A research report submitted In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce University of the Witwatersrand / The purpose of this study is to analyse the operational economics of Islamic banking transactions in South Africa and to understand how the economics of these transactions lead to the IFRS accounting. The study also aims to highlight the similarities and differences of accounting for these transactions using IFRS, across the different South African banks. The transactions analysed are deposit products of qard and mudaraba and financing products of murabaha, ijarah and diminishing musharaka. The study was conducted through interviews with representatives from each of the four South African banks which offer Islamic banking products. Interviews were semi-structured and allowed for interviewees to voice their perspectives increasing the validity of the interviews. The study found that the specific Shariah requirements of Islamic banking transactions are considered and included in the structure of the contracts by all four banks offering Islamic banking products. However, the economic reality of these transactions closely resembles conventional banking transactions. The study also found that all four banks account for Islamic banking transactions using IFRS but the accounting does not match the Shariah requirements of each transaction, creating a cognitive dissonance between the accounting and the contractual form of the transactions. This study is the first of its kind in South Africa. The study adds to the IASB Consultative Group discussion on accounting for Islamic banking transactions under IFRS. Key words: Conceptual Framework, diminishing musharaka, IFRS, ijarah, Islamic banking, mudaraba, murabaha, qard / MT2017

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce in the field of Information Systems / Artificial intelligence (AI) is the creation of intelligent machines that have the ability to work and act like humans and comprises various technologies. AI-powered technology is having a transformative effect on industries such as banking. This study investigated the adoption of AI technologies by South African banking firms. The investigation into the factors that explain the current extent of adoption was focused through the lens of the Technological, Organisational and Environmental (TOE) framework. Through a review of existing literature and online resources, this study firstly identified a basket of AI technologies perceived as relevant for South African banking firms. Six technologies that represent the basket of AI technologies were identified, namely: machine learning, robotic process automation, expert systems, virtual assistants, natural language processing, and pattern recognition. Secondly, the study aimed to determine the current state of adoption of the AI technologies. Thirdly, the study aimed to determine the factors influencing the adoption of AI technologies by banking firms. A systematic literature review was undertaken to determine the technological, organisational and environmental factors that influence technology adoption. A model using pre-determined TOE factors was developed and tested. The cross-sectional, quantitative study was undertaken via a self-administered, online questionnaire to a sample of 307 respondents from South African banking business units, resulting in 62 responses. Diffusion curves were used to illustrate the current adoption of AI technologies. The results revealed that robotic process automation is the most diffused technology, while natural language processing was the least diffused technology. The results also revealed a significant intention to adopt AI technologies in the next three years. The data was subjected to reliability and validity tests which established that the construct measures rendered consistent and reproducible results, and accurately depicted the constructs they were assigned to measure. Thereafter, correlations analysis was utilised to test the model’s hypotheses, and a multiple and stepwise regression were used as further tests of the model. Results revealed that AI technology skills, top management support, firm size and competitive pressure were positively related to the adoption of AI technologies, while perceived benefits, information technology infrastructure, cost, competitive pressure, regulation and mimetic pressure were not supported. AI technologies is a contemporary topic and is gathering a great deal of attention in both academia and practice. By applying the TOE framework, this study has provided a theoretical contribution and addressed a research gap in existing literature, specifically demonstrating that AI adoption is a function of all three contexts, i.e. technological, organisational and environmental. This study also provides a practical contribution for banking firms as they can understand the current adoption status of the average South African bank. Furthermore, for firms considering the adoption of AI technologies, this study offers insights into the relative influence of the TOE factors, and provides guidance to facilitate benchmarking and processes of adoption. / PH2020

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis is proposed and the study is made from a firm conviction that for the United States the system of private enterprise is the one that best suits our national temperament and our great abilities.

The National Banking System operated during the 50 year period between 1863 and 1913. It was believed at the time of its conception that individuals seeking a national bank charter would do so for the privilege of issuing national bank notes. Paradoxically, for the majority of the National Banking System's existence note issue was of · relatively minor importance. The one exception where note issue was an important aspect of national bank behavior was the period between 1867 and 1873. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine this period when national bank note issue was an important aspect of national bank behavior and determine why note issue was so important. In order to determine this, a straightforward profit maximizing model is developed and various predictions are made concerning national bank behavior. These predictions are then tested and evaluated using actual national bank balance sheet data to determine if actual national bank behavior conforms to the predictions of the model. / Ph. D.

