Factors determining retail banks performance : case study Ubank

Abstract

The study is a case study and it investigates the factors that determine the performance of retail banks in South Africa, and follows a case study approach in which Ubank is the focus. The purpose is to rank the identified factors in their order of importance for management's focus on improving the bank's performance. Performance is examined in terms of the bank's profitability and growth. This research utilizes secondary data analysis. The quantitative method is used by critically analysing the financial statements of Ubank, as well as the South African economic conditions. The ANOVA test is used as a tool of analysing the relationship between performance and identified factors, and for testing the significance of the identified factors. The study has found that the bank specific characteristics such as the bank size, return on average assets, market structure, capitalization, corporate governance, information technology, efficiency, credit risk and non-performing loans, are the factors that are relevant in the performance of banks. The macroeconomic factors that impact on the performance of banks are inflation, gross domestic product of the country as well as the banking regulations. The most significant factors were monthly average assets, cost inefficiency and the capital strength was insignificant in the study. The study concluded that poor performance of Ubank results from the imbalance on the focus on identified factors. It further showed that the poor management of the bank's credit system, decreasing market share and poor positioning also contribute to its performance results compared to its competitors. The recommendation to management was to increase the product offering of the bank through the development of products and services that meet the customer's expectations. The benchmarking of its technology with the leaders in the banking sector and the development of value adding marketing and business development strategies were recommended. Lastly, the compliance to the banking regulations.