Developing Traditional Handcraft Villages: The Determinants of Lending Decision from Binh Duong Province’s Banks in Vietnam

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in developing countries. In Vietnam, SMEs operating in the field of handicrafts, besides contributing to the economy, also tasked to maintain and develop traditional handicrafts. However, accessing loans from banks of SMEs faces many difficulties. This study explores the determinants of bank lending decision for SMEs, particular, in traditional handicrafts business. Using dataset based on a survey conducted in Binh Duong province, Vietnam, we investigated to what determinant effects for loan approval. The analytical methods used include descriptive statistics for overall assessment, principal component analysis and regression to examine determinants of lending decisions. The results indicate that company's collateral was the most positive determinant to bank lending decision, follow by company's business plan. The role of company's leader is very important for banks considers to approve credit because company's leaders experience and relationship with stakeholders as well as banks have positive relations with bank's lending decision. Agreed with previous studies, the company's financial statement and company's credit history with banks are also significant determinants for lending decision. Whereas, the business environment seam unaffected lending decision as their relations is not significant..