Issue #3 (Volume 14 2019)

The study investigates the influence of International Financial Reporting Standards adoption, using accounting performance measure, to determine the CEO pay in listed banks in Nigeria. The audited annual financial statements of listed banks in Nigeria covering the period of 2009–2015 are analyzed. Fixed effect model, viz panel data analysis is adopted to establish the findings. The findings indicate that adoption of IFRS in Nigeria results in an inverse relationship with accounting performance in determining the CEO compensation after controlling for firm and corporate governance mechanism. However, the adoption of IFRS shows significant positive influence on the CEO pay. This result has policy implication, which encourages the regulatory agencies like Central Bank of Nigeria to monitor the compliance of all banks in Nigeria to the IFRS adoption.

The national as well as global economy is significantly affected as a result of financial bankruptcy. Therefore, identifying the rates of bankruptcy would be helpful to inspect the reasons for its failure. The present study aims to investigate different ways for the successful treatment of financial bankruptcy based on Islamic teachings, appropriate methods and techniques in handling bankruptcy.
The study gathered views of CFOs operating in Al-Hassan Industrial Estate and the views of Islamic banks’ staff working in investment sections through a questionnaire. Analytical statistical procedures were applied to test the hypotheses.
The results emphasized the importance of administration, Zakat funds, creditors, and suppliers in addressing financial bankruptcy. The management of Zakat in addressing the financial bankruptcy occupied the highest importance, i.e. 88%. However, lowest relative importance (46%) was achieved by commitment of funds debtors to collect Zakat and distribution in the treatment of financial bankruptcy.
The time and opportunity granted by the creditors to individuals and enterprises during bankruptcy hold much importance. The study has recommended establishment of a system derived from Sharia to overcome the financial difficulties.

This research examines the way in which traditional banks are competing against the emerging fintech startups. This study identifies driving factors and uniqueness that illustrate the peculiar characteristics of incumbents, analyzes their internal readiness and capabilities, and examines their strategic response against fintech startups. In doing so, this paper examines Small Town Bank (STB)1, a regional bank in Indonesia, regarding its ability to innovate. Data are obtained from primary sources through internal and external questionnaires, as well as secondary data. The results of the study indicate that, in general, the bank already has a reasonably good innovation readiness, but there are several aspects that need to be noted, namely: optimization of current services, consolidation, and internal restructuration. Concurrently, while fintech has a very broad and massive technical and managerial impact, it does not mean that incumbent banks and traditional financial services cannot compete.

Highly concentrated banking system risks and the cumulative effect due to their accumulation act as a driver for improving the macro-prudential policy implemented by central banks. For this reason, an effectively and comprehensively assessed systemic risk in the banking system is declared an express condition for the early detection of its production sources and blocking of potential spreading channels, reducing the possible implementation. In light of this, the article develops an approach to the aggregated systemic risk assessment and interpretation of its results. The proposed approach is based on the considered influence exerted by financial risks of systemically important banks on the destabilized banking system and interconnections between banks in the context of the possible crisis impulse spreading. The following steps should be accomplished to form an aggregated systemic risk indicator in the banking system. Firstly, the differentiation of systemically important banks by the degree of their systemic importance; secondly, an integral assessment of the bank operation riskiness within certain bank groups; thirdly, the cumulative composition of the corresponding integral indicators, taking into account their weighting coefficients based on two criteria, namely values of the systemic importance indicator differentiating the bank groups, and the correlation of their risks. Interpreting the quantitative measurement results with regard to the systemic risk in the banking system is followed by the recommendations below: the systemic risk grading into high, medium and low levels and the respective definition of the threshold aggregated systemic risk indicator value which informs about the possible systemic crisis when approached; justification of the selected supervision regime types (strengthened, moderate or weakened) for systemically important banks, depending on the riskiness level specific for their operation and the systemic importance degree. The developed approach to measuring the systemic risk by means of constructing an aggregated indicator and interpreting the obtained results was being tested considering the financial risk indicators of the systemically important banks in Ukraine during 2009–2018.

In today’s rapidly changing global financial market, potential counterparties are in dire need of reliable and timely information on the partner bank performance in order to find the most successful one in terms of conducting credit and deposit transactions. Public ratings of banks serve to solve this problem and are considered as one of the effective tools for choosing such a bank. In Ukraine, the rating of banking institutions is not widely used by business entities because of the imperfect methodology of analysis of banks, a rating process that is closed to the public, the assignment of an unreliable rating to selected banks, the use of obtained ratings by banks for marketing purposes, etc. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to improve the existing rating systems for Ukrainian environment. International and domestic regulatory documents on rating, data of the National Bank of Ukraine and commercial banks, materials of rating agencies, as well as scientific publications of well-known Ukrainian and foreign scientists made the theoretical basis of the study. It is proposed to take a number of priority measures to legislatively regulate the activities of bodies for rating scores of banking institutions, to create a branched infrastructure of the rating market and to establish effective interaction of its participants, to end demonopolization and weaken entry barriers and to introduce new agencies in the rating market, to identify new rating methodologies. The conclusions are aimed at the development of a civilized and transparent rating business in Ukraine, which will ultimately contribute to the timely detection and neutralization of crisis phenomena in the banking sector, restoring confidence between banks and their clients, creating the preconditions for making sound business decisions.

