EFFECT OF BAD DEBTS IN NIGERIA MONEY DEPOSIT BANKS IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC)
ABSTRACT
This project studied the management of bad and doubtful debts by Nigeria commercial banks. It noted problems associated with the wide spread development of bad account by banks as being occasioned by so many changes that are unfolding as a result of the deregulation of the Nigerian Financial System. It viewed the incidences of bad debts as one of the greatest problems facing both old and new generations of banks today with adverse consequences on their profitability level.
This project traced the origin of bad accounts to a number of factors some which may be internal, external or by act of God. e.g. the death of the owner of business. It was help that an account becomes bad the very day the facility is granted. Carelessness on the part of lending officers and his inability to interpret and respond promptly to warning signals may cause an untold loss in addition collusion by lending officers with the borrowers and absence a clearly defined lending guideless by banks may be responsible for high loan default. It is even difficult to identify control once a facility has been agreed by management.
The most effective way of limiting one’s losses however is to stop paying out but trading margins are particularly important.
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DECLARATION iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
ABSTRACT vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 problems of the Study 4
1.3 Objective of the Study 4
1.4 Significance of the Study 6
1.5 Research of the Study 8
1.6 Plan of the Study 9
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review 10
2.1 Meaning of Bad Debt 10
2.2 Management Of Bad Debt 11
2.3 Effects of Bad and Doubtfully Debts 18
2.4 Risk Analysis 22
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Methodology 25
3.1 Historical Background of First Bank 25
3.2 Sample and Population of the Study 26
3.3 Population 28
3.4 Method of Data Analysis 29
3.5 Validity of Instrument 31
3.6 Administration of Instrument 32
3.7 Observed Problem 33
3.8 Limitation of the Study 36
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data Presentation and Analysis 38
4.1 Data Presentation 38
4.2 Data Analysis 41
4.3 Test of Hypothesis 47
4.4 Findings 49
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations 51
5.1 Summary 51
5.2 Conclusion 55
5.3Recommendation for Improved Management
of Bad Loan 57
REFERENCES 59
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Among the industrial sectors in Nigeria today banking sector arouses the public interest most it is the most visible and of the fastest growing section in the economy a past from the fact that the monetary of every policy guideline document issued by the central bank of Nigeria in January of every year regulates the activities of the entire economy the banking sectors is responsible for carrying out most of the policy issue contained there in the sectors is also subjected to frequent controls and reputations. In popular jargon, the banking sectors has become one of the most critical sectors and commanding heights of the economy with wide implications on the level and direction of economic growth and transformation and such sensitive issues as the rates of unemployment and inflation which directly affect the lives of people the banking sector is without doubt of the fastest growing industries in the country today from total of 26 in 1980 the number of commercial and merchant banks in the country growing steadily to 40 in 1985 where it stabilized until it increased to about 49 in 1987 beginning from 1987 and following the introduction of structural Adjustment programme (SAP) in 1986 there had bean a rapid growth in the number of bank increased by 15 i.e. 30% to reach 66 and additional 15 joined it in 1989 which 1998 witnessed 21 new enchants to bring the total number of commercial and merchant bank to 102. Before the government placed temporary ban on the opening of banks in 1991 there was not less than 125 banks operating in the country. From N12million and N20million for merchant and commercial bank respectively paid up capital increased to N40million and N50million one notable implication from the development is the sudden rise in the volume of bad doubtful account which bank are compelled to carry in their books the increasing number of this problem loans had been on grated challenges facing in particular the old generation of bank usually referred to as the “Big three. The First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The Union Bank of Africa Plc
The problem posed by carrying large volume of bad loans or non-performing accounts was not fully recognized until in November 1990 when the central bank introduced the prudential guidelines in line with the general standard all over the world to make the s in the country assess themselves fully thereby determine how healthy or prudent they are in their loan credit management.
Most bankers cannot unequivocally declare that they have been introduced by problem loan. Certainly, it is a way of life in those tumultuous times of banking that virtually every one of them is faced problem or so-called work out loans.
Another important reason is to decline in the economic fortune which gripped the Nigerian economy.
