An assessment of bank profitability: Evidence from Albania

Abstract

Although the financial sector in Albania follows a fluctuating trend, the average return on assets has significantly improved during the last few years. To boost profitability and ensure long-term survival in this area, banks must concentrate on the factors that affect profitability. Various types of research offer conflicting results on the impact that macroeconomic factors have on bank profitability. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the theoretical and empirical research of bank profitability in the Albanian banking system, including its components and the variables influencing the choice of how to effectively achieve profitability. More specifically, this study determines how macroeconomics impacts the profitability of Commercial Banks, mainly focusing on the effect of GDP growth, inflation, and real interest rate on the financial performance of second-level banks in Albania between 2011 and 2020. To achieve this goal, a multiple regression is performed on a panel dataset, and the empirical findings reveal that the independent variables, including GDP growth, inflation, and real interest rate are significant factors determining Albanian bank profitability for the period considered. The study's conclusions will be useful for various parties, including management bodies, researchers, policymakers, and the government.