A comparative analysis of financial performance of Islamic banks vis-à-vis conventional banks: evidence from Pakistan

PurposeIn recent years, the fast growth of Islamic banks (IBs) has generated debates among policymakers and economists about the sustainability and performance of these institutions. This paper aims to undertake a comparative analysis of the financial performance of IBs and conventional banks (CBs) in Pakistan over the period 2008–2019 to evaluate how IBs are faring compared to their conventional peers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper considers financial ratio analysis (FRA) to analyze and compare the performance of the top-10 IBs and CBs operating in Pakistan. The sample includes five full-fledged IBs and five CBs which offer Islamic windows in Pakistan. We have selected the top-5 best performing CBs offering Islamic windows. This study offers a comparative analysis of Islamic v/s conventional banks.FindingsThe results show that Islamic banks are better capitalized, less risky and have higher liquidity. In contrast, the profit of Islamic banks is found lower than CBs. The logical reasoning behind these performance indicators has been discussed in detail.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has provided an analysis of financial performance only for Pakistan. A cross-country analysis could be more representative of the performance of Islamic Banks.Practical implicationsThe size of Islamic banking industry should be enhanced by opening new branches and promoting Islamic finance literacy.Originality/valueThe study assists investors, borrowers and managers in making better decisions. It also provides the latest valuable information to regulators and policymakers in making rules and policies for the financial industry in Pakistan.