Devlet bankaları ve Covid-19: Salgınının Türkiye illerindeki rollerinin ve kredi verme davranışlarının değerlendirilmesi

This thesis investigates the role of state-owned banks in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish provinces. The research uses quarterly bank loan data to examine whether state-owned banks provided more credit than private banks in response to the crisis. The findings reveal that, following the first COVID-19 case in Türkiye, state-owned banks increased lending to provinces by an average of 17% compared to domestic private banks in the second quarter of 2020. Additionally, state-owned banks attracted more deposits during the same period. The study does not find evidence of politically targeted lending. While the pandemic coincided with a significant decrease in firm closures, this trend is unrelated to state-owned bank lending. State lending is associated with increased credit risk, as evidenced by higher non-performing loans post-pandemic. This research contributes to a better understanding of the role of state-owned banks during crises.