Is there evidence of disintermediation in the South African banking sector?

Abstract

This paper assesses the level of financial intermediation in the South African financial industry and the reasons for these levels of intermediation. Different banking intermediation measures are considered and mostly reflect disintermediation during the 1993 to 2009 period. Panel regressions are run to assess which economic factors had the biggest impact on intermediation by SA’s four largest banks (Absa Bank, Standard Bank of South Africa, Firstrand Bank and Nedbank). It is found that bank intermediation was impacted by bank size, profitability, as well as the level of competition and client relationships. The level of financial intermediation in SA has been low, negatively impacting on banks intermediation ability, and possibly impeding government and corporate sectors’ investment and economic activity.