Evaluation of the Financial Performance of Banks In A Deregulated Banking Environment: A Focal Study Of First Bank Of Nigeria PLC.

Abstract

This study was undertaken basically to evaluate the financial performance of banks in a deregulated banking environment using an ordinary Least Square (OLS) method of regression analysis to analyze the results of First bank of Nigeria plc. The data set for this research constitutes an annual time series data spanning from 2001 – 2010. The selection of this timing was informed by the era of bank consolidation in Nigeria and from the fact that the banking sector has already been liberalized even before this period. The objective of this research is to find out the effect of the nominal lending rate, the exchange rate and the credit volume on banks financial performances in terms of their profitability. The data sources were mainly from a ten year financial summary of First bank of Nigeria Plc and CBN Statistical Bulletin, various years. The empirical evidence of the study revealed that the nominal lending rate and credit volume impacted positively to the profit of first bank Nigerian Plc, while the Exchange rate showed a negative significance. In summary, it was garnered that the variables employed are statistically significant as over 98 percent of them were explained at the long run. The researcher, therefore, submits that greater policy sensitivity towards the creation of credits and regulation of exchange rate volatility is urgently needed so that enough funds will be made available for potential investors in the Nigerian banking system.

Key words: Deregulation, Financial performances, Banking environment, Exchange rate, Nominal Lending rate, Credit Volume.