Corporate Transparency, Reporting and Financial Performance of Commercial Banks. A Case Study of Equity Bank Uganda Ltd

ABSTRACT The study sought to analyze the impact of transparency, reporting and financial performance of commercial banks. A case study of Equity Bank Uganda Limited which was created in 2008 when the equity bank group purchased Uganda Micro finance limited a tier 11 , for all share price valued at US $ 27 Million. Equity bank launched under its new brand on the 30th .as a subsidiary of the equity bank group which commenced business on registration. The study was guided by a number of objectives as listed below; To assess the relationship between transparency, repo11ing and financial performance of commercial banks, To assess strategies of improving corporate transparency and repo11ing To assess the effect of URA in effective transparency, repot1ing and performance of commercial banks. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research designs and the Questionnaire method was used to collect primary data. The popul ation sample that was interviewed and fitted the questionnaires included employees of the bank i.e. workers, Staff and customers of Equity Bank and the Uganda Revenue Officials. A sample size of seventy (70) respondents was used of which fifty (50) were bank customers and staff and twenty (20) were URA Officials. Findings of the study showed that Equity bank has not disclosed and been transparent enough hence the poor performance in the related areas. This was revealed in the respondents' opinion on release of quarterly reports. The repot1s revealed 54.5% of majority customers were not aware of quarterly reports. The study concluded that transparency and disclosure of information should be given priority since it influences 34% of the banks financial performance. When banks establish mechanisms to enforce proper transparency and disclosure, practices, they will build bond and trust with their numerous stakeholders including customers, society and government which will influence them to invest their funds in banks i. e. they can buy shares when a respective commercial bank is listed on Uganda stock exchange (USE) or On international Capital Markets like New York stock exchange (NYSE) or any other Market.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Approval ............................................................................ . .. .

Declaration .................... ... ............ ...................................... .... . II

Dedication .... ........................................................... ..... . ..... .. . .. Ill

Acknowledgen1ent. ... .................... .................. .. ...... ; ................. . IV

Abstract. ....................................................................... ........ . v

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction .......................... ............................................... .. .

Background to the study........... . ... ...... .. ........................................ 2

Statement of the problem.... .. ..... .......... .. .. ... ................................... 2

Purpose of the study..... .................... ....... .... .. ............................... 3

Objectives of the study.................................................................. 3

Research questions...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Scope of the study......................................................................... 4

Significance of the study.... ......... .... . .... ............................................ 4

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The concept of corporate transparency and how it is done..... . ........................ 5

The concept of disclosure and how it is done........ .. .... .. .. .. ................ ......... 6

Trust........ ........ ...... ................................. .. .. . ...... ................ ........... 7

Financial Performance... .............................. .. ... . .. . ................... ........... 9

Strategies to Corporate transparency and disclosure...... .......... ....... ... .. .......... 10

Relationship between Corporate transparency, rep011ing and financial performance of

co1nmercial banks.. ................................................. . .. ............ ............ 11

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

Research design........ ...... ... .... .. . ...... ..... ..... .. .......................... . ......... 12

Study Population.......................... . .................................. .. .......... ..... 12

Sample Size.. . .......... ............................................ ...... .. ................... 13

Sampling teclmique.............. .. .. .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 13

Data collection methods................................................... ............... ........ 14

Measuren1ent. ............................ ."... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Data processing and data analysis.... .... .................................................. .. 15

Data cod!ng and editing............................................. .. ............ . ............ 16

Limitations to the study........... ... ............................................. . ......... ... 16

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND FINDINGS

INTRODUCTION

Gender distribution among respondents.... .......................................... 17

Education qualification.................. ...... ........................................... 18

Period taken holding a bank Account.... .. ..... ........................................ 19

Level of transparency.................................... .. ............................... 20

Level of repo11ing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Level of trust in commercial banks... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Level of financial performance in commercial banks................................ 22

Relationship between corporate transparency and reporting on financial

perfonnance.. . ..... .... ...... ........... ......... .......... ..... ............................ 23

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

INTRODUCTION

Summary of findings............ ......................... ... ... .. ........................... 24

Recommendation ..... .................................. .. ..... .............................. 25

Conclusion..................................................... ... . .. .......................... 26

References.. . ........ . ... ... ... .............. . .... .. . ....................................... .... 27

Questionnaire................... ................ . ..... .............................. .......... 30