Collateral securities and access to credit in urban areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo: The case of the city of Kisangani

This study investigates the effect of collateral security on access to credit among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, while considering the role of firm revenue. Using primary cross-sectional data from 267 SMEs operating in commerce, production, and services between 2023 and 2025, and applying Ordinary Least Squares estimation, the analysis demonstrates that collateral security exerts a strong and positive influence on the value of loans obtained, confirming its centrality in SME financing. Annual revenue is also found to significantly increase loan amounts, underscoring the importance of firm performance as a key determinant of creditworthiness. The findings highlight both the reliance of banks on collateral-based lending and the structural challenges faced by SMEs with limited assets in fragile financial systems. Drawing from these results, the study recommends greater flexibility in collateral requirements, strengthened credit information systems and movable collateral registries, targeted programs to enhance SME revenue performance, and the introduction of credit guarantee schemes to mitigate risk and broaden access to finance.