Effect of Number of Bank Branches, and Number of Savings Deposit Accounts on the Profitability of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the effect of number of bank branches and number of savings deposit accounts on the profitability of deposit money banks in Nigeria, covering the period 1993–2024 with quarterly data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bureau of Statistics. Profitability was proxied by return on assets , employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model and bounds testing approach, the study investigated both the short-run and long-run relationships. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate variation in the data, while correlation analysis confirmed weak to moderate associations among variables, reducing the risk of multicollinearity. Unit root tests indicated a mixture of I(0) and I(1) series, making ARDL an appropriate estimation technique. The bounds test confirmed cointegration, and the error correction regression demonstrated a high speed of adjustment to equilibrium. The findings showed that branch penetration, and savings mobilization significantly enhanced profitability. In conclusion, financial inclusion indicators, branch penetration, and savings accounts, are strong drivers of bank profitability in Nigeria. It is recommended that banks deepen investments in digital infrastructure, optimize branch networks, and promote savings culture, while regulators strengthen financial literacy and policies that expand access to formal banking services.
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