Empirical Analysis of the Macroeconomic Drivers of Banking Industry Stability in Nigeria

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to determine the macroeconomic drivers of banking industry stability in Nigeria. The study employed Quantitative Research method using ex-post research design to analyse the impact of exchange rate, interest rate, inflation rate, economic growth rate, and unemployment rate on bank credit-asset ratio from 1991 to 2023. Based on preliminary estimations from the Phillips-Perron unit root and F-Bounds tests, the study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique to establish the following key findings. Macroeconomic variables collectively and significantly influence banking industry stability. Specifically, high economic growth rate, moderate inflation rate, and low unemployment rate are the core drivers of banking industry stability, while high interest rate and volatile exchange rate exert a significant negative influence on banking industry stability. Consequently, bankers and macroeconomic policymakers should collaborate to ensure that macroeconomic policy frameworks provide banks with the opportunities for capital mobilisation necessary to effectively perform their financial intermediation roles for the overall benefit of the economy. The study recommends balancing macroeconomic targets and bank stability through growth-inflation-employment targeting policies to improve households' loan repayment resilience and reduce the credit risk of Nigerian banks. Additionally, exchange rate stabilisation through government intervention is suggested to help banks hedge against asset and credit value loss due to exchange rate volatility.