Operations of Ethiopian Commercial Banks During COVID-19 Pandemic: Responses and Lessons from International Experiences
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Date
2021-04
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A.A.U
Abstract
The study attempts to assess operations of banking sector during COVID-19 pandemic: responses and lessons from international experiences (focusing on commercial banks) in Ethiopia. Specifically, the thesis examines the influence and challenges of the pandemic and key measures taken by commercial banks in response to COVID-19 outbreak. The study adopts mixed research approach combining documentary analysis, in-depth interview and survey. Purposive sampling technique was used to select banks as well as survey participants. The results of the study revealed that COVID-19 pandemic affects the main commercial banking operations including loan collection and disbursement, deposit mobilization, foreign currency generation, international trade services, interest and other incomes of banking services. To absorb the problem commercial banks have taken different operational measures including loan re-scheduling, providing working capital loan, waiving service charges, lowering interest rate for customers of highly affected sectors. Finally, the study recommended possible operational measures to be taken. Commercial banks should lower import-export related charges, introduce efficient e-banking service, increase saving interest rate to encourage saving, give advisory services for customers who are struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, should focus on generation of foreign currency by promoting export-oriented platforms and encouraging remittances and so on in response to the pandemic.
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Keywords
Challenges, Commercial Banks, COVID-19, Influence, Measures, Operations, Pandemic