Investigation of Strategic Issues Causing Receivership in Commercial Banks in Kenya: A Case Study of Chase Bank (K) Ltd

A Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA).The general objective of the study was to establish the strategic issues causing receivership in Chase Bank (K) Ltd. This study was guided by the following specific objectives: To investigate influence of corporate governance issues that has led Chase Bank (K) Ltd go into receivership. To investigate influence of risk management that has led Chase Bank (K) Ltd go into receivership. To investigate monitoring and compliance issues that has led Chase Bank (K) Ltd go into receivership. A descriptive research was adopted because the study was aimed at collecting information from respondents on their perceptions in relation to strategic issues causing receivership. The target population for this study were respondents who oversee the strategy implementation process at Chase Bank (K) Ltd. This comprised of Heads of Departments, Managers (considered in the business level of the structure) and Assistant Managers (operational level in the structure) in the 63 Chase Bank (K) Ltd branches where the total population was 142. The study applied stratified random sampling method and guided by the rule of thumb and a quota of 50% was drawn from each strata. Out of the total of 72 questionnaires distributed, 69 were filled and returned giving a response rate of 96%. The first objective set to establish how corporate governance affected receivership and a majority considered the quality of corporate governance and the disclosure of policies and procedures as low. It was also revealed board expertise and experience and board composition highly affected performance of the Board of Directors. The study also revealed that board remuneration and compensation was critical in board performance. However, respondents felt that having non-chase employees on the board did not affect performance of the Board of Directors. The second objective set to establish how risk management affected receivership. The study revealed that the risk management procedures and policies were not effective neither does the bank have clear policies of accountability for business processes nor does it have procedures to monitor resultant risk and measure and mitigate operational risk. The findings also established that employees at the bank have the necessary skills to perform work effectively however they were not ethical. Changes and restrictions in the regulatory environment have a significant impact on the bank. The study also established that the bank did not pay attention to changes in economic conditions, carried out portfolio risk management, had robust credit standards for borrowers and counterparties and have strict v policies on insider lending. On frequency of credit committee meetings majority of the respondents said it was done weekly. The third objective set to establish how monitoring and compliance affected receivership. The findings revealed that Chase Bank (K) Ltd did not have an effective compliance department. A majority also strongly agreed that audit committee’s expertise and experience influence on the performance of the bank and internal auditors provide value to the bank. However, respondents disagreed that the bank has an active monitoring and risk management system and strongly disagreed that the bank had an effective and independent internal audit function. The findings also established that internal audits were carried out yearly. The study concluded that corporate governance is vital in ensuring a bank continues as a going concern. Good corporate governance increases stakeholder confidence which facilitates access to capital, increased market share which in turn improves profitability and liquidity. Robust Independent Risk Management units are lacking in the banking system that identify, monitor, measure and manage key risks facing the bank by adopting and following policies and procedures that have been extensively deliberated. Questions have been asked about the value of bank audits, since auditing did not provide a forewarning of the banking crisis. The banking crisis has highlighted weaknesses in the monitoring and compliance process. Finally, the research recommends that the quality of corporate governance needs to be enhanced. The bank should provide access to information to its shareholders providing stakeholder confidence and transparency. The bank needs to enhance policies and procedures of risk management to improve performance. Having skilled and ethical workers is vital however accountability or responsibility for business processes is necessary. The bank should also adapt to changing regulatory environment which can be a detriment to performance if not adhered to. It also need to enhance its procedures of monitoring position of resultant risk and risk governance in which it can identify, measure and mitigate operational risk. The bank requires an effective and active monitoring and compliance department. Internal audit creates value to the bank in terms of sound corporate governance however it needs to be an independent function which carries out audits regularly