ABSTRACT

This study is aimed at ascertaining the impact of internet banking services expenditure on the profitability of commercial banks in Cameroon; with the focus on Zenith Bank Plc. Internet technology holds the potential to fundamentally change banks and the banking industry. Its objective is to examine the relationship between mobile banking service expenditure and the profitability of Zenith bank plc.It helps to know whether or not there is a significant relationship between mobile banking service expenditure and the profitability of commercial banks.Information for this study is gathered from the annual reports of the Zenith Banks .The design for the study is ex-post-factor research design.A regression analysis was prepared and data obtained.The result reveals that there exists a positive and significant relationship between the log of internet banking services expenses and the return on assets.Based on the following findings of this study,the following policy recommendations are suggested: The empirical results of the study have revealed significant relationship  between the log of internet banking services expenses(IBSE) and return on asset (ROA).We therefore, advocate for more ATM facilities which should be placed at strategic location for easy access.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The coming into existence of the internet has helped to greatly improve the operations of commercial banks in Cameroon. The delivering of electronic services to businesses and consumers has been going on for years now. The internet is a fast spreading service that allows customers to use computers or any of their internet enabled devices to access account-specific information and possibly conduct transactions from remote location such as at home quickly and successfully. Debit cards, credit cards, ATM cards seem to make life very easy because without them, today’s life will be full of misery. In this recent time, retail banks are now offering their services mostly through their internet branches. Internet banking is simply an electronic payment system which helps customers of any financial institution or bank to conduct any transaction.

The introduction of these internet enabled devices brought increased enabled devices for competition in the banking industry, which has gone a long way to reducing customers waiting time for banking transactions. In Cameroon, this networking began with LAN (Local Area Network), MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) and later the WAN (Wider Area Network).The coming into existence of the internet banking has made transaction and data processing very accessible for quick management decision making. The rate of wholesale and retail banking services has been increased through internet banking.The prospects of reducing the cost of operations revenue actually is seen as a motivator in the investment in internet banking by banks according to Simpson, J. (2002). However,on the other hand the adoption of internet banking has also brought notable challenge to the industries in terms of exposure of risk. Since the introduction of this system, it has been noticed that the volume of deposits has increased,and also the fraudulent practices in Cameroon banks.That is the reason why Ovia, J. (2001) stated in the mid 1990s Cameroon’s banking scene has witnessed phenomenal changes which can be seen in the enormous volume and complexity in service delivery or product liberalization of finance and process re-engineering in business.

In the recent time, it has been observed that a large number of literature have totally ignored the internet banking and compare electronic money with substitution of currency through electronic gadgets such as a virtual currency and smart cards. Internet banking is simply when devices are being used. For example, Freedman (2000) proposes that electronic money and internet banking is made up of three devices; access cards, stored value cards and network money. Electronic money is the sum of network money and stored value cards. The most fascinating about this view is that electronic money and internet banking are no longer processes but devices, Shy and Tarkka (2002),Santomero and Seater(1996) have presented models that identify conditions which alternative electronic payments substitute for cash. Banks, since the inception of the use of internet banking product in the late 1980’s, have not made their presence to be felt much.

However, not many studies have been done on the profitability of commercial banks in Cameroon. The fact still remains the reality of using IT in banks is necessitated by the huge amount of information being handled by these banks on a daily basis.The softwarae used by banks is usually renewed on short term basis which incurs huge financial costs on banks. Capital providers expect that they would gain tremendous returns which may accrue from the project as information technology driven by the internet is adopted. Since the introduction of internet banking, Cameroonian banks have been forced to invest more in assets in order to meet up its competitive positioning. Much earnings have been retained to meet up with this obligation which led to the denial of dividend for shareholders with expectation that the future dividend will be fatter. According to Basel committee on banking supervision, internet banking is defined to include the provision of retail and small value banking product and services through electronic channels as well as large value electronic payment and other wholesale banking services delivered electronically.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Internet technology holds the potential to fundamentally change banks and the banking industry.An extreme view speculates that the internet will destroy old models of how bank services are developed and delivered DeYoung (2001).The widespread availability of internet banking is expected to affect the mixture of financial services produced by these banks. In addition, industry analysis outlining the potential impact of internet banking on cost savings,revenue growth and risk profile of the banks have also generated considerable interest and speculation about the impact of the information technology on the banking industry.

However the fact that internet banking is fast gaining acceptance inCameroonian banking sector does not assuredly signify improved banks performance nor would conspicuous use of internet as a delivery channel make it economically viable,productive or profitable.This study sought to fill the exist research gap by answering the following research questions:does internet banking affect profitability of commercial banks in Cameroon?