The importance of studying the bank crediting (lending) to non-financial corporations in Ukraine is due to the recent increase in borrowing costs and a low credit supply from banks. This article defines certain parameters, which could help to allocate the limited credit recourses to meet current macroeconomic challenges. The main purpose of the article is to discuss and substantiate the choice of these parameters. The study is focused on the systematic approach and statistical methods to achieve the research goals.
Quantitative parameters of bank lending to non-financial corporations were analyzed through the prism of macroeconomic indicators. In particular, the analysis was conducted on the following parameters of bank lending to non-financial corporations: share of bank loans to non-financial corporations in GDP, volume of loans by type of economic activity, sectoral shares of non-financial corporations in creating gross economic value added, interest rates on loans to non-financial corporations, etc.
It is defined that the share of bank lending to non-financial corporations in GDP is currently low and gradually decreasing. The analysis of the volume of lending by types of economic activities, by the size of borrowers and the respective sectoral shares of non-financial corporations in creation of gross value added showed disproportionate distribution of credit resources by economic returns. The calculation and analysis of the localization and concentration coefficients allowed to identify current problems in crediting of Ukrainian businesses. The interest rates on loans to non-financial corporations remain high, which often makes bank credits inaccessible for them, especially considering the low level of profitability of Ukrainian enterprises.

This paper investigates factors that may impact foreign direct investment in Nigeria. It seeks to establish the role of taxation (corporate tax) for foreign direct investment in Nigeria. Annual time series data derived from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development covering a period of 31 years (1985–2015) were used for this study. The variables considered in the study include FDI, corporate tax, exchange rate, inflation rate, real gross domestic product (RGDP). They were analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Johansen Co-Integration model and Unit Root Test. Findings from this research observed that a negative relationship exists between corporate taxation and FDI. Also, the study observed that corporate tax have a significant impact on FDI and there exists a long-run relationship between the two variables.

The article proposes an approach to analyzing reliability factors of commercial banks during the 2014–2017 systemic crisis in the Ukrainian banking system, using the Kohonen self-organizing neural networks and maps. As a result of an experimental study, data were obtained on financial factors affecting the stability of a commercial bank in a crisis period.

It has been concluded that during the banking crisis in Ukraine in 2014–2017, the resource base of a bank was the main factor of this bank stability. The most preferred sources of resources were funds from other banks (bankruptcy rate of 5.7%) and legal entities (bankruptcy rate of 8%), and the least stable were funds from individuals (bankruptcy rate of 28.5%).

The relationship between financial stability and the amount of capital and the structure of bank loans is less pronounced. However, one can say that banks that focused on lending to individuals experienced a worse crisis than banks whose main borrowers were legal entities.

The tools considered in the article (the Kohonen self-organizing neural networks and maps) allow for efficiently segmenting data samples according to various criteria, including bank solvency. The “hazardous” zones with a high bankruptcy rate (up to 49.2%) and the “safe” zone with a low rate of bankruptcy (6.3%) were highlighted on the map constructed. These results are of practical value and can be used in analyzing and selecting counterparties in the banking system during a downturn.

During the post-Great Recession period, macroeconomic stability had more often been threatened by socioeconomic shocks due to the rising of public discontent with the high unemployment rate and poverty, the activation of radical parties and movements, and the aggravation of the geopolitical confrontation in the world. Depending on the type and depth of such shocks, they become politically generated shocks and, in particular, affect the monetary sphere. The article investigates three types of politically generated shocks and their impact on the monetary sphere. It has been found out that the shocks generated by political populism are characterized by fiscal domination in the economy, the use of monetary measures in the budget deficit financing. Shocks arising after the use of international sanctions against certain countries have an external origin and primarily cause the increase in national exchange markets volatility. On the whole, macroeconomic and, especially, monetary instability is the result of the great shocks for the economy, the depth and duration of which are determined by the nature of the crisis, particularly, when country participates in the military conflict. The aforementioned types of politically generated shocks are analyzed based on the experience of countries such as Argentina, Turkey, and Ukraine, which at one time introduced the regime of inflation targeting in monetary policy, but were forced to modify it influenced by political and economic instability.

