CREDIT INFORMATION SHARING AND PROFITABILITY OF BANKS IN KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: Credit information sharing cost positively influenced the profitability of banks in Kenya. The general objective of the study was to evaluate credit information sharing and profitability of banks in Kenya. Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study stablished that borrower’s credit history information had a positive influence on the profitability in Kenya. The study the respondents agreed that their banks collect information on the number of previous applications that a loan applicant has made, the bank collects information on the number of loans applied and declined, the bank asks for reasons that the loan applied was declined for all applicants, the bank asks loan applicants to indicate the discipline observed when repaying previous loans advanced, the bank asks clients to indicate if they have delayed in remitting their periodic loan repayment in the past, the banks collect more information about the loan applicants credit history from the CRB. Recommendations: The study recommended that while sharing information, the banks should do a cost benefit analysis to ascertain if the sharing of such information is material or not. It should pay its attention to the administrative costs that come with sharing information. This is because the cost of information sharing as seen from the study results have a negative and significant influence on performance Purpose: Credit information sharing cost positively influenced the profitability of banks in Kenya. The general objective of the study was to evaluate credit information sharing and profitability of banks in Kenya. Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study stablished that borrower’s credit history information had a positive influence on the profitability in Kenya. The study the respondents agreed that their banks collect information on the number of previous applications that a loan applicant has made, the bank collects information on the number of loans applied and declined, the bank asks for reasons that the loan applied was declined for all applicants, the bank asks loan applicants to indicate the discipline observed when repaying previous loans advanced, the bank asks clients to indicate if they have delayed in remitting their periodic loan repayment in the past, the banks collect more information about the loan applicants credit history from the CRB. Recommendations: The study recommended that while sharing information, the banks should do a cost benefit analysis to ascertain if the sharing of such information is material or not. It should pay its attention to the administrative costs that come with sharing information. This is because the cost of information sharing as seen from the study results have a negative and significant influence on performance