Nairobi 12th September 2019 – Drivers of industry growth, stability and the impact of technology in the financial services sector were some of the topics that featured in discussions during the first day of the Kenya Bankers Association 8th Annual Research Conference.
The papers that were presented examined current market developments such as mergers and acquisitions, suggesting strategies that could be adopted to facilitate sustainable industry growth and efficiency. The presentations also offered recommendations on ways of fortifying market stability through intermediation and allocation efficiency in banks across tiers. Further, the conference focused on understanding ways by which the structure of the banking industry influences market competition and credit allocation efficiency to the economy.
In his opening remarks, KBA Chairman Mr. Joshua Oigara noted that the two-day event would provide an important opportunity to delve into topical issues that are critical to both the banking industry as well as stakeholders who include customers, policy makers, regulators, local and international partners.
Mr. Oigara observed that the theme of the conference was well aligned to the recently -launched KBA Strategic Plan for the period 2019-2023. The Strategy seeks to deepen the adoption of technology, increasing access to financial services by reducing the cost of banking, enhancing financial inclusion through data-informed efforts, among other priorities. “Happening at the inception year of the Strategic Plan period, this conference gives us the opportunity to tap into the insights that will emerge over the next two days,” he said.
On his part, KBA CEO Dr. Habil Olaka expressed confidence that the perspectives that will be shared in the conference would contribute towards addressing emergent industry challenges such as diminished access to credit for SMEs through deployment of technology, among other strategies.
A total of eight papers have been lined up for the two-day event themed Banking Industry Growth and Stability Dynamics – Market Power, Financial Technology and Optimal Intermediation. Other topics that will be discussed include the impact of technology on lenders’ risk appetite; the bearing of consolidations on lending behaviour; and the effect of mobile money on industry stability. On the second day, researchers will assess the relationship between the use of financial technology on bank performance, competition and efficiency dynamics.
About the Kenya Bankers Association:
KBA (www.kba.co.ke) was founded on 16th July 1962. Today, KBA is the financial sector’s leading advocacy group and banking industry umbrella body that represents total assets in excess of USD 40 billion. KBA has evolved and broadened its function to include advocacy on behalf of the banking industry, and championing financial sector development through strategic projects such as the launch of the industry’s first P2P digital payments platform PesaLink. In line with the Government’s policy on public-private partnerships, KBA and Central Bank of Kenya have implemented key projects such as modernization of the National Payments System through the Automated Clearing House, implementing the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), and the Kenya Credit Information Sharing Initiative. The KBA members are comprised of commercial banks and deposit taking microfinance banks. For more information, visit www.kba.co.ke.
