IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cwk/ajocsk/2025-48.html

Assessing the Effects of Financial Inclusion on the Financial Performance of Non-Banking Institutions in Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Terence Mugala

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia)

  • Dr. Austin Mwange

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia)

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of financial inclusion on the financial performance of Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in Zambia, focusing on the impact of Bank Account Penetration (BAP), Utilization of Financial Products (UFP), and Loan Accessibility (LA) on Return on Equity (ROE). The study tested three hypotheses: (1) BAP positively affected ROE, (2) UFP enhanced ROE, and (3) LA improved ROE, while considering macroeconomic factors like GDP per Capita (GDPC) and institutional factors such as Total Assets (TA). Using a quantitative approach, the study employed regression analysis on monthly secondary data from 36 registered NBFIs over the period 2010-2023, yielding 168 observations. The results revealed that UFP had a significant positive relationship with ROE (p = 0.003), indicating that higher product utilization boosted profitability. In contrast, LA showed a significant negative impact on ROE (p = 0.000), suggesting that increased loan accessibility introduced higher credit risk and negatively affected profitability. BAP, however, had an insignificant effect though positive on ROE (p = 0.254), highlighting that merely increasing the number of bank accounts did not improve financial performance unless coupled with active engagement. The study concluded that while financial inclusion initiatives like UFP and economic growth enhanced NBFI performance, unregulated loan expansion might have harmed profitability. Policymakers were encouraged to prioritize financial product usage, financial literacy, and robust credit risk management. NBFIs were advised to focus on product innovation and effective risk management to ensure long-term sustainability. The study contributed valuable insights to the literature on financial inclusion and offered practical recommendations for improving NBFI performance in Zambia.

