APPRAISING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CREDIT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT IN BANKING INDUSTRY

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Overview

Credit Administration and management in any financial market is one basic function of banks that accounts for her large share of income. That banking operation in Nigeria and the world over still come alive today is a function of how effective this key role of banks is being played.

B.C. Okocha (2000) “The level of performance of service and realization of objective for which the organization is set up is a function of the quality of management polices and procedures followed to achieved these set objectives.

Banking Institutions are created with the fundamental or cardinal function (objectives) of deposit acceptance and credit extension for the development and expansion of the real sector of the economy.

Banks can only remain as a veritable tool for economic growth and wealth maximization if there is a positive correlation between management and objective.

The aggregate economic growth in both micro and macro economy induced investors, government and corporate bodies to appreciate the significance of bank credit a s a major source through which business could be effectively financed for wealth maximization.

The growing concern about business growth which has been dwindled by inaccessibility of credit occasioned by stringent conditions attached, the untold hardship of loan interest, banks sharp practices and non adherence to credit guidelines are basic issues the researcher seek to address.

Abasss A. Shiro (2004) “Credit creation presents a good maximization opportunity to the banking industries to achieve its objectives as the basis by enlarging the money supply base and raising the general investment level of the country’. Lending and credit administration is very vital to banks which, if not property carried out can hinder the effective operations of the banks, improper lending decision which leads to accumulation of huge bad debts that adversely affect banks effectiveness however.

Therefore, it is expedient that bank managers should be equipped with better information, principles and techniques required for effective lending rather that regarding them as a mere guidelines which have limitation. Lending is highly subjective in nature, the final analysis depends on the judgment of the lender, hence in making final judgment ,the lender must review all the techniques, principles, and knowledge acquired through environmental and projects analysis. The credit character and prospects of the borrower must also be scrutinized.

It is against this background that the bank decides the quantum of lending appropriate to the prospective demand. This quantum has to be optimum volume in terms and conditions that would satisfy the banking objectives of the lender.

The qualities of credit administration have direct impact on the banks effectiveness, and this could be measured with various parameters as profitability, customer satisfaction, and shareholders satisfaction, volume of bad debts, employee motivation and attainment of the general objectives of the bank.

1.2 Statement Of Problems

Today the increasing financial improprieties, insolvency, non-performing loan, distress in banks and near collapse of the financial system accounted for the cry and quest by business community for total economic recovery.

This study identified the following problems and suggest ways of solving them.

1. Stringent conditions for accessibility of credit.
2. Unbearable financial burdens that bank customers bear in the course of repaying these loans.
3. The unbearable interest charges, penalties and unclassified charges.
4. Banks indulge in all sort of sharp practices, cutting of corner and non-adherence to policy guidelines set out for credit management.
5. Bank managers do not adhere to internal rules and mechanisms in lending credit, it translates to non-performing loans as lender and beneficiary connivance to short-cut procedures.
6. The Apex bank lacks adequate surveillance and strategy to forestall discipline and enforce compliance with these regulations and guidelines.

1.3 Purpose Of The Study

The rate of banks failure in recent past, has called for great concern by depositors, government, financial regulators and stakeholders who advocate for strong and viable economy based on sound financial sector to provide most needed lubricant in terns of credit lending to aid economic growth and development.

However, the major reasons advanced for these failures are basically related to improper lending habit of the banks, couple with slow industrial development, inflation and unemployment which make it impossible to either secure the credit facility.

Therefore, in view of the problems highlighted above the purpose of this study is to:

1. Identify how banks manage credit facility effectively to ensure prompt repayment as at when due, and various reasons for default.
2. Reveal the problem associated with the effective and efficient management of credit, and find out the impact of effective management in an economy.
3. To initiate or suggest method of improving credit management in line with banks internal and external factors (monetary guidelines).

1.4 Research Questions

In view of this research topic, a wide and extensive form of research questions would be asked so that various data collected could be analyzed using statistical method. The following are the research questions in this study.

1. What impact and action do banks take in managing their credit facilities effectively to ensure prompt repayment as at when due?
2. What is the suggested method of improving credit management inline with banks internal and external factors (monetary guidelines).
3. How do the banks reveal the problem associated with the effective and efficient management of credit?
4. What are the reasons for increase in non-performing loans and non-security of loan facility in the financial sector of the economy?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following hypothetical statement are necessary to guide us in determining the answers to the above stated problems and questions.

Hypothesis 1

H0: There is no significant relationship between accountability in credit management and the profitability and total output in banks.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between Quality/quantity of loan asset and bank’s sustainability and development

Hypothesis 3

H0: Regulation and supervision of bank has no significant relationship with overall growth and development.

1.6 Significance Of The Study

Olowe R.A (1997): “banking Industry in Nigeria does not operate in isolation of global banking system that are facilitated by information technology which make bank services and products customer oriented”. Therefore, its present level of operations and development is far below expectation in terms of products ,services and effective resource mobilization for her lending as banks are globally viewed as necessary medium to propel other sectors through investment and credit lending to achieve desired growth development.

Therefore management of credit is an aspect of banking services that has been grossly abused and mismanaged.

This study is therefore expected to provide useful suggestion and recommendation to most problems affecting effective and efficient credit management in banks, most importantly this study will be useful to managers of banks, prospective facility seekers to expose them to the necessary requirements by banks in terms of security, financial information for analysis, project prospects etc. This study will be of immense benefit to the government and its agencies that are responsible for banking supervision.

This work will also be important to students, lecturers of social science involve in research work on the area of banking in general secondary data source.

1.7 Scope Of The Study

This study is limited to the credit administration and management in deposit money banks in Nigeria.

The study is also limited to the information obtained from the geographical area of the study (ABA) as a basis for making general assumption on the performance of Nigerian deposit money banks in terms of credit management and administration.

The reluctance of the top management and staff of the banks in giving out some relevant information due to oath of secrecy poses constraint to the research work.

1.8 Definition Of Terms:

Monetary Policy:

This is policy initiated by government to regulate the volume of money in circulation.

Credit Limit:

This is a ceiling beyond which a bank will not grant additional facility to customers.

Global Banking:

This connotes the interface of banking services and products through information technology network, which is more customer oriented than traditional banking.

Credit Management:

This involves planning and controlling collection of loan and advances in line with management corporate plan of maximizing shareholders wealth.

Distress Bank:

These are banks with problems of liquidity. Poor earnings and high volume of non-performing assets.

1.9 Organization Of The Study

This work is arranged into five chapters.

Chapter one examines the introduction; purposes, here is discussed the overview, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research questions, scope of the study, significance of the study, limitation of the study and definition of terms.

Chapter Two deals with the review of related literature, in other words it views the works of other researchers in the field. This is mostly from textbooks, journals, internets and other relevant materials.

Chapter three is on the research methodology. It covers the research design, sampling procedures/sample size determination, data collection methods and data analysis techniques.

Chapter four is on the presentation and analysis of data, the hypothesis formulated in chapter one is tested statically and recommendations with reference to the problems studied.