THE IMPACT OF MONETARY POLICIES ON THE LIQUIDITY AND PROFITABILITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The economic policies or interpretation of such policies has always left a key question unanswered, how much authorities do such policies allow the banks to use their powers to lend, to made remarkable impact in the overall economic situation in the country.

Like in banks in most developing economic (Nigeria inclusive) the role of providing advice and issuing financial directives lies in the ministry of finance, the Nigeria deposit insurance corporation and the central bank of Nigeria. The federal government relies on these institution for the  proper functioning of banks through their monetary policies, which could be concretionary or expansionary. This invariably affects the commercial banks etc. hence the need for this study.

The Zenith Bank Plc has been chosen in this regard and except where specified individually, banks becomes the terminsnolyg. In this study in depth study is made on how the Apex Banks, the CBN’s financial monetary policies affectS commercial banks.

Chapter one of the study deals on the back ground, study of the problems. Statement of hypothesis  and what significant of the study is. Second chapter studies the literature used.

The chapter three emphasis on the techniques and sample collection and questionnaire chapter four presentation of data analysis of the data and the interpretation of finding the last chapter five elucidates on the findings and solutions were proffered. Hence given rise to conclusion.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Most banking activities are directed towards lending as credit has remained the backbone of banking operations. It is due to the fact that it provide the bulk profits.

Today, its vital role in commercial banking activities lie in the direct it has on total economic growth and business development. Every year the (CBN) central bank of Nigeria being the monetary authority that is solely responsible for the insurance of guidelines policies and the interpretation of such, comes up with economic measure roles and regulation under which the bank in the country operate. Such policies direct the use of funds from depositors, stockholders, and creditors in order to control the size of loan portfolio thereby determining the general circumstances under which it is appropriate to make an advance. The monetary policies also aim at aiding the banks to maintain a sound financial and banking system promote confidence in sustenance of reasonable banking services for public as well as ensuring a high standard of conduct and professionalism in banking industry. These rules and regulations are contained in monetary policy circular being issued by the central bank at the beginning of every year.

The techniques of monetary policies could be broadly divided into two namely:

Direct and Indirect.

While the direct approach has been used very extensively in the more developed market economic, the indirect approach predominate in the less developed economics such as Nigeria. Nonetheless, both technology aim at influence the cost and availability of banking system’s credit. The direct system techniques involves fixing of credit ceiling and interest weight rates the Apex Bank (CBN) for compliance by banks, while the direct approach achieves the same objective through the financial market. The most potent instrument of the indirect monetary policy technique is the open market operation (OMO). It is worthy of note that effort aimed at introducing incorrect monetary and credit-control anchored on the use of OMO are themselves a parts of the given receipts which they would present to the gold smith on withdrawal.

According to Paul Sammuelson, (1990-20) money has an anonymous quality making are dollar just as good as another. In relation to the above the goldsmiths recognized that not all depositors of gold when they come back at the same time to collect them. These receipts signified time to collect them. These receipts signified debt and were transferable. Out of the gold deposited, the goldsmith started to lend out part of them and charge a fee for these services.

Hence the evolution of our bank lending. As development continued to surface in the society it become possible for financial institution to emerge and act as bank where people go to deposit their money and other precious metals for future withdrawals and most importantly lending money to the users of fund. Bank lending has ever since then been on the increase with different hierarchy of operations.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Monetary policies are organized and established system of administration of loan, and its disbursement have so many loopholes which undermine its base exercise and guidance. It is a statement that need not be overemphasis.

These policies being one out of measure used by that nation ability to mobilize and  channel its scare resources to different sectors of the economy. Therefore when these economic policies are seemingly deficient, it poses a big question which needs to be answered. How much authority do such policies allow the banks to use their powers to lend to make remarkable. Impact on the overall economic positions on themselves (hence profit). A major conclusion has been that effective implementation through the financial intermediation will serve a machinery for economic progress and profit enhance ability.

Apart from the explicit policies which are extremely imposed by the CBN implicit rules and regulations are also developed by the bank to guide their internals operations.

But these guidelines are developed from the mature of banking industry. Generally, these policies have three implications. One to the banks to the borrowers and to the economy. Emphasis is laid here on the implication  it has on the banks.