Suggested Citation

  • Terence Mugala & Dr. Austin Mwange, 2025. "Assessing the Effects of Financial Inclusion on the Financial Performance of Non-Banking Institutions in Zambia," African Journal of Commercial Studies, African Journal of Commercial Studies, vol. 6(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2025-48
    DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v6.i2.15
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal/article/view/232
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i2.15?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ms. Ratna Sahay & Mr. Martin Cihak & Mr. Papa M N'Diaye & Mr. Adolfo Barajas & Ms. Srobona Mitra & Ms. Annette J Kyobe & Yen N Mooi & Mr. Seyed Reza Yousefi, 2015. "Financial Inclusion: Can it Meet Multiple Macroeconomic Goals?," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2015/017, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Beatriz Armendáriz & Jonathan Morduch, 2010. "The Economics of Microfinance, Second Edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262014106, December.
    3. Mersland, Roy & Strøm, Reidar Øystein, 2009. "Performance and governance in microfinance institutions," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 662-669.
    4. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Ross Levine, 2007. "Finance, inequality and the poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 27-49, March.
    5. Robert Cull & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Jonathan Morduch, 2018. "The Microfinance Business Model: Enduring Subsidy and Modest Profit," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 32(2), pages 221-244.
    6. Ratna Sahay & Martin Cihak & Papa M N'Diaye & Adolfo Barajas & Srobona Mitra & Annette J Kyobe & Yen N Mooi & Seyed Reza Yousefi, 2015. "Financial Inclusion; Can it Meet Multiple Macroeconomic Goals?," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 15/17, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Robert Cull & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Jonathan Morduch, 2009. "Microfinance meets the market," Contemporary Studies in Economic and Financial Analysis, in: Moving Beyond Storytelling: Emerging Research in Microfinance, pages 1-30, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    8. Douglas W. Diamond, 1984. "Financial Intermediation and Delegated Monitoring," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 51(3), pages 393-414.
    9. World Bank, 2014. "Global Financial Development Report 2014 : Financial Inclusion," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 16238, April.
    10. Allen, Franklin & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Klapper, Leora & Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad, 2016. "The foundations of financial inclusion: Understanding ownership and use of formal accounts," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-30.
    11. Thorsten Beck & Lemma Senbet & Witness Simbanegavi, 2015. "Financial Inclusion and Innovation in Africa: An Overview," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 24(suppl_1), pages 3-11.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Rui & Luo, Hang (Robin), 2022. "How does financial inclusion affect bank stability in emerging economies?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    2. Masoud Mohammed Albiman & Hamad Omar Bakar, 2022. "The Role of Financial Inclusion on Economic Growth in Sub Saharan African (SSA) Region," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 8(4), pages 363-384, October.
    3. Mohammed Amidu & Joshua Yindenaba Abor & William Coffie & Agnes Akpene Akakpo, 2021. "Financial Inclusion, Livelihood Activities, and Stock Market Participation," Emerging Economy Studies, International Management Institute, vol. 7(1), pages 23-61, May.
    4. Berns, John P. & Shahriar, Abu Zafar M. & Unda, Luisa A., 2021. "Delegated monitoring in crowdfunded microfinance: Evidence from Kiva," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Rouse, Marybeth & Verhoef, y Grietjie, 2017. "Mobile banking in Sub-Saharan Africa: setting the way towards financial development," MPRA Paper 78006, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "Effects of financial inclusion on financial stability: evidence from ssa countries," MPRA Paper 120238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Simon Cornée & Marc Jegers & Ariane Szafarz, 2018. "A Theory of Social Finance," Working Papers halshs-01717167, HAL.
    8. Peterson K. Ozili, 2021. "Financial inclusion research around the world: A review," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(4), pages 457-479, October.
    9. Zhian Zhiow Augustinne Wong & Ramez Abubakr Badeeb & Abey P. Philip, 2023. "Financial Inclusion, Poverty, and Income Inequality in ASEAN Countries: Does Financial Innovation Matter?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 471-503, September.
    10. Abrar, Afsheen & Hasan, Iftekhar & Kabir, Rezaul, 2021. "Finance-growth nexus and banking efficiency: The impact of microfinance institutions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    11. Stephen Zamore & Leif Atle Beisland & Roy Mersland, 2023. "Excessive focus on risk? Non‐performing loans and efficiency of microfinance institutions," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 1290-1307, April.
    12. Cristián Pinto, 2015. "The Effect of Labor Market Flexibility on Microfinance Institutions Performance: International Evidence," Serie Working Papers 21, Universidad del Desarrollo, School of Business and Economics.
    13. Bouslah, Kais & Li, Qian (Jan) & Mobarek, Asma, 2025. "Female directors and social responsibility of microfinance institutions," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    14. Weidong Chen & Xiaohui Yuan, 2021. "Financial inclusion in China: an overview," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "The impact of financial inclusion on financial stability: review of theories and international evidence," MPRA Paper 120369, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Menyelim M. Chima & Abiola Ayopo Babajide & Alex Adegboye & Segun Kehinde & Oluwatobi Fasheyitan, 2021. "The Relevance of Financial Inclusion on Sustainable Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Nations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    17. Mohd Daud, Siti Nurazira & Ahmad, Abd Halim & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2024. "Financial inclusion, digital technology, and economic growth: Further evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    18. María-Jesús Gallego-Losada & Antonio Montero-Navarro & Rocío Gallego-Losada & José-Luis Rodríguez-Sánchez, 2024. "Measuring financial divide in the rural environment. The potential role of the digital transformation of finance," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 2791-2810, December.
    19. Anastasia Cozarenco & Valentina Hartarska & Ariane Szafarz, 2019. "Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth: The Conflicting Impacts of Subsidies and Deposits on the Cost-Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions," Working Papers CEB 19-001, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    20. Shruti Malik & Girish Chandra Maheshwari & Archana Singh, 2019. "Understanding Financial Inclusion in India: A Theoretical Framework Building Through SAP–LAP and Efficient IRP," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(2), pages 117-140, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2025-48. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Charles G. Kamau (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.