TITLE:
Capital Adequacy Ratios as Predictors of Financial Distress in Kenyan Commercial Banks
AUTHORS:
C. Karugu, G. Achoki, P. Kiriri
KEYWORDS:
Financial Distress, Capital Adequacy, Ratios, Core Capital, Total Deposits, Total Capital, Total Risk Weighted Assets
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Financial Risk Management,
Vol.7 No.3,
September
27,
2018
ABSTRACT: The
study sought to investigate the efficacy of capital adequacy ratios as
predictors of financial distress in Kenyan commercial banks. The study was
based on a positivism research paradigm using a descriptive research design.
The population of the study was drawn from 43 commercial banks operating in Kenya
over the period 2009-2015. Data were collected using data collection sheets from annual reports of commercial banks.
Collected data were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression. Hypothesis testing was done at
0.05 significance levels. The study found that capital adequacy ratios were
significant predictors of financial distress in commercial banks in Kenya. Core
capital to total deposits: coefficient = 0.249 and P Value = 0.026, core capital to total risk weighted
assets: coefficient = -0.419,
P Value = 0.007 and total capital to total risk weighted assets: coefficient = 0.320, P Value = 0.017 were all significant predictors of financial distress in
commercial banks. The null hypothesis: capital adequacy ratios were significant
predictors of financial distress was accepted. The study concluded that capital
adequacy ratios were significant predictors of financial distress in commercial
banks. Consequently, the study recommended that, there be introduced a
continuous industry driven regulatory and reporting structure on capital
adequacy for commercial banks.