Banks lending dates bank to the days when the hold smiths accepted deposits from the merchants, mostly gold and valuable for safe keeping. At first such establishment were simply like ware house. Depositors were central bank of Nigeria towards the maintenances of prudent banking have fare reading effects on banking and the Zenith bank Plc in particular. The question therefore arises what effect do these policies have on commercial banks, customers and the economy? Are these policies and conditions too strength as to constitute a problem to lending?

Do commercial banks ensure full compliance to the monetary policies circular?

Are there government objective for introducing these rules  and regulations being achieved?

The CBN’s guidelines, rules and regulation normally contained in the monetary policy circular have always been aimed at achieving targeted goals. The commercial banks which are expected to operated to operate under the guidance of the regulations of the CBN have also their own internal lending policies objectives to achieve. All these pose a lot of problems to the bank’s credit decisions worthy of note is the CBN directive that lending should not exceed and foreign transfer to individual should not exceed N1,000,000 and corporate bodies N5,000,000. this has made of possible for banks to have loan or credit dispersal and control money laundering. Based on the above a performance evaluation of the effect of these policies is inevitable to finding out the resultant effect on banks activities using the 2011 and 2012 monetary policies.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research work is to undertake an in depth analysis of the effect of the various guidelines introduced for banking operations by the Apex monitoring authority on the banks using Zenith bank Plc as case study. Other objective include:

1.    Assessment of the extent to which commercial banks have been able to comply with statutory allocation of credit to the different sectors of the economy through the CBN credit to the different sectors of the economy through the CBN guidelines.

2.    Whether the commercial banks have been able to maintain the  credit ceiling and how far interest rate deregulation contain in policy has been able to affect the volume of banks lending.

iii.    To test the rigidity of the policies and its effects on the borrowing customers.

1.    To  draw outlines of credit offered by these banks and their appraisal process highlighting the environmental influence that impinge on the monetary policy practices in Nigeria.

2.    Lending is of paramount importance in the economy hence the research work will investigate lending policies and practical of the banks system in the country funding out how realistic they are in line with the nations economic settings.

Making recommendation where necessary and suggesting ways to ensure effective implementations of these policies to achieve the desired objectives.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Government over the year have made inspiring calls to all citizens be self reliant and in a bid to achieve this loan to rural borrowers have been increased to 50% and as well sectored allocation (SMES) small scale and medium enterprises as well as according priorities to key sector of the economy.

This research work being an appraisal of the impact of monetary policies  on Nigeria commercial banks (Zenith) precisely will enable the apex bank restructure and relax the assumed stringent measure in order to make it possible for necessary assistance from banks.

However, the primary motive for any corporate business is for profit optimization and the maximization of shareholders health banks are no exception. From this research, they will realize that  proper implementation of monetary policies can ensure higher profitability of the banking industry. To borrowing customers, they will deduce some act inherent in loan defaulting an what are the causes of high interest rates and their remedies. This implies that of they continue borrowing funds without paying back, this banking industry may in future become liquid which will result in high interest rate and subsequently high cost of borrowing fund. It will also constitute guide towards future design and formulation of lending policies by the monitoring authority through the implementation of recommended measure.

Finally, this work will be of immense help to other university undergraduates who will like to writ on this topic as well as exposing to monetary policies available to the commercial banks in Nigeria.

1.5     STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

For a sound and valid investigation, the under listed hypothesis have been formulated and the validity will be tested in chapter four using appropriate statistical data.

HYPOTHESIS I

Ho: The implementation of CBN policies have shown adverse effect on commercial banks.

Hi: The commercial banks have shown fall compliance with CBN guidelines on the allocation of credit to the high priority sector.

HYPOTHESIS II

Ho: The commercial banks have shown fall compliance with CBN guidelines on the allocation of credit to the high priority sector.

Hi: The commercial banks have shown fall compliance with CBN guidelines on the allocation of credit to the high priority sector.

HYPOTHESIS III

Ho: There is no significant difference between the volume of lending by commercial banks in interest rate regulated economy and one of       interest rate deregulation.

Hi: There is no significant difference between the volume of lending by commercial banks in interest rate regulated economy and one of       interest rate deregulation.