Bank capital has a critical role in banking business the world over. Capital is a principal aspect of regulation and will determine how long a bank remains in business from a regulatory point of view. Its cost and the regulatory amount have an impact on the competitiveness of an institution and will influence the rate of expansion of a bank. The contribution of capital to the profitability and survival of a commercial bank remain an unresolved empirical issue. Prior research on the relationship between capital and profitability has largely focused on developed economies, especially the USA, and Europe. However, the results have been inconclusive. There is no evidence of such kind of a research done to date that focuses on an emerging economy such as South Africa. The seemingly conflicting finding coupled with regulations imposing equity capital adequacy from the Basel 11 Accord present an opportune platform for further research on the relationship between capital and profitability. Using South Africa as a unit of analysis and using the Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM), and Panel Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS) or Pooled IV method as the estimation techniques, this study tested the hypothesis that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between bank capital and profitability. The results from the study provide evidence of a positive relationship between capital ratio (CAR), return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) and supported the generally held notion that there is a positive relationship between bank capital and profitability. This research output provided new insights into the long-run impact of bank capital on profitability and survival. From a bank specific strategic decision-making perspective, this would assist financial institutions and investors in tailoring investment decisions in response to policy decisions that relate to bank capital. From the public policy perspective, this would assist both governments and regulators in formulating better- informed policy decisions regarding the importance of bank capital. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

The financial stability of banks is crucial if they are to fulfil their role in facilitating transactions between borrowers and lenders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of credit risk on the South African banking industry following a movement in credit ratings by rating agencies. Data from a sample of 11 banks were collected from 2006 to 2015. Econometric regression analysis was used to analyse the data. The results show that inflation, credit ratings, exchange rate, gross domestic product, unemployment rate, capital adequacy ratio and size of the bank are significant factors that determine "non-performing loans". Therefore, it is imperative that banks continuously monitor these factors and adapt their credit policies on "non-performing loans". This action would prepare banks for any adverse effects and ensure that the banking industry remains a sound and efficient contributor to the growth of the South African economy. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)