Financial Performance Analysis of Distressed Banks in Ghana: Exploration of Financial Ratios and Z-score

Abstract

A robust bank industry is a major player in the stability of an economy. By way of financial ratios and Z-score, the study analysed UT Bank’s financial performance prior to the recent bank sector reforms in Ghana. Annual financials over a ten year period (2007-2016) were used. Debt management practices of UT Bank per the results obtained were quite on the hind side. Leverage and risk variables were poorly handled. Inability to meet creditors’ claims would have been eminent considering the average mean values of debt-to-assets and debt-to equity ratios of 0.76 and 0.90 respectively. The entire bank sector will be put on a sound footing if credit management practices of individual banks are refreshed. The bank industry regulator should tighten its supervisory and monitoring role over banks to help detect early signs of non-performing banks. The study further recommends that statutory lending limits of banks be re-enforced to uphold the threshold of 10 percent for unsecured loans and 25 percentage for secured loans of net owned funds of the bank.