Non-Performing Loans (notleidende Kredite) Non-performing loans (NPLs), also known as notleidende Kredite in German, refer to those loans that borrowers have failed to make timely principal and interest payments for a specified period according to the agreed terms and conditions.

These loans have become a prevalent concern for financial institutions and investors, as they indicate credit risk and potential financial distress. In the context of capital markets, including stocks, bonds, loans, money markets, and even the emerging crypto space, understanding non-performing loans is essential to make informed investment decisions. The deterioration of loan quality resulting in non-performing loans can occur due to various reasons. These include economic downturns, industry-specific challenges, or borrower-specific issues such as solvency problems, poor financial management, or strategic failures. A crucial factor contributing to the classification of a loan as non-performing is the delinquency beyond a specific time frame, usually 90 days or more. Non-performing loans have adverse effects on both borrowers and lenders. For borrowers, it indicates their financial difficulties, potentially leading to reduced access to credit in the future. Lenders, such as banks and financial institutions, face increased credit risk and the potential for capital erosion due to non-performing loans. When the number of non-performing loans rises, financial stability can be compromised, impacting the overall economy. To mitigate the risks associated with non-performing loans, banks and financial institutions employ various strategies. These include loan restructuring, collateral enforcement, or even selling the loans to specialized distressed debt investors or debt collection agencies. These strategies aim to recover a portion of the outstanding loan balances and mitigate losses. Additionally, some financial institutions establish specific provisions for non-performing loans, earmarking funds to cover potential losses associated with these assets. From an investor's perspective, monitoring non-performing loan trends provides insights into the performance of financial institutions and their credit portfolios. Rising non-performing loans may indicate an impending economic downturn, shifts in market conditions, or weaknesses in the financial institution's risk management practices. Consequently, understanding non-performing loans is crucial in assessing the creditworthiness and stability of potential investment targets. In conclusion, non-performing loans, or notleidende Kredite, represent borrowers' inability to meet their loan obligations. They reflect credit risk for lenders and potentially signal broader economic challenges. Mitigating non-performing loans requires proactive strategies such as loan restructuring or loan sales. Investors should closely monitor non-performing loan trends to accurately evaluate the creditworthiness of financial institutions and make informed investment decisions.