Organizational change involves participation of leaders, employees, structures, and systems as a strategy in anticipating and adapting to environmental changes. Leadership as a reflection of leaders’ behavior in managing organizations not only influences the policy and decision making but also indicates the approach to all members as the most important element in achieving organizational goals. This study explores perceptions of employees toward the implementation of organizational change and leadership in two leading banks in Palu City, namely, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI) and PT Bank Syariah Mandiri (BSM). The sample is purposively determined by 48 people, with 24 employees in each bank. This study is conducted using a quantitative approach with descriptive statistical data analysis and analyzed descriptively. Then it is tested with the Independent Sample T-Test. The results show that there are no differences in perceptions of employees regarding organizational change despite their experience on different levels of change, but reveal different perceptions in a leadership aspect. Organizational change at BNI is at the moving stage, while BSM has been in the last stage of organizational change, namely refreezing. The difference in leadership behavior between these two banks is very significant. Leadership at BNI is charismatic by giving idealized influence, while BSM prioritizes inspirational motivation.

Ensuring efficiency improvement of banks is a priority task for Ukrainian banking system at the stage of creating the developed financial sector of economy. The study of a bank performance, which takes into account a risk factor of banking business, is particularly relevant due to the need to ensure competitiveness and stability of both individual banks and the banking system as a whole.
The aim of this article is to develop a methodology for integral evaluation of the Ukrainian banks according to the efficiency and risk criteria. Ratio analysis, mathematical methods, comparison and grouping, synthesis, table, matrix and graphic methods make the methodological basis of the research. The object of the analysis is the activities of Ukrainian banks.
The study was conducted to elaborate a method for risk-oriented integral estimation of efficiency of the banks functioning. One can state that high efficiency and low risk of a bank’s work do not depend on the volume of assets, equity and profit for Ukrainian banks.
The analysis made it possible to evaluate the strategies for the development of Ukrainian banks. The vast majority of Ukrainian banks have chosen a moderate strategy in the context of balancing the efficiency and riskiness of their activities.
According to the results of factor analysis using Raiffeisen Bank Aval as an example, the main factors of gross profit growth were determined as increase in bank profitability and expansion of its active operations volume relative to its own capital.

Corporate social responsibility issues are becoming increasingly important in the banking sector. It refers to the responsibility of banks for their business activities subject to conceivable implications for society and the environment. Currently, the modern banking system in Ukraine is in the process of shaping its own model and integrating corporate social responsibility into all business processes. Thus, it is argued that objective comprehensive assessment of corporate social responsibility of Ukrainian banks is an essential prerequisite to enhance their performance, along with building a good rapport with clients and encouraging trust in society. From the above perspective, this article suggests an approach to assess corporate social responsibility at banks which entails implementing consistent stages in evaluating the development degree of the three corporate social responsibility components: social, environmental and economic. The assessment framework substantiates a set of indicators for measuring the degree of corporate social responsibility at banks by estimating the ratio of the GRI related aspects in the financial statements of banks, and identifying the possibility to implement the main provisions of the Social Accountability International 8,000 standard and the GRI G4 (Global Reporting Initiative). The proposed approach to measuring corporate social responsibility in banking through the instruments of a three-dimensional matrix and to positioning the banks by the areas of their corporate social responsibility has been tested by processing an array of 82 non-financial reports of 31 banks over the 2016–2018 period.

This study examined the performance of selected quoted deposit banks of Nigeria and liquidity management. Secondary data used was extracted from the financial statements of 15 money deposit banks out of population of 17 deposit money banks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for 2012–2017 (six years). The descriptive research design was used. The data collected was analyzed using ordinary least square method (OLS). Liquidity management was measured using capital ratio (CTR), current ratio (CR) and cash ratio (CSR), while performance was measured using return on assets (ROA). Based on the results of the study, liquidity management proxied by capital ratio, current ratio and cash ratio and performance of the firm proxied by return on assets are positively related. The result shows that liquidity management is an essential factor in business operations and consequently leads to business profitability. Hence proper liquidity management helps solve the agency theory problem of agency costs that arise when control of companies is separated from the ownership, whereby managers are able to employ the firm’s resources for personal gains instead of maximizing the value of the firm or the shareholders’ wealth. The value of the firm and the shareholders’ wealth can be maximized through the firm’s profitability via effective and efficient liquidity management.

In response to a sharp rise in household credit repayment risk after the 2008 crisis, the banking sector was consolidated, borrowing conditions were tightened and the regulatory authorities had to improve the financial literacy of population. The study evaluates the effectiveness of regulatory measures to prevent excessive indebtedness, and analyzes the results of the latest survey of population financial literacy in Hungary after the 2008 financial crisis. The results confirm the scientific studies of different economists and scholars who state that the financial awareness is closely related to household saving and borrowing patterns. The outcomes of the analysis reveal the risks associated with the lack of financial literacy in Hungary. In fact, the financial awareness of households over the past years has not improved significantly either in the wake of losses suffered on FX-based loans, or as a result of the preventive actions undertaken by the government regulatory bodies.

