Measurement of banking structure in Saudi Arabia and its effect on bank performance

Abstract EN

Due to the increasing number and volume of business transactions and development financing in the Saudi Arabian economy and the increasing variation and sophistication of bank services, attention's required to be directed to the study of the major features of banking structure in Saudi Arabia.

This includes resource (deposits) concentration, new bank entry barriers, bank branching and product differentiation.

This research attempts at measuring the above features, particularly resource concentration in the banking sector of Saudi Arabia and then utilizes the statistical tools of correlation and multiple regression to estimate the relationship between the main features of banking structure and the major indicators of bank performance, significant among which is profitability.

Statistically significant relationships are observed and their policy implications suggested.

Finally, overall conclusions from the research are drawn.