The Relationship between Liquidity Risk Management and Commercial Bank Performance: Evidence from the Western Balkans

Abstract

The current study examines the relationship between liquidity risk management and the performance of commercial banks in the Western Balkans between 2015 to 2020. This relationship is examined by using secondary data from the financial statements. Financial performance is measured by return on assets, equity and net interest margin. Liquidity risk is represented by the quick ratio, current ratio, loan-to-deposits ratio, loan-to-assets ratio, cash and investment-to-deposit ratio, capital adequacy and interest coverage ratio. The Ordinary Least Squares model was used to process the data. The study's findings show that return on assets has a negative relationship with the current ratio but a positive relationship with loans-to-total deposits, cash plus investments-to-total deposits and capital adequacy ratio. Return on equity has a negative relationship with the quick ratio and interest coverage ratio but a positive relationship with the current ratio, loans-to-total assets and cash plus investments-to-deposits ratio. Net interest margin is negatively related to loans-to-total deposits, capital adequacy interest coverage ratio and positively related to loans-to-total assets. These findings have implications for Western Balkan banks’ variables use to manage liquidity risk. The findings of the study are significant as they can be use to enhance liquidity risk management by influencing performance indicators for Western Balkans bank.