PRODUCT INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA: A CASE OF EQUITY BANK LIMITED

Abstract

Kenya's financial industry has been developing in terms of innovation over the years, with world-class banking norms and the emergence of new technology that served as the foundation for this study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between product innovation and commercial bank performance in Kenya. The outcomes of this research are expected to assist commercial banks implement study recommendations to improve on their performance, the Central Bank of Kenya and the Kenyan government to formulate appropriate policies to enhance commercial banks performances and to inform future researchers when furthering their researches. The descriptive research approach was utilized in the study, with a target population of all 186 Equity Bank branches in Kenya as of December 31, 2020. The sample for this study was 55 branches drawn from all eight regions of Equity Bank using stratified random sampling. Secondary data was obtained from 2015 to 2020 to generate a panel data set that was analysed to derive conclusions regarding the influence of product innovation on Equity Bank Limited's performance. Primary data collection was done remotely as much as possible; however, in cases where on-site research was required, the study was done within government provisions in containing COVID-19. To guarantee consistency, the survey used closed ended questions which were in form of Likert scale. The information gathered was evaluated in terms of standard deviation, percentages and mean. Inferential statistics was utilized in the study, and a multiple regression was used to analyze the influence of organizational innovation on commercial banks’ performance. The data presentation is in form of pie charts, tables, figures, and percentages, which aided the researcher in drawing conclusions and making recommendations to improve commercial banks performance. The study's findings demonstrate that commercial bank performance has been gradually increasing over the years as a result of product innovation, and it is critical that banks continue to innovate. In order to enhance Kenyan commercial banks performance, the research recommends that commercial banks increase their product innovation; and for further researches, the study recommends a need to conduct similar study in Kenya's banking industry, but with a different model and method in order to evaluate additional drivers of commercial bank performance.