DIGITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE QUOTED COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to examine the causal relationship as well as short-term and long-term dynamic effects between digital financial service components and on the performance of the quoted commercial banks. Method: The study employs a cross-sectional descriptive survey research with ex-post facto research. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses and opinions, while inferential statistics including the dynamic Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PARDL) approach, Panel Granger Causality Test. Results: The Granger Causality analysis reveals that Agency banking exhibits a strong causal link to ROA (p=0.003<0.05), emphasizing its predictive power for ROA variations. Also, ATM banking has a weaker influence on ROA (p=0.08>0.05), while internet banking (p=0.049<0.05) and mobile banking (p=0.0001<0.05) both impact ROA significantly. The long-term analysis using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model indicates that agency banking (β=0.128, p < 0.05), ATM banking (β=0.566, p < 0.05), internet banking (β=0.514, p < 0.05), and POS activities (β=0.118, p < 0.05) all have positive impacts on ROA. In the short term, these variables also show positive coefficients, suggesting immediate effects on ROA. Error correction (ECTt−1) has a negative coefficient (β=-0.06, p < 0.05), indicating its role in short-run adjustments to deviations from long-run equilibrium. Overall, agency banking, ATM banking, internet banking, and POS activities are crucial drivers with strong statistical significance, while mobile banking has limited influence on ROA. Based on these findings. Conclusion: The study recommends that financial institutions should strategically prioritize agency banking services and enhance internet banking services to positively impact ROA. Resource allocation for ATM banking should be reevaluated, and POS-related strategies may not be a priority for improving ROA. Additionally, financial institutions should adopt a long-term perspective when planning and implementing these services, and invest in enhancing their digital financial services to boost customer satisfaction, fostering loyalty and retention.