A Study on Financial Performance of the Jordanian Commercial Banks using the CAMEL Model and Panel Data Approach

The purpose of this research paper is to extensively investigate and examine the effect of the CAMEL model variables on the profitability and financial soundness of the thirteen Jordanian commercial banks for the period of 2013 to 2019, the primary data were collected from the published audited financial reports of the Jordanian commercial banks. The study uses CAMEL model variables of Capital adequacy, Asset Quality, Management efficiency, Earnings ability, and Liquidity management to rank banks as per their overall performance and measuring their effect on banks’ profitability measures of Return on Assets and Return on Equity separately through applying the fixed effect regression model. It is concluded that the ranking approach shows that Bank of Jordan was in the top position followed by the Capital Bank of Jordan. Jordan Ahli Bank was in the lowest rank in most positions. Furthermore, the empirical results indicates that Non-Interest Income to Total Assets and Net Interest Income to Total Loans and Advances have significant positive relationships with both profitability measures whereas cost to Total Income and Non-Interest Income to Total Assets have strong negative relationships with the profitability measures. In addition, Equity to Total Assets has strong negative relationship with ROE. The study suggests that Jordanian commercial banks can improve their profitability through the concentration on main activities, efficiently managing their capital adequacy, maintaining high quality level of lending policy, and utilization of full assets. Additionally, the current study recommends conducting more studies on banks’ performance determinants with an expanded scope and using more financial models besides the CAMEL model.