Developments in Nigeria’s banking industry in 2019 will be
shaped by seven global and domestic factors which will work simultaneously to
impact on banks’ profitability, earnings and non-performing loans. They will
come with likelihood of staff retrenchment and increased confrontation between
shareholders and management of banks. The seven factors and how they will
likely impact the industry are presented below.
Crude Oil Price
According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the oil and
gas industry accounts for 30 percent of total loans and 47 percent of
nonperforming loans (NPLs) in the banking industry. When crude oil price is
high or stable, oil companies do well and by extension banks make more money
especially interest income from oil and gas industry. But when the price of
crude oil falls, as it happened in 2014 to 2015, oil companies make less money
or record losses and by extension, unable to repay their loans, resulting in
increased NPLs in banks, and reduction in banks’ profitability.
With the price of crude oil on the downward trend since October, 2018 from peak $86/ barrel to as low as $47.25 earlier this week before a two-day rebound to $56, the risk of banks recording more NPLs in 2019 is becoming real. According to Johnson Chukwu, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Cowry Asset Management Limited, “The greatest downside risk facing the banking industry in 2019 is the price of crude oil. Should the price of crude oil drop to the lower $40s or drop to the lower $30s, the banking industry may see an increase in the level of nonperforming loans (NPLs)".
With the price of crude oil on the downward trend since October, 2018 from peak $86/ barrel to as low as $47.25 earlier this week before a two-day rebound to $56, the risk of banks recording more NPLs in 2019 is becoming real. According to Johnson Chukwu, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Cowry Asset Management Limited, “The greatest downside risk facing the banking industry in 2019 is the price of crude oil. Should the price of crude oil drop to the lower $40s or drop to the lower $30s, the banking industry may see an increase in the level of nonperforming loans (NPLs)".
“Low oil price could also trigger a devaluation of currency of naira, such devaluation may have an impact on level of non-performing loans, as well as make impact on ability of customers to service their debt, which also directly impact on level of NPLs in the banking industry,” he said.
The reality of this
risk, according to analysts at Vetiva Capital Management Limited, will compel
banks to reduce lending to oil and gas sector, which in itself can undermine
their earnings and also economic growth.
“We expect banks to remain cautious in extending credit to the oil and gas sector given the recent bearish trend in oil price. We identify this as a quagmire for the economy where on one hand, strong credit extension to the private sector is a prerequisite to sustainable and inclusive economic growth while on the other hand banks continue to await a stronger recovery and a less volatile environment before investing their assets”, they said in their 2019 projections.
“We expect banks to remain cautious in extending credit to the oil and gas sector given the recent bearish trend in oil price. We identify this as a quagmire for the economy where on one hand, strong credit extension to the private sector is a prerequisite to sustainable and inclusive economic growth while on the other hand banks continue to await a stronger recovery and a less volatile environment before investing their assets”, they said in their 2019 projections.
International Regulations
The Basel Three and International Financial Reporting
Standard 9 are international financial regulations, with the former taking
effect last year while the later takes effect from January 1st, 2019.
Implementation of the Basel Three leads to higher Capital Adequacy ratio for
banks, while that of IFRS 9 raises the criteria for recognition of NPLs
resulting to likelihood of higher credit losses for banks.
The net implication of the two regulations is that banks will have to raise fresh funds to increase their capital base in order to comply with regulatory capital adequacy requirements. Thus in 2019, the banking industry will witness capital raising exercises by banks. “There will be need for additional capital because they are complying with IFRS 9 and with Basel 3, from January. So capital adequacy ratios are going to be higher”, said Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited.
“We should see banks trying to raise capital to improve their capital base in order to meet Basel 3 requirement. So we should expect some form of recapitalisation either in the form of equity or Tier 2 capital i.e. bonds”, said Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Asset.
The net implication of the two regulations is that banks will have to raise fresh funds to increase their capital base in order to comply with regulatory capital adequacy requirements. Thus in 2019, the banking industry will witness capital raising exercises by banks. “There will be need for additional capital because they are complying with IFRS 9 and with Basel 3, from January. So capital adequacy ratios are going to be higher”, said Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited.
“We should see banks trying to raise capital to improve their capital base in order to meet Basel 3 requirement. So we should expect some form of recapitalisation either in the form of equity or Tier 2 capital i.e. bonds”, said Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Asset.
2019 Election
The outcome of the 2019 general election especially at the
presidential level will greatly impact banking business in 2019. Analysts at
Vetiva Capital projected that the slow growth of banks’ lending to the economy
witnessed in 2018 will persist in the first half of the year due to election
uncertainties. “We expect the conservative approach to credit growth to persist
in 2019. Particularly, amid the upcoming election season we believe lenders
will remain majorly on the sidelines through the first half of the year as the
political scene takes center stage and also given the possibility of policy
reversals in the economy should there be a change in leadership”.
Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Asset however noted that a peaceful outcome of the election will impact positively on banks business. He said: “Should election be successful and all the political parties and contestants accept the result, then we should see stable economic environment, and quicker recovery of the economy. But should the result be contested, then it will create some level of political uncertainty, then we should see reversed of economic recovery and economic instability”.
Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Asset however noted that a peaceful outcome of the election will impact positively on banks business. He said: “Should election be successful and all the political parties and contestants accept the result, then we should see stable economic environment, and quicker recovery of the economy. But should the result be contested, then it will create some level of political uncertainty, then we should see reversed of economic recovery and economic instability”.
Change in economic
policy
Closely related to the outcome of the election is the
likelihood of a change in government’s economic policy post May 29th. According
to Chukwu of Cowry Asset, “The policies of the new government will also have
direct impact on the banking industry. If the current policies persist, the
economy will witness slow growth, but should there be a new economic policy by
whoever wins the election at the national level, then it should trigger
stronger economic growth that will trickle down into customers’ demand for more
banking services.”
Monetary Policy
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will likely sustain its
tight monetary policy this year with primary aim of achieving exchange rate
stability. This will affect banks in two major ways. The CBN will have to offer
attractive yields on treasury bills to attract dollars from portfolio investors
which is critically needed for external reserve accretion. This will lead to higher
yields (interest rate) on treasury bills, and hence increase in banks’ income
from these instruments.
But the CBN, in order to implement its tight monetary policy has been conducting liquidity mop up through treasury bills auction. Last week alone the apex bank mopped up N1 trillion from the interbank money market. This according to analysts at Vetiva Capital will produce intense competition for deposits among banks, which may likely increase their cost of funds and thinner net interest margin as they try to outbid each other with higher deposit rate. “We expect the apex bank to maintain this liquidity squeeze going into 2019 given our expectation of sustained currency and price pressure through the year which will also put an upward push on cost of funds as banks scramble for liquidity – a downside for the lower tier banks”, said Vetiva Capital analysts
But the CBN, in order to implement its tight monetary policy has been conducting liquidity mop up through treasury bills auction. Last week alone the apex bank mopped up N1 trillion from the interbank money market. This according to analysts at Vetiva Capital will produce intense competition for deposits among banks, which may likely increase their cost of funds and thinner net interest margin as they try to outbid each other with higher deposit rate. “We expect the apex bank to maintain this liquidity squeeze going into 2019 given our expectation of sustained currency and price pressure through the year which will also put an upward push on cost of funds as banks scramble for liquidity – a downside for the lower tier banks”, said Vetiva Capital analysts
Competition from Telcos and Fintech
For a long while, mobile telecommunication companies have
been angling for opportunity to play in the financial sector but to no avail.
This opportunity came last year when the CBN introduced the Payment
Service Banks regime, which allows telcos, fintech companies’ and other
non-bank firms to render or operate eight banking related services
through subsidiaries. This development according Bismarck Rewane will
trigger increased competition in the financial services sector, with telcos and
fintechs competing for what have always been banks’ traditional businesses.
He said: “Competitive pressure from the telcos will put them (banks) under additional pressure. So the transaction banking space is going to be cannibalised. “There is going to be struggle for market share, both conventional competitors and non-conventional competitors. You know the vultures come in when people are weak, so the vultures are going to come in, and they are going to have a field day. So the banks have to reinvest themselves owing to the fact that what they call their traditional business is now threatened
“So the bargaining power of the banks will not be as big as what it used to be because it is a highly regulated industry but protected but now that telcos and Fintechs are coming in to compete, you are going to see them cannibalized and the productivity in the banking industry is pretty low.”
He said: “Competitive pressure from the telcos will put them (banks) under additional pressure. So the transaction banking space is going to be cannibalised. “There is going to be struggle for market share, both conventional competitors and non-conventional competitors. You know the vultures come in when people are weak, so the vultures are going to come in, and they are going to have a field day. So the banks have to reinvest themselves owing to the fact that what they call their traditional business is now threatened
“So the bargaining power of the banks will not be as big as what it used to be because it is a highly regulated industry but protected but now that telcos and Fintechs are coming in to compete, you are going to see them cannibalized and the productivity in the banking industry is pretty low.”
Who leads CBN?
The five year tenure of Mr. Godwin Emefiele will expire on
June 3rd 2019. His reappointment or appointment of another person to lead the
apex bank will impact the banking industry. While the reappointment of
Emefiele, who is believed to have performed well, is not expected to lead to
radical changes or reforms in the banking industry, a new CBN Governor may
likely introduce radical reforms which may shake the banking industry. For
example, reforms introduced by Professor Soludo in 2004 led to consolidation in
the industry with number of banks reduced from 81 to 25. Similarly, measures
introduced by Emefiele’s predecessor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, led to
nationalisation of some banks and acquisitions of former Intercontinental
Bank and former Oceanic Bank by Access Bank and Ecobank respectively,
leading to further reduction in number of banks. Thus who leads CBN post June
3rd 2019 may lead to another round of measures which may make or mar some of
the banks.
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