Bank vs NBFC Preference Survey (SMEs)
Small and medium enterprises weigh interest rates, approval timelines, and relationship flexibility when choosing between banks and NBFCs for credit, so you can sharpen acquisition targeting, recalibrate pricing tiers, and reduce borrower attrition.
CONTEXT & RELEVANCE
Why run this survey now
Most lenders don't lose SMEs purely on interest rates. They lose them due to slow disbursals, opaque fee structures, collateral rigidity, relationship gaps, and poor renewal experiences, none of which fully show up in branch MIS or portfolio dashboards.
If you are...
- Bank SME lending head
- NBFC product or credit leader
- Distribution or channel head
- Fintech SME growth team
- Strategy lead, retail lending
You're likely facing...
- SME fit confusion: bank vs NBFC
- Drop-offs at documentation stage
- Banks perceived stable but slow
- NBFCs perceived fast but expensive
- Renewal switching over service gaps
This will help answer...
- Preference drivers beyond rate
- Funnel drop-off stage mapping
- Segment splits by lender type
- Fee and tenure tolerance bands
- Renewal and switch triggers
RESEARCH THEMES
What This Survey Investigates
Eight interconnected research themes that map the complete SME borrowing journey from first lender discovery to long-term institutional loyalty.
Discovery & Awareness
- First lender contact channels
- Referral vs direct outreach triggers
Preference Drivers
- Bank vs NBFC selection criteria
- Speed, collateral, relationship weight
Product & Structuring
- Facility type, tenure, collateral mix
- Cash credit vs term loan preference
Journey Friction
- Drop-offs across application stages
- Documentation, verification delays
Pricing & WTP
- Rate sensitivity by facility type
- Fee transparency, hidden charge perception
Servicing & Stickiness
- RM responsiveness, digital self-service
- Renewal, top-up conversion triggers
Trust & Credibility
- Institutional trust, regulatory comfort
- Data privacy, grievance resolution
Competitive Positioning
- Multi-lender usage, wallet share split
- Switching intent by lender category
SAMPLING STRATEGY
Tell us about your ideal sample
Help us understand your target respondent profile. Select what applies, we'll design the optimal sample plan based on your inputs.
METHODOLOGY
Survey approach
For the Bank vs NBFC Preference Survey (SMEs), we recommend a quant-first design with flexible data-collection modes to balance reach, depth, and verification.
EXECUTION PROCESS
How we execute
A proven 9-step process from scoping to delivery, designed to ensure quality, speed, and actionable insights.
Define the decision frame
Confirm objectives, target cohorts, geographies, and reporting cuts
Define the decision frame
Design the instrument
Build workstream modules mapped to outputs (drivers, friction, pricing, retention, trust)
Design the instrument
Lock the questionnaire
Review wording, sequencing, LOI, and competitive context; approve final version
Lock the questionnaire
Pilot and calibrate
Test comprehension and ease quality; refine quotas and remove friction where needed
Pilot and calibrate
Run fieldwork
Execute collection with active quota management and feasibility controls
Run fieldwork
Assure quality
Dedupe, attention checks, speed/consistency rules, removals with audit trail
Assure quality
Prepare the dataset
Clean data and deliver codebook/variable definitions
Prepare the dataset
Analyse and synthesise
Driver ranking, leakage diagnostics, pricing bands, segment insights
Analyse and synthesise
Deliver and align
Executive deck (optional dashboard) and leadership readout with recommendations
Deliver and align
COMMERCIAL TERMS
Request a Commercial Proposal
Pricing depends on cohort, geography, sample size, approach, LOI, and deliverables. Configure below for an indicative estimate.
Select Sample Size
Geography
Select Mode of Survey
Length of the Interview
$0.00
+ applicable taxes
Cost Breakdown
Note: Estimate is indicative only. Final pricing is subject to scope finalization after discovery call.
REFERENCE CASELETS
Reference
Real-world examples of survey work in the SME lending and financial services space.
MSME Working Capital Channel Preferences & Friction Mapping (India)
OBJECTIVE
WHAT WE DID
DELIVERED
MSME Working Capital Channel Preferences & Friction Mapping (India)
SME Trade Finance Product Gaps & Pricing Sensitivity (Western India)
MSME Working Capital Channel Preferences & Friction Mapping (India)
OBJECTIVE
Quantify how micro and small manufacturers select between digital lending platforms and traditional branch-based lenders for working capital, isolating the role of turnaround speed, collateral requirements, and relationship trust in shaping channel stickiness and switching triggers.
WHAT WE DID
Fielded a structured quant survey across 6 cities with 480 MSME owners, capturing channel discovery path, application completion rates, documentation burden, disbursement timelines, and satisfaction scores segmented by loan ticket size and vintage of borrowing.
DELIVERED
Channel preference corridor by MSME size tier, a ranked friction list per lending channel , a switching trigger framework identifying 5 displacement moments, and segment-level message territories for digital-first acquisition campaigns targeting first-time borrowers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about this survey mandate.
What decisions will this survey enable?
Who is the buyer vs who are the respondents?
Can we see differences between bank-only, NBFC-only and mixed borrowers?
How will you measure lender preference beyond simple ratings?
Will the survey map the full credit journey and drop-offs?
Can this survey inform product and pricing strategy?
How will findings improve our sales and marketing messaging?
Still have questions?
Schedule a discovery call to discuss your specific needs and get a custom quote.