Banker är katalysatorn i det finansiella systemet och har en viktig roll för ekonomins tillväxt och för att människors välfärd ska kunna växa. Att en bank är lönsam är inte av vikt enbart för den enskilda banken, utan för hela samhället i stort. Runt om i världen finns många olika sorters banker, som drivs på olika sätt och har olika ägarkonstellationer. Affärsbanker i Sverige ägs av flera tusentals aktieägare och drivs på en operativ nivå av en utvald VD. På en organisatorisk nivå så utgörs beslutsfattandet istället av en utvald styrelse. I Schweiz finns banker med olika ägarstruktur, där en av associationsformerna är partnerskapsbanker. Dessa bedrivs av partners, ofta väldigt få (8–10 personer) som agerar styrelse, ägare och VD. Det finns tidigare studier som undersökt hur lönsamheten påverkas hos banker, där dessa studier har sett till hur utländskt, statligt och privatägande har påverkat bankernas lönsamhet. Dessa studier uppvisar emellertid motstridiga resultat. Denna studie valt att belysa två extremfall, det vill säga banker med starkt centrerat ägarstruktur (partnerskapsbanker) och banker med extremt spritt ägande (svenska storbanker). Syftet med denna studie har varit att explorativt undersöka om banker med olika ägarstrukturer uppvisar lönsamhetsskillnader och vad dessa beror av. Detta genom en statistisk undersökning där ett antal vedertagna förklaringsvariabler används. En jämförande kvantitativ studie har tillämpats och i studien har tre stycken schweiziska partnerskapsbanker och tre stycken svenska affärsbanker jämförts med varandra samt analyserats under perioden 2014–2018. Den data som insamlats baseras på en nyckeltalsanalys samt en PEST-analys, där interna och externa nyckeltal samlats in. Där den insamlade data sedan har analyserats med konstruerade regressionsmodeller för att undersöka, vilka, eller om några av de utvalda förklaringsvariablerna förklarar lönsamheten. Genom studies resultat kan vi fastställa att lönsamhetskillnader mellan partnerskapsbanker och affärsbanker finns. Emellertid så kan vi konstatera att de förklaringsvariablerna som studien använts sig av inte kan förklara dessa lönsamhetskillnader på lönsamhetsmåtten räntabilitet på totalt kapital och räntabilitet på eget kapital. För att helt kunna undanröja misstanke om att förklaringsvariablerna inte är signifikanta, så krävs ytterligare forskning med en längre tidsperiod. Denna studie har en begränsning i antalet år, där den period som observerats lett till att studien fått färre observationer än önskvärt. Materialet som idag finns att tillgå är begränsat till åren 2014–2018. Detta beror på att de schweiziska partnerskapsbankerna först 2014 började publicera sina årsredovisningar offentligt. Studien sträcker sig till 2018 för att det är det längsta tillgängliga materialet som kan undersökas. Tidigare studier inom området som använder sig av samma förklaringsvariabler som valts i denna studie och dessa uppvisar statistiskt signifikanta värden på de flesta utvalda förklaringsvariablerna, med några undantag. En skillnad, mellan tidigare studier och denna som är av stor betydelse är att värdena baseras på längre tidsperioder alternativt att fler banker har observerats, vilket allt annat lika ger fler observationer. Studiens resultat analyseras sedan utifrån tidigare studier samt principal-agent teorin. / Banks could be seen as the catalyst for the financial system and therefore often seen as an important role for the economy's growth and for peoples’ wellbeing. It’s not only important for the bank itself to be profitable, but also for the country as a whole. Around the globe there are quite a large number of different banks, that is run differently and has different types of owner structures. Commercial banks in Sweden are owned by thousands and thousands of owners and are driven on an operative level by a CEO and with an executive board on an organizational level. In Switzerland there is a broad spectrum of different banks and different corporate forms. One of them is partnership banks, these banks have partners (i.e. owners) who work as CEOs’, executive board and owners combined. There are other studies that has analyzed the relationship between bank ownership and profitability. These studies show inconsistent results. This study aims to examine two extreme cases, Swedish banks with a broad ownership base versus swiss banks with a very limited number of owners to illustrate how the ownership affects the profitability. The study aims to examine why these banks exhibit different levels of profitability and if these differences can be explained by a few conventional explanatory variables. To examine these banks the study has done a comparative quantitative study, where three swiss partnership banks has been