1.2 PROBLEMS OF THE STUDY
With many banks in large proportion given out loans and overdraft to their customers. The bank is therefore, taking the risk some of the customers may never pay back the loans or overdraft given to them.
This is normal business risk and such bad debts are normal business or running expenses.
The researcher therefore will like to find reasonable solution to the following question.
i. What is the causes of bad debt
ii. Why provision for bad debt are made
iii. How bad debt are written off.
iv. How banks as financial institutions managing bad debts.
v. How banks estimate provision for bad debt.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The broadax objectives of the study is to analysis the effects of rising machine of bad debts on banks operation since 1986 when the federal government adopted SAP. The focus is largely on the credit policy on the credit policy of banks and how to manage SAP. The focus on how to manage loans and reclaim the collateral assets securing them. In specific terms the study will inquire into the rising waves of bad doubtful account in our banks in general and first bank Nigeria plc in particular. The aim is to determine the share of the major actors or factor in granting a loan.
a. Other customer
b. The banks and
c. The government or the economic environment.
Secondly, the study will examine impact of the prudential guidelines on the management of loans by banks since 1990 when the guidelines came into effect. What impact it has produced on the reporting system of banks. The study will vigorously interpret the profit reporting system of bank before and after prudential guideline and finally draw some policy lessons and predictions for the future.
Finally, the study will aspire to provide the essential strategies that may be used for loan recovery once a debtor enters bankruptcy.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The motivation for the study arises from the research interest in tracking the effect of economic reforms within the structural adjustment programme since the deregulation of financial system of the economic reforms is expected to alter the volume and pattern of lending by banks and the profitability of banks. It is necessary to investigate the extent to which profit that are being declared by banks actually reflect their true profitability position. Whether adequate precaution have been taken in their granting loans. The structural weakness of these banks is referred in the heavy bad debt portfolio, which is fact eroding their capital base. The introduction of prudential guidelines has therefore exposed the weak foundation and the misfortune arising from bank debt structure. Data generated from the annual reports of banks with regards to the volume of the bad debts have been fraught difficulties until the introduction of the prudential guidelines.
Firstly, it is a policy objectives of the monetary authority to recognize only income that is earned and not paper profits.
Secondly, it is also the objectives of the monetary authority to confirm with4t he international prudential guidelines.
Thirdly, it is to make banks more prudent in their lending decision thus reducing incidence of bad and doubtful account.
Finally, it is to encourage bankers to become solid financially able in Ibadan the customers are partially sophisticated.
Of serious limitation of the study is the problem of data collect ion. Through thus is not peculiar to this study. It must be recognized that not until the prudent guidelines came into effect November 1990. Most banks nor do they realize the need to make adequate provision of data for bad and doubtful debts. What banks did at best was a make petty provisions for those classes of debts.
1.5 RESEARCH OF THE STUDY
The course of action employed in this research in order to achieve its objective were both a case study and survey methods.
According to Aliazu (1981) a case study involves the study of one group at a point in time and arriving at a conclusion in relation to the situation of that one group. While the survey method is one in which the representation sample of the population is studied and the entire result generalized.
Most financial institutions and industrialist sampled preferred to remain anonymous. One of the logs in the wheel of progress is carrying out survey studies is the difficulty encountered in data collection.
Institution and individuals are usually not ready to release information. The strategy of anonymous was adopted in this work to enable easy access to information needed for the study.
1.6 PLAN OF THE STUDY
The remaining part of work is organized into four chapters. In chapter two, the study reviews some existing literature on bad debt management with view and conclusion as generated among the various authors. Chapter three of the study contains the methodology. In the chapter, I tried to present the methods by which the result which terms basis of my samples and how the questionnaires were administered. The forth chapter derives from the third and contains my analysis of the questionnaire and my basic deductions.
Finally, chapter five contains a summary of my findings, recommendation and conclusion.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 MEANING OF BAD DEBT
Bad debt is an accounts renewable that will likely remain uncollectible and will be written off. Bad debt appear as an expenses on the company’s income statement this reducing net income. In general companies make an estimate of bad debt expenses that might be incurred in the current time period based on past records as part of the process of estimating earing most companies make a bad debt allowance since it is unlikely that all of their debtors will pay them in full
There are a list of possible scenarios that may exist concerning a bad debt these are
1) Customer not willing to pay a proportion of the loan sum
2) Customer not willing to pay all the sum of the loanable funds
3) The customers business had falls and nothing is ever likely to be received
2.2 MANAGEMENT OF BAD DEBT
Since we say bad debt is a normal business expenses with respect to the types of service provided. The management of bad debt has to do with the ways to reduce the amount ways to recover some of these bad debt.
