Loan collaterals and collateral substitutes in rural finance: a review

Abstract

Poor farm households and other microentrepreneurs have difficulties in obtaining loans from banks and other financial institutions because they are unable to provide securities or collaterals for the loans. Collaterals on loans reduce uncertainty and moral hazard problems for creditors. They also serve as a measure of the seriousness of the borrower. The limited availability of conventional collaterals in rural financial markets has led to the acceptance of non-traditional methods of loan security referred to as collateral substitutes. This paper reviews loan collaterals and collateral substitutes in the rural financial markets of developing countries.

Keywords:: Collaterals, collateral substitutes, rural finance.