1 IMf/WB Annual Meetings Seminars From Banking Stability to Banking Performance : An Analysis of the Banking Sector in sub-Saharan Africa François Leroux Oct

2 Outline Preliminary remarks The Structures-Conduct-Performance paradigm Analysis of the banking sector General assessment Remarks and policy implications Contribution of cooperative institutions Performance of banking regulation and supervision Banks as partners of institutional development Conclusion

3 1.Preliminary Remarks Stability a priority Financial stability progresses There is not a single model for a financial system Present assessment and recommendations are limited to sub- Saharan Africa

4 2.The Structures-Conduct- Performance Paradigm A classical framework Adaptations for the banking sector Adaptations for developing economies

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6 3. Analysis of the Banking Sector Selecting the main components for analysis

7 Analysis of the Banking Sector Economic and Institutional environment Macroeconomic environment Degree of diversification of the economy The cyclical aspect of the economy Size of the informal sector Degree of confidence in the financial institutions Financial market completeness Legal environment Judicial environment Credit culture

8 Analysis of the Banking Sector Structures Banking concentration Type of Bank ownership Presence of state-owned banks Place of sectorial banks Place of foreign banks Interaction with NBFIs and cooperatives

9 Analysis of the Banking Sector Conduct Degree of effective competition Credit policy Credit concentration General liquidity of the banking system Banking density and marketing strategies Specific practices of foreign banks

10 Analysis of the Banking Sector Financial performance Financial performance of the banking sector is adequately monitored by the Financial Soundness Indicator (FSI) and the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) cf IMF occasional paper 212

11 Analysis of the Banking Sector Economic performance Performance is a qualitative concept Performance is a relative concept The traditional meaning of economic performance in I.O. Allocative efficiency Progress Employment Equity (« Fairness »)

12 Analysis of the Banking Sector Economic performance Security of transactions Durability of the banks Allocative efficiency Technical efficiency Contribution to modernization of the economy Role in savings mobilization

13 Analysis of the Banking Sector Economic performance ( contd) Fairness in geographical coverage Potential depositorsaccess to the banking system Contribution to reduction of the informal sector Contribution to development of the financial sector Contribution to financial education

14 4 General Assessment

15 Economic and Institutional environment High sensitivity to external shocks Poor diversification of the economy Substantial needs for seasonal financing Large informal sector Lack of confidence in the institutions Incompleteness of the financial markets Reform of the legal environment Problematic judicial environment Embryonic credit culture

16 Structures Limited number of banks Tight control of bank ownership State-owned banks: toward a reduced role Shrinking or disappearance of the sectorial banks Over-presence of foreign banks Segmentation of banking and non-banking activities ( a dilemma )

17 Conduct Partial competition ( conscious parallelism ) Credit rationing Credit concentration Over-liquidity of the banking system Insufficient number of branches Niche marketing and low banking density Skimming practices by foreign banks Limited effort of financial innovation

18 Economic performance Improved but still questionable security of transactions Relatively short banking history Allocative efficiency : SME financing problem Technical efficiency Insufficient contribution to savings mobilization Geographical discrimination Restricted depositors access to the banking system Limited contribution to the reduction of the informal sector Banks as vectors of financial sector development Limited contribution to financial education

19 5. Remarks and Policy Implications

20 Remarks Sub performance in terms of structures or conduct is a traditional problem of small economies and not specific to developing economies. In absolute or relative terms, numerous African countries could be classified as small economies Allocative inefficiencies are not restricted to or typical of developing economies Formulating regulations etc. easier than ensuring their implementation Resistance to change Real challenge is behavior modification

21 Policy Implications Economic and institutional environment Regional definition of banking space is the logical result of the small size of African economies Authorities must contribute to confidence in the banking system –By implementing an adequate scheme of deposit insurance –By respecting banking confidentiality at all times –By making banking protection a priority in times of social unrest

22 Complete and implement the reform of legal practices where necessary Promote the role of professional associations and the mobility of banking personnel Ensure that civil servants at all levels understand banking practices Promote institutional investors Policy Implications Economic and institutional environment(contd )

23 Policy Implications Structures Encourage the shrinking of development banks, where necessary Limit market share of state-owned banks Determine, beforehand, maximum market share allocated to foreign banks Promote cooperative and mutualist-type institutions Maintain the segmentation between banks and NBFIs Envisage NBFi access to the payment system Regularly determine whether conditions for entry are not too restrictive

24 Policy implications Conduct Conscious parallelism is not collusion Competition laws are a luxury of developed countries Incitative tax treatment for opening of new branches Professional banking associations must file annual reports on the financing of SMEs Banking-sector practices must not harm the development of the cooperative sector

25 6.Contribution of Cooperative Institutions Given the under-banking situation in Africa, cooperative structures must be encouraged Their strentghs: –They collect widely dispersed savings –They represent an effective competitor to the informal sector –They promote development of local economic elites –They promote development of the mortgage market

26 6.Contribution of Cooperative Institutions ( contd ) –They familiarize clients with responsible consumer credit –They play a major role in building financial awarness

27 But… Cooperative institutions face major problems of internal governance when they embark on credit for commerce and industry Savings cooperatives can only marginally participate in the development of financial markets

28 Moreover Organization of the cooperative sector must be confederal, to ensure support of institutions in difficulty Regulation of cooperative institutions can be harmonized on a regional basis, but supervision must be strictly national

29 7. Performance of Banking Regulation and Supervision Significant modernization of regulation and supervision General acceptance of international codes and standards Harmonization and cooperation on a regional basis

30 Regulation and Supervision (contd) Avantages of segmentation Specialized or integrated supervision ? Preference for institutional regulation and supervision Transparency or limited opacity ? Inapplicability of the market discipline concept Seeking an optimal level of regulation

31 8.Banks as Partners of Institutional Development A positive attitude towards banks The conservative nature of banks is a factor of stability Tax treatment should be adequate Promote, where possible, bank listings on local stock exchanges

32 9. Conclusion Banking sector performance assesment as a complementary exercise to financial stability assessment A need for economic performance indicators of the banking sector –Performance is essentially a qualitative concept –Performance is a relative concept –Indicators should be specific to Africa to facilitate useful comparisons within the region