compared with three Swedish banks during the period 2014-2018. The data that has been gathered is based on a key-figure analysis and a PEST-analysis. The data has then been analysed with constructed regression models to understand, if or to which extent the explanatory variables explains the differences in profitability. The results of this study exhibit that there are differences in profitability between the Swedish and Swiss banks. However, the study can’t establish if most of the chosen explanatory variables are significant. And therefore, the study cannot establish whether or not these variables have an impact on the profitability key-figures return on equity and return on total capital. To be sure if these variables are significant or not, future studies need to examine a longer time period. This study has a shortage of data due to the swiss banks. These banks started to publish annual reports in 2014. It’s worth mentioning that previous studies that have used the same variables have been able to show that these are significant, or at least most of them. This is often due to longer examined time periods or a larger number of banks included in the data. The results of this study have been analysed and compared with previous studies and the agency theory.

The objective of this study was to determine the factors which can affect the adoption of e-banking in Cameroon. To conduct that research, we tried to understand how demographic characteristics, attitudes and social influences impact on the customer’s decision to adopt e-banking; to investigate barriers and challenges with regard to the adoption of e-banking; to identify the differences in perception regarding e-banking between e-banking users and non-users; and to determine whether or not e-banking offers more opportunities in comparison with the traditional banking system used in Cameroon. Through an in-depth interview and questionnaires filled by bank’s customer, the factors influencing the adoption of e-banking in Cameroon were identified. These were demographic factors such as age, income, educational level and occupation. Psychological factors such as perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and perceived cost were also identified. Perceived risk was found to have a negative impact on e-banking adoption. A measure of the relationship between the factors and the adoption of e-banking was determined. Negative perceptions and attitudes influence the decision-making process, resulting in negative consumer behaviour outcomes. Social influences, including the opinions of friends, parents and colleagues, were found to have an influence on e-banking adoption. With regard to the research objectives that identified factors discouraging customers from using e-banking, the lack of trust, lack of information, lack of knowledge and perceived risk by non-users hindered the adoption of e-banking. Challenges and barriers with regard to e-banking adoption were also identified, namely resistance to change by bank employees, lack of knowledge, absence of e-laws and legislation for e-banking, absence of a proper telecommunications infrastructure and shortage of IT training. This research is especially valuable for the Cameroon banking industry, as the findings will provide insights for banks interested in implementing e-banking strategies. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the financial service sector, specifically the banking sector, the competition for market share has become fierce. South Africas‟ Big Four banks (Absa, FNB, Standard Bank and Nedbank) are currently threatened by Capitec‟s simplified business strategy. Capitec is not just retaining customers, but also attracting new-to-bank customers and customers from other banks. Capitec‟s strategy has led to an increase in competitive rivalry among the banks. The Big Four banks are struggling to retaliate against Capitec‟s innovation, creating a situation where only the strongest will survive. The reason for this competition is Capitec‟s move to target the higher-income market, since they are changing the profile of their original customer base. On the other hand, Absa is counter-attacking by targeting Capitec‟s primary market that consists of lower-income groups. Both Capitec and Absa are initiating vertical service line extensions (VSLE). The difference between the two banks‟ strategies is the direction of the vertical extension, where Capitec is utilising an upward VSLE, and Absa is utilising a downward VSLE. Not enough attention has been given to service line extensions compared to extensions of tangible products. In this study the focus is on vertical line extensions within the service sector and more specifically the banking sector. The primary objective is