Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations

Background: The banking literature suggests that banks can reduce their funding costs by optimising their deposit mix to prioritise low-cost accounts, managing capital efficiently, and employing diversification strategies to attract more cost-effective funding sources. While the roles of deposit mix...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Simon Kamau, Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-03-01
Series:South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/5809
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849768599164551168
author Simon Kamau
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
author_facet Simon Kamau
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
author_sort Simon Kamau
collection DOAJ
description Background: The banking literature suggests that banks can reduce their funding costs by optimising their deposit mix to prioritise low-cost accounts, managing capital efficiently, and employing diversification strategies to attract more cost-effective funding sources. While the roles of deposit mix optimisation and capital management in lowering funding costs are well-documented, the impact of diversification remains relatively underexplored, particularly in developing countries. Aim: This study examines the relationship between diversification, financial regulations and banks’ funding costs. Setting: A sample of 563 banks operating across 53 African countries over the period 2007–2021 was selected based on the availability of data. Method: This study employs fixed effects model as the main estimation approach, along with two-stage least squares (2SLS) and generalised method of moments (GMM) estimation technique for robustness test. Results: The study’s results indicate that diversification significantly lowers banks’ cost of funds in Africa. The analysis also reveals that revenue diversification has a more pronounced impact on large and international banks. Furthermore, the study identifies an indirect effect of financial regulations on banks’ funding costs through revenue diversification. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for bank managers, particularly those in large international banks, to proactively adopt diversification strategies to optimise their funding structures and reduce costs effectively. Contribution: The study provides insights into the broader implications of the interactions between regulatory frameworks, bank diversification, and funding costs in Africa.
format Article
id doaj-art-6315b30f694b400182021fef7e5060f5
institution DOAJ
issn 1015-8812
2222-3436
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
spelling doaj-art-6315b30f694b400182021fef7e5060f52025-08-20T03:03:44ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences1015-88122222-34362025-03-01281e1e1210.4102/sajems.v28i1.58091121Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulationsSimon Kamau0Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne1Department of Economics and Econometrics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgDepartment of Economics and Econometrics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgBackground: The banking literature suggests that banks can reduce their funding costs by optimising their deposit mix to prioritise low-cost accounts, managing capital efficiently, and employing diversification strategies to attract more cost-effective funding sources. While the roles of deposit mix optimisation and capital management in lowering funding costs are well-documented, the impact of diversification remains relatively underexplored, particularly in developing countries. Aim: This study examines the relationship between diversification, financial regulations and banks’ funding costs. Setting: A sample of 563 banks operating across 53 African countries over the period 2007–2021 was selected based on the availability of data. Method: This study employs fixed effects model as the main estimation approach, along with two-stage least squares (2SLS) and generalised method of moments (GMM) estimation technique for robustness test. Results: The study’s results indicate that diversification significantly lowers banks’ cost of funds in Africa. The analysis also reveals that revenue diversification has a more pronounced impact on large and international banks. Furthermore, the study identifies an indirect effect of financial regulations on banks’ funding costs through revenue diversification. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for bank managers, particularly those in large international banks, to proactively adopt diversification strategies to optimise their funding structures and reduce costs effectively. Contribution: The study provides insights into the broader implications of the interactions between regulatory frameworks, bank diversification, and funding costs in Africa.https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/5809revenue diversificationassets diversificationfinancial regulationsbanks’ funding costsafrica.
spellingShingle Simon Kamau
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
revenue diversification
assets diversification
financial regulations
banks’ funding costs
africa.
title Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
title_full Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
title_fullStr Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
title_full_unstemmed Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
title_short Diversification and banks’ funding costs in Africa: The role of financial regulations
title_sort diversification and banks funding costs in africa the role of financial regulations
topic revenue diversification
assets diversification
financial regulations
banks’ funding costs
africa.
url https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/5809
work_keys_str_mv AT simonkamau diversificationandbanksfundingcostsinafricatheroleoffinancialregulations
AT beatricedsimokengne diversificationandbanksfundingcostsinafricatheroleoffinancialregulations