Determinants of non-performing Loans and their impact on profitability in South African banks

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the determinants (macroeconomic and bank specific) of nonperforming loans in South Africa and assess the impact of non-performing loans on banking profitability. It has been demonstrated by the above statistics that South African banks are facing bad loan debt repayments which in turn turns into non-performing loans. Although it can be argued that the level of non-performing loans in South Africa is relatively low, the level of bank credit impairments threatens bank stability in the economy. The study was based on the cointegration and Granger causality method which was applied to panel data drawn from a sample of 8 banks. The granger causality test indicated that no variable Granger causes non-performing loans although non-performing loans granger caused GDP and capital adequacy. Furthermore, the Granger causality test indicated that non-interest income to total income Granger causes return on assets. Therefore, non-interest income to total income is a significant determinant of bank profitability as measured by return on assets.