CHALLENGES IN UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER IN COMMERCIAL BANK

ABSTRACT

This study is titled the challenges in Utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State. The use of computer in commercial bank helps to facilitate banking operation in all ramification. However, irrespective of the gains and clarion call for integration of computer in commercial banks, there are still several challenges facing it such as staff development challenges, maintenance challenges electricity challenges and finding as a challenges in utilization of computer in commercial bank in Enugu. This research study adopted survey research design furthermore the population of the study was 72 respondents which were official staff of first bank of Nigeria Plc in Enugu State. Moreover, the mean was used to answer the research questions, while standard deviation was also used to determine the discuses or otherwise of the opinion of the respondents from the group mean. Mean rating of 3.50 and above was regarded as disagreed the respondents agreed that staff development challenges, maintenance challenges, electricity challenges and finding as a challenges were of high level determinant acceptance for challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State. Based on the findings, the study concludes that there is need to tackle challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks.

CHAPTER ONE

           INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Computer is an indispensible part of banking operation in the contemporary world. Computer adoption by banks will go a long way towards enhancement of banking processes. In the context of this study, computer is an electronics device that accepts data as an input, processes data, stores data and bring out information as an output. The use of computer in commercial banks is a relevant and functional way of providing services to bank customers in other to assist them deposit/withdraw from any branches of a particular bank irrespective of where the account was opened. Computer holds great promise to improve banking services in addition to shaping the entire work force. Computer offer innumerable benefits in enriching the quality of the services rendered in the commercial bank. The challenges of commercial banks in the 21st century will be incomplete if the challenges in utilization of computer in banking sectors are not meet. Some of these challenges facing utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State include: Staff development challenges.

Staff development challenges form the greatest of all the challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks. Staff development challenges arise as a result of inadequate computer infrastructures, insufficient computer facilities among others. Most banking sectors have insufficient computer expert that will integrate and utilize computer for enhancement of qualitative banking services. This might be as a result of insufficient computer experts in commercial bank, all bankers should undertake mandatory training and retraining of computer problems to provide the staff with practical and financial knowledge of computer. Another challenge in utilization of computer in commercial banks is challenges in maintenance of computer.

Computer maintenance is those activities concerned with keeping computers in condition of completeness and efficiency through repairs or replacement. Maintenance challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks come up as a result of incompetent technologist, inadequate funding incompetent computer skilled bankers or sheer nonchalant attitude towards maintenance of computer facilities. However, there cannot be maintenance of computer without consistent electricity supply.

Electricity is the nerve center of all computer facilities. Though electricity supply all over Nigeria appears erratic. All computers depend heavily on steady supply of electricity if they are to function effectively (Adebayo, 2008). As a result of this commercial banks rely on generating plants to sustain their computer services. But the overhead cost is enormous to sustain computer facilities coupled with the fact that there is inadequate funding.

Funding is a major challenge confronting the acquisition and utilization of computer in banking sectors. Inadequate funding lead to limited availability of computers in commercial bank. Low level funding in commercial banks is as a result of inadequate budgetary allocation from the top banking personnel. Therefore, top banking personal should map out special fund and invest honestly for successful utilization of computer in commercial banks.

Commercial banks are financial institute which accept deposit and other valuables from public for safe keeping, with the sole aim of making profit. In other words, commercial banks are financial institutes that perform the services of holding people’s money and using such money to grant loan and other financial services available to customers. The loans are usually for short and medium terms. They are owed by private individuals, institutions or governments commercial bank are limited liability companies. Central Banks of Nigeria control all commercial banks in Nigeria. Commercial banks accept deposit from individual business sector, and government.

Challenges means barriers, hindrances, setback, obstacles as well as difficulties encountered while using computer for banking operation in the commercial banks. Despite the prevalent nature of computer in virtually every aspect of human endeavourers, it has not been adequately utilized in the commercial banks. However, utilization is an act of using computer facility for a particular service/activity in specified period.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE STUDY

Banks are not abreast with the use of computer as other private and business sectors. The reason for this being that bankers are not exposed on the realities of computer skills that will prepare bankers to face challenges on the global world of communication and knowledge sharing within the possible shortest time. Before now one can only deposit/withdraw from a particular branch of a bank one opened account with. But, with inception of computer, one can deposit/withdraw from any branch of a particular bank irrespective of where one opened account. In spite of the accompanying gains and clarion call for integration of computer in the banking sectors, there are still serious challenges encountered in utilization of computer in commercial banks such challenges are:

Staff development challenges. Commercial banks are under staffed with computer experts that are supposed to integrate and utilized computer facilities for enhancement of qualitative services due to staff development challenges. Another hindrance in utilization of computer in commercial banks is challenges in maintenance of computer.

Computer maintenance is those activities concerned with keeping computers in condition of completeness and efficiency through repairs or replacement. Maintenance challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks come up as a result of incompetent technologist, inadequate funding, incompetent computer skilled bankers or sheer nonchalant attitude towards maintenance of computer facilities. However, there cannot proper maintenance of computer without consistent electricity supply.

Electricity is the nerve center of all computer facilities. Through electricity supply all over Nigeria appears erratic. All computers depend heavily on steady supply of electricity if they are to function effectively (Adebayo, 2008). As a result of this, the commercial banks rely on generating plants to sustain their computer services. But the over head cost is enormous to sustain computer facilities coupled with the fact that there is inadequate funding.

Funding is a major challenge confronting the acquisition and utilization of computer in the banking sectors inadequate funding lead to limited availability of computers in commercial bank. Low level funding in commercial banks is as a result of inadequate budgetary personnel should map out special fund and invest honesty for successful utilization of computer in commercial banks.

Commercial banks are financial institutions which accept deposit and other valuables from public for safe keeping, with the sole aim of making profit. In other words, commercial banks are financial institution that performs the services of holding people’s money and using such money to grant loan and other financial services available to customers.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to determine challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu state.

The specific objectives therefore are:

1.  Identify staff development challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State?

2.  Determine challenges in maintenance of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State?

3. Determine electricity challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu state.

4. Determine funding challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu state.

1.4     SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

The findings of this study will be beneficial to bankers, bank administrators, central bank of Nigeria (CBN) and customers.

The findings of this study will provide information to bankers on the need to update and improve on their computer illiteracy skills.

The findings of this study will be beneficial to bank administrator by ensuring that there is adequate maintenance of computer accessories with the intention of improving the quality of banking services.

The findings of this study will highlight areas that CBN will need to improve upon towards formulating policy for enhancing utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu state.

The finding of this study will be of immense benefit to customers by ensuring that they are rendered adequate services in the banking hall.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTION

Four research questions are formulated in line with the objective of the study to guide the research work.

1.  What are the staff development challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State?

2.  What are the challenges in maintenance of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State?

3.  What are electricity challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu state?

4.  What are funding challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu?

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to staff development challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State. The study is also restricted to challenges in maintenance of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State.

Furthermore, the study is restricted to electricity challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State. Finally, the study is also restricted funding challenges in utilization of computer in commercial banks in Enugu State.