed economic reforms to avert such a crisis.
Is there going to be another credit crunch?
Financial experts in the UK are anticipating a second credit crunch, judging by the reluctance of lenders to free up more money. The BoE has predicted an inadequacy in loans due to the cost and risk involved.
This will intensify the pressure on:
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- Homebuyers seeking a mortgage
- Households dealing with financial adversities due to pay cuts and job losses, looking to get a loan to bridge the gaps.
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- This is also clench SMEs that struggled during the lockdown, looking to take out a loan to sustain until they begin functioning in full capacity.
- As per BoE’s Credit Conditions Survey, the supply of secured loans such as mortgages has plummeted in recent months. Despite their prior prediction, BoE is expecting a further decline in demand.
- Things are worse in the unsecured lending market, offering personal loans and credit cards. Experts say that the lending market has dried up sooner than it did during the 2008 recession. There are concerns that the picture is only going to get grimmer as banks will further tighten their lending criteria.
Warning: Borrowing during a credit crunch can come with additional risks such as higher interest rates and more stringent lending requirements. It’s essential to carefully consider your ability to repay loans before applying.