Recently, banks have been increasingly implementing solutions, which facilitate automation of tedious, repetitive processes, both front and back office. The aim of the article is to review the applications of automation of banking processes and to present implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in order to optimize the process of handling disclosure of information constituting a bank secret at a bank operating in Poland. Banks are obliged to disclose information constituting a bank secret to a number of authorized institutions not only free of charge, but also within a specified, limited period of time. At the same time, they must ensure an appropriate level of security for legally protected information. The process traditionally carried out by people was time-consuming and error-prone due to the human factor. It required more quantitative efficiency and improvement in task execution. For this purpose, Robotic Process Automation was implemented in the bank in the process of disclosure of information constituting a bank secret at the request of authorized authorities and institutions. After the implementation of RPA, the enquiry handling process was shortened from 7 to 3 stages, including registration of the case in the system, automatic handling of the request and sending a response. Thanks to the RPA implementation, the time needed to complete particular tasks in the process was significantly reduced, which made it possible to shorten the maximum enquiry processing time from 16 to 3 days. The automation significantly improved process profitability and efficiency. It enabled better task management and improved security by reducing errors and ensuring compliance with regulations. The implementation of the RPA tool in the process of disclosing information enabled its quantitative and qualitative optimization, as well as efficient and reliable performance of the obligations set forth in the Banking Law Act.

The study aims to investigate the impact of determinants of financial distress on financial sustainability of Ethiopian commercial banks. The balanced panel data of 12 commercial banks of Ethiopia have been taken for the study from 2011 to 2017. The research deploys Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Regression Model. The indicators of financial distress are bank’s specific internals and macro-economic factors. The proxies of financial sustainability are Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Financial Stability Index and Bank Soundness. The findings reveal that the Absolute Liquidity Risk and Net Income Growth are found to be positive and significant and Solvency Risk negative and significant in relation to Return on Assets. Asset Quality is found to be positive and significant and Solvency Risk negative and significant with respect to Return on Equity. The Asset Quality and Net Income Risk are positive and significant and Solvency Risk is negative and significant with relation to the Financial Stability Index. Absolute Liquidity Risk and Liquidity Risk are positive and significant and Credit Risk negative and significant with Bank Soundness. Free Cash Flow and Net Income Growth are essential for enhancing Return on Assets and Bank Soundness, and managing equity within the prudential norms could bring forth short-term financial sustainability of commercial banks. By lowering provisioning of loan loss, Growth in Net Interest Income and managing Solvency Risk could ensure financial stability to the banks, which in turn leads to financial sustainability. The study reveals that financial sustainability of banks is insulated from the exposures of systematic risks originating from macroeconomic factors.

Retracted on August 17, 2020 by the Journal’s owner and Publisher. Type of retraction – plagiarism.
There wasn’t a request for this retraction, but the reason for investigation of plagiarism fact was the Russian Academy of Sciences Committee’s report “Predatory Journals at Scopus and WoS: Translation Plagiarism from Russian Sources”: https://kpfran.ru/wp-content/uploads/plagiarism-by-translation-2.pdf” dated August 12, 2020. The publishing house has familiarized itself with the report. The article by Alexey Mikhaylov, Natalia Sokolinskaya and Evgeniy Lopatin (2019). Asset allocation in equity, fixed-income and cryptocurrency on the base of individual risk sentiment. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 16(2), 171-181. doi:10.21511/imfi.16(2).2019.15 was mentioned in this report. It is noted that translation plagiarism was detected in this article - http://wiki.dissernet.org/wsave/IMFI_2019_2_1publ.html.
Due to this the publishing house carried out an investigation on possible cases of plagiarism of all articles of these authors (Alexey Mikhaylov, Natalia Sokolinskaya and Evgeniy Lopatin) published in “Business Perspectives” journals.
When the manuscript "Assessment of Russian banking system performance and sustainability" was submitted to the Journal for consideration, the authors signed the Cover letter and attested to the fact that their manuscript is an original research and has not been published before. Then, the manuscript was accepted for consideration by the Managing Editor and was tested for plagiarism using the iThenticate and Unicheck programs. Plagiarism was not detected. On August 12, 2020 the Russian Academy of Sciences Committee’s presented the report. Editorial staff decided to re-test all articles of mentioned authors for plagiarism using the iThenticate and Unicheck programs – the programs didn’t show the plagiarism, then the articles were tested for translation plagiarism by the experts of “Business Perspectives” and plagiarism was detected (plagiarism and paraphrases from Russian-language sources).

According to the results of the investigation, the Publisher and owner of the journal decided to retract this article because of plagiarism on August 17, 2020.
The authors were notified of such a decision.