Critical analysis has to be done before loans are given to recover some of these bad debt customers so as to ensure of bad debt and prompt payment of interest and recoupment of the principal amount.
These can take the form of the followings:
I. Recruitment of competent, educational qualified personnel to lending and credit department
II. Training of personnel from time to time
III. Leading controller should be built to reduce incidence of personality man kind of lending which often results to bad debt
IV. The reasons for the loan
V. If the security supply the customer can off set the loan
VI. How long the customer has been dealing with the bank
VII. The viability of the project which the loan is to be use for
When the above mentioned are carefully analyzed by the bank then there would be reduction in the amount of bad debt there by increasing the profit and reduce the exposes of the bank
Right now, with cash tight and business slowing down, companies need to go after the bad debts as a way to raise needed cash. They need to go after the receivables even it if means getting just something now!
Like all significant economic change, it creates opportunities for those who have it in them to deal with it. During economic downturns, one of the main reasons why businesses go under is because they run out of cash. However sound your business is in other ways, successful cash flow management should be your main priority.
A recent study on the growing sicknesses in industries and businesses reveal that BAD DEBT is the one major cause for bankruptcy. In a buoyant economy, selling on credit has a number of advantages, especially when it generates a larger volume of business as well as widens one's market share. In fact, selling on credit often 'Makes' or 'Breaks' a sale and at most times gives one that edge over competition. Yet, one cannot afford to take this area of credit control lightly, as too many companies everyday are mounting with debts that are increasingly doubtful of recovery.
The volatile business conditions of recent years have created problems of cash flow and interest charges never before encountered.
Companies large and small have, in many cases for the first time, come to realize that the trade debtors or receivables, on the balance sheet represent a very substantial and expensive consumer of capital employed. They are also now beginning to accept that, in total, trade debtors represent an investment in the market -place on which the expected return is the profit to be earned only when payment has completed the sale. At the same time, like all investments, those trade debtors are subject to the risks arising from the effect of the economic climate on that market-place generally.
Has it ever occurred to you that before the customer buys your goods, both are interested (he in your goods and you in his money), but once he gets the goods he is not interested-it's only you (for your money!!).
A company can have the finest product, a superb sales record and the most dedicated workforce, but if it does not get paid (.... and on time!) it will die. An unpaid debt is a loan being financed by your company - it means that many companies are prevented from achieving their full potential, because instead of using borrowed money to develop and grow their business, they are having to borrow money just to fund their own sales ledgers.
Research consistently shows that a typical invoice will on an average be settled in not less that 72 to 78 days. A widely quoted survey by Intrum-U.K. fixed the period at 72 to 78 days. As 30 day terms are normal, the extra 48 days have a significant effect on profit and loss. It can even be the critical factor affecting a company's survival.
Good cash collection procedures therefore can make the difference between a profitable business and one forced into liquidation because of slow payments and default on outstanding debts.
Managing credit and collecting money are the 2 most important and vital factors which decide the fate of any business.
Here are some of the most common reasons:
⦁ Few sales induction programmes offer advice or are held in getting payment, with the result that money is rarely mentioned at the sales call presentation.
⦁ Some salespeople, understandably too, have enough difficulty getting the order without putting it at risk by haggling over payment terms.
⦁ Too many salespeople think only in terms of getting the best deal for the customer and forget that they are obliged to get the best terms for their company as well.
You may be thinking this does not apply to your organization and if that is the case you are fortunate indeed. However several companies do have such problems and the only differing factor is the name of the company. If this problem exists within your own organization, recognize the futility of changing the system; as the root cause of the problem is elsewhere -- in the attitudes/improper training of the people in collection procedures / techniques. Until such time as you can bring about a change with a proper training, your cash flow difficulties will continue to escalate. Gerard A. (ID 755)
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