The Effect of COVID-19 on the Profitability of Commercial Banks in Bangladesh

Purpose: Every component of the global financial system has suffered serious harm due to the present COVID-19 pandemic, and Bangladesh is not an exception. The banking sector’s performance and profitability have been impacted as a result. In this paper, we analyze the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the financial performance of banking sector in Bangladesh before and throughout the present era of COVID-19. Methodology: In this regard, the study considered the 14 banks over the period of 2014-2021. The random-effects regression model is utilized to identify the profitability drivers. The random effect model investigates the influence of bank-specific variables and macroeconomic variables on the profitability of banks. Findings: During the pandemic era of COVID-19, our article found that a high degree of nonperforming loans, retaining more liquid assets, and a significant amount of hedging funds reduced banks' profitability. In contrast, a suitable bank size, non-interest revenue, inflation rate, and population growth increased the bank's performance indicators throughout this time. Practical Implications: This study's findings will aid financial policymakers in identifying profit-enhancing loopholes and implementing preventative actions during crisis periods such as COVID-19. Originality: The profit influencing factor include both bank and economic oriented, some of which were not previously considered in Bangladesh-specific studies. Incorporating these additional criteria and the independent examination of the pandemic era helps us to get new perspectives on the elements that influence commercial banks’ profitability.