Effect of bank liquidity tensions on access to credit for SMEs in Guinea: an empirical study

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of bank liquidity tensions on access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guinea, in a context marked by severe rationing of bank financing. The survey was conducted among 150 SMEs in the city of Conakry, using a structured questionnaire and descriptive statistical analysis supplemented by association tests. The chi-squared test of independence was used to verify the relationship between the variable “credit refusal?? (Yes/No) and the variable “cause of refusal??, specifically “insufficient liquidity??. The survey conducted among 150 SMEs in Conakry reveals that 70% of them applied for a bank loan. Among these applicants, only 30% obtained the full requested amount, while 70% obtained partial financing or faced a refusal. The results indicate that 50% of credit refusals are directly linked to insufficient liquidity within the banks and that 60% of SMEs perceive a tightening of access conditions (collateral, rates, processing times). The general perception of the negative impact of liquidity tensions reaches an average of 3.8/5 on the Likert scale, which confirms the existence of systematic credit rationing. The discussion puts these results into perspective with recent literature, highlighting the amplifying role of liquidity crises in the financial exclusion of SMEs, particularly in the absence of alternative financial markets and public guarantee mechanisms. The article proposes managerial and policy recommendations to improve financial inclusion and strengthen the resilience of the Guinean banking system.

JEL Classification : G21, G28, O16, D22

Paper type : Empirical Analysis