Interest Rate Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism and Commercial Banks Earnings in Nigeria

Abstract:

This study examined the interest rates channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism and the earnings of commercial banks in Nigeria. The objective was to investigate the extent to which the interest rates channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism affects the earnings capacity of the quoted commercial banks. Time series data were sourced from annual financial reports of the commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin’s various issues. Earnings measures such as earnings per share and earnings before interest and tax were modeled as the function of Monetary Policy Rate, Prime Lending Rate, Short-term Savings Rate, Long-term Saving Rate and Maximum Lending Rate. The Ordinary Least Square method of Regression Analysis was used to estimate the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables. Augmented Dickey Fuller Test, Johansen Cointegration Test, Granger Causality Test and Vector Error Correction Test were used to determine the dynamic relationship among the variables. Findings showed that short-term and long-term savings rates have negative effects while monetary policy rate, maximum lending rate and prime lending rate have positive effects on the earnings capacity of Nigerian commercial banks. Therefore, we recommend that interest rate policies should be integrated with the earning objectives of the commercial banks.