THE EFFECT OF NATIONAL BANK REGULATION ON BANKS PROFITABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM THE PRIVATE BANKS IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of NBE regulations on private banks profitability through the significant regulatory variables explaining the NBE directives, using bank- specific and macroeconomic variables as control variables. Balanced fixed effect panel regression was used for the data of six private commercial banks in the sample covered the period from 2001 to 2014 (annual data is considered). Three regulatory factors affecting banks performance in terms of net interest margin were selected and analysed. The results indicated that NBE Bill and Credit cap had negative and statistically significant effect on banks profitability but reserve requirement had insignificant. Among the control variables bank size, efficiency and return on equity has a positive and statistically significant impact on performance of banks under the sample measured inters of NIM. Among the macroeconomic indicator variables both inflation and financial sector development has negative and statically significant effect on profitability of banks while GDP has insignificant effect on profitability. NBE has to consider the effect of such policy on banks profitability and their overall performance. On the other hand banks need to increase operating efficiency to trade off such effects and to serve their customers as usual to create long-lasting relationship when such kinds of regulations are imposed