to investigate the influence attitudes towards a vertical service line extension (VSLE) have on current customers‟ perceived brand image. Furthermore, the difference between customers‟ attitudes towards a bank pursuing an upward vertical service line extension and one pursuing a downward vertical service line extension, is investigated. The secondary objectives of the study are to assess whether or not (1) perceived quality influence customers‟ attitudes towards a VSLE; (2) perceived status fit influence customers‟ attitudes towards a VSLE; (3) customers‟ perceived fit between their self-image and the communication, influence attitudes towards a VSLE; (4) attitudes towards a VSLE influence brand image; (5) there is a difference between customers‟ brand image, perceived quality, perceived fit, and self-brand communication fit of a bank that introduced an upward extension and one that introduced a downward extension. In the case of an upward VSLE (Capitec), the results suggest that perceived quality was the only variable that significantly influenced attitudes towards the VLSE. On the other hand, in the case of a downward VSLE (Absa), perceived quality and communication fit significantly influenced attitudes towards a VSLE. Furthermore, attitudes towards the VSLE did significantly influence brand image in both an upward and downward extension. Perceived status fit was the only variable that did not significantly influence attitudes towards a VSLE in both an upward and a downward extension. It emerged that the attitudes of customers from a bank initiating an upward extension (Capitec) differ from customers from a bank initiating a downward extension (Absa). Capitec and Absa customers differ in their evaluation of perceived quality, status fit, communication fit and brand image. The greatest difference among the two customer groups were caused by communication fit and perceived brand image. In this study Capitec customers evaluated their bank more favourably than Absa customers did. This result can be attributed to the direction of the extension and customers feelings towards it. It was advised that managers should thoroughly investigate the benefits and risks in implementing an upward or downward VSLE, since this study concludes that in either case brand image will be influenced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die Suid-Afrikaanse mark het die kompitiese tussen banke geweldig gestyg soos die banke meeding om mark aandeel. Die Groot Vier banke (Absa, FNB, Standard Bank en Nedbank) word tans uitgedaag deur Capitec se eenvoudige dienslewering strategieë. Capitec is besig om dienste te lewer aan hul huidige kliënte, asook die gedeelte in die mark wat nog nooit voorheen van bankdiense gebruik gemaak het nie. Verder, is Capitec besig om kliënte van ander banke af te rokkel. Die Groot Vier sukkel om mee te ding met Capitec se innovasie rondom algemene bankdienste. Dus, word daar nou 'n situasie in die finansiële sektor geskep waar net die sterkstes sal oorleef. Die rede vir hierdie mededinging in die mark is as gevolg van Capitec se beweging na 'n hoër-inkomste mark. Die oorspronklike kliënte-profiel van Capitec word nou op ʼn prominente wyse verander. Absa, daarteenoor is besig om Capitec teë te werk deurdat hul laer-inkomste markte infiltreer. In beide gevalle is Capitec en Absa besig om 'n "vertical service line extension (VSLE" te implementeer. Die verskil tussen die twee banke is die rigting van die VSLE, waar Capitec 'n opwaartse VSLE implementeer het en Absa 'n afwaardse VSLE implementeer het. In die huidige literatuur word daar nie genoeg aandag gegee aan "service line extension" in vergelyking met "product line extensions" nie. Dus, die fokus van hierdie studie is op VSLE in die bankdienste sektor. Die primêre doelwit is om te bepaal of huidige kliënte se houdings teenoor die VSLE 'n beduidende invloed het op die handelsmerk. Verder, is ondersoek ingestel om te bepaal of daar 'n verskil is tussen 'n bank se kliënte wat 'n opwaartse VSLE implementeer en een wat 'n afwaartse VSLE implementeer. Die sekondêre doelwitte was om vas te stel of (1) kliënte se gehalte persepsie 'n effek het op hul houding teenoor 'n VSLE; (2) status ooreenstemming 'n effek het op kliënte se houding teenoor 'n VSLE; (3) ooreenstemming tussen kliënte se self-persepsie en die bank se kommunikasie 'n effek het op hul houding teenoor die VSLE; (4) kliënte se houding teenoor die VSLE 'n effek het op die handelsmerk; (5) daar 'n verskil is tussen kliënte van 'n bank wat 'n opwaarse VSLE implementeer en een wat 'n afwaarste VSLE implementeer interme van, gehalte persepsie, status ooreenstemming en hul ooreenstemming tussen self-persepsie en kommunikasie. In die geval van 'n opwaartse VSLE (Capitec) is dit bevind dat net kliënte se gehalte persepsie 'n beduidende invloed het op hul houdings teenoor die VSLE. In die geval van 'n afwaartse VSLE (Absa) is daar bevind dat kliënte se gehalte persepsie en kommunikasie „n beduidene invloed het op hul houdings teenoor die VSLE. In beide 'n opwaarste en afwaarste VSLE het kliënte se houdings teenoor die VSLE „n beduidende effek op die handelsmerkbeeld gehad. Status ooreenstemming tussen die huidige kliëntebasis en die kliëntebasis wat bereik wil word deur die VSLE, het geen effek gehad op kliënte se houding teenoor die VSLE nie. Verder, was dit bevind dat kliënte wat betrokke is by 'n bank wat 'n opwaarste VSLE implementeer (Capitec) verskil van die kliënte wat betrokke is by 'n bank wat 'n afwaarste VSLE implementeer (Absa). Capitec en Absa kliënte verskil in hul evaluasie van die betrokke bank se gehalte persepsie, status ooreenstemming, kommunikasie en handelsmerk evaluasie. Die grootste verskil tussen die twee steekproewe is by kommunikasie evaluasie en handelsmerk evaluasie. Daar is onder andere bevind dat Capitec kliënte hul bank beter evalueer as Absa kliënte. Hierdie bevinding kan verduidelik word deur die rigting van die twee banke se VSLE. Die gevolgtrekking is dat handelsmerkbeeld, ongeag die rigitng van die VSLE, beïnvloed word deur huidige kliënte se houdings teenoor die VSLE. Dus, moet bestuurders al die voordele en nadele in verband met 'n VSLE opgeweeg voordat 'n VSLE strategie geïmplemteer word.

Financial ratios are key units of analysis in most quantitative financial research including bankruptcy prediction, performance and efficiency analysis, mergers and acquisitions, and credit ratings, amongst others. Since hundreds of ratios can be computed using available financial data and given the substantial overlap in information provided by many of these ratios, choosing amongst ratios has been a significant issue facing practitioners and researchers. An important contribution of the present thesis is to show that ratios can be arranged into groups where each group describes a separate financial aspect or dimension of a given firm or industry. Then by choosing representative ratios from each group, a small, yet comprehensive, set of ratios can be identified and used for further analysis. Whilst a substantial part of the financial ratio literature has focused on classifying financial ratios empirically and on assessing the stability of the ratio groups over different periods and industries, relatively little attention has been paid to the classifying of financial ratios of the banking sector. This study aims to explore the classification patterns of 56 financial ratios for banks of different type, size and age. Using data from the Uniform Bank Performance Report (UBPR), large samples of commercial, savings, and De Novo (newlychartered) commercial banks were obtained for the period between 2001 and 2005, inclusive. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on a yearly basis to classify the banks' ratios after applying the inverse sinh transformation to enhance the distributional properties of the data. The number of patterns were decided using Parallel Analysis. The study also uses various methods including visual comparison, correlation, congruency, and transformation analysis to assess the time series stability and cross-sectional similarity of the identified ratio patterns. The study identifies 13 or 14 ratio patterns for commercial banks and 10 or 11 ratio patterns for savings banks over the period on which the study is based. These patterns are generally stable over time; yet, some dissimilarity was found between the ratio patterns for the two types of banks – that is, the commercial and savings banks. A certain degree of dissimilarity was also found between the financial patterns for commercial banks belonging to different asset-size classes. Furthermore, four ratio patterns were consistently identified for the De Novo commercial banks in the first year of their operations. However, no evidence of convergence was found between the ratio patterns of the De Novo commercial banks and the ratio patterns of the incumbent (that is, long established) commercial banks. The findings of this study bring useful insights particularly to researchers who employ bank financial ratios in empirical analysis. Methodologically, this research pioneers the application of the inverse sinh transformation and parallel analysis in the area of the ratio classification literature. Also, it contributes to the use of transformation analysis as a factor comparison technique by deriving a significance test for the outputs of this analysis. Moreover, this is the only large scale study to be conducted on the classification patterns of bank financial ratios.