BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐẠI HỌC KINH TÉ THÀNH PHỐ HÒ CHÍ MINH BÁO CÁO TÔNG KẾT ĐÈ TÀI NGHIÊN cú u KHOA HỌC THAM GIA XÉT GIẢI THƯỞNG ‘’NHÀ NGHIÊN CỨU TRẺ UEH” NĂM 2024 Tên đề tài: How does the green credits affect profitability performance of commercial banks? - Evidence in Vietnam Thuộc nhóm chuyên ngành: Tài Chính - Ngân Hàng TP. Hồ Chí Minh, tháng 2/2024 1 Abstract As people become more aware of the alarming environmental problems, actions to promote a sustainable economy and a better ecological environment are called. One of the most promising ways is green credit, which is a unit that delivers positive impacts on the environment. This paper investigates how the presence of green credits in banks’ portfolios affects their profitability performance, providing evidence from banks operating in Vietnam.
The research is based on the panel data of 30 selected banks out of the total of 49 banks operating in Vietnam from 2015 through 2022 from consolidated financial statements and annual reports. The study uses panel unit root tests and a fixed- effects model with moderation. The results of the Hausman test and the F-test confirm that the fixed-effects model was the most appropriate method for identifying the factors, which affect the profitability of Vietnam's banking institutions, impacted by green credit. Our research shows that green credit docs affect a bank's profitability performance.
Specifically, the presence of green credits in banks' portfolios reduces the impact of the loans-to-dcposit ratio, but not the bank size and capital adequacy, on both banks' ROA and ROE. This implies that banks should implement a green credit policy to mitigate the liquidity risks on their profitability. We suggest banking institutions in Vietnam leverage the findings of this study to inform their strategic decision-making processes and enhance their financial performance while contributing to sustainable development. This study also identifies potential avenues for future research.
2 Table of Contents Abstract. 1 List of Figures. 3 List of Tables. 3 List of Abbreviations.1 Green Finance and Banking.2 Green Credit Concept.3 Theoritical Framework and Hypotheses Development.
Data and Methodology. Results and Discussions.1 Descriptive statistics results.2 Multicollinearity test by VIF.3 Panel unit root tests.5 F-test test to check ifFEM or Pooled OLS is more suitable.6 Hausman test to check if the FEM or REM is more suitable.9 Fix Heteroskedasticity and Autocorrelation using FGLS Method. Conclusions and Implications.25 3 List of Figures Figure 1. The conceptual model List of Tables Table 1 - Descriptive Statistics 14 Tabic 2 - Muiticollincarity Test 14 Table 3 - Panel Unit Root Test (Fisher-Type Test) 15 Table 4 - Regression Results of bank's ROA with moderation 16 Table 5 - Regression results of bank’s ROE with moderation 17 Table 6 - F-Test 17 Table 7 - Hausman Test 18 Table 8 - Wooldridge Test 18 Table 9 - Modified Wald Test 19 fable 10 - Comparison using FEM and FGLS to regress bank's ROA with moderation 19 Table 11 - Comparison using FEM and FGLS to regress bank’s ROE with moderation 20 Table 12 - The Results of Sub-Hypotheses 21 List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Definition CA Capital Adequacy GC Green Credits LDR Liquidity Ratio ROA Return on Assets ROE Return on Equity SIZE Bank Size 4 1.
Introduction The impact of green credit on the profitability of commercial banks has been a topic of interest in recent research. With the growing global awareness of environmental issues and the increasing call for a better ecological environment, the need to shift towards a sustainable economy has become paramount. This transition aims to promote sustainable development, improve overall welfare, and maintain healthy ecosystems (Sõderholm, p. In response to these imperatives, green credit has emerged as a significant policy tool for environmental regulation, drawing extensive attention from government bodies, enterprises, and scholars worldwide (An, Y.
Green credit, characterized by strict constraints or conditions pertaining to carbon emissions, has gained prominence as a tool for complementing sustainable economics. It enables better risk assessment and more efficient allocation of capital towards environmentally friendly projects, thereby encouraging firms to invest in green initiatives (Xiong, H. By integrating environmental protection and corporate social responsibility, green credit empowers banks and enterprises to align their financial activities with sustainability goals (Liang, X. In the context of Vietnam, an emerging economy in Southeast Asia, the incorporation of green credits into banks’ portfolios has garnered significant attention.
Vietnamese banks are increasingly adopting environmental criteria in their lending decisions and embracing green financing practices to support the country's sustainable development objectives (Enerteam). However, most studies have focused on China (Xiaoyan Gao, Yiyang Guo, 2019; Huang Danye, 2020; Xie Wanting, 2020; Zhao Ranning, 2022), and there seems to be a research gap when it comes to the specific context of Vietnam. There are some key findings from existing research. Green credit policies can increase the profits of commercial banks by increasing their noninterest income and reducing their nonperforming loan ratios (Xiaoyan Gao, Yiyang Guo, 2019).
The implementation of green credit policies has a more significant positive impact on the profits of banks with low nonperforming loan ratios (Xiaoyan Gao, Yiyang Guo, 2019). Regional urban and agricultural commercial banks' profits improve more significantly after executing the 5 green credit policy compared to large national banks (Xiaoyan Gao, Yiyang Guo, 2019). Some studies found that green credit has a negative impact on commercial banks' profitability in general, and the adverse impact faced by small and medium-sized commercial banks is significantly higher than that of large commercial banks (Xie Wanting, 2020). These findings suggest that the impact of green credit on banking profitability can vary depending on various factors such as the size of the bank, the type of bank, and the specific policies implemented.
The impact of such initiatives on the profitability performance of banks in Vietnam, however, remains an area that requires rigorous examination and empirical evidence, and there may be unique factors at play in Vietnam that have not been explored. As a result, a potential research gap could be to investigate how these findings translate to the context of commercial banks in Vietnam, considering its unique economic, environmental, and regulatory landscape. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how the presence of green credits in banks’ portfolios affects their profitability performance, providing evidence from banks operating in Vietnam. By conducting a comprehensive examination of financial data and performance indicators such as return on assets and return on equity, our research group aims to identify the relationship between green credit integration and financial performance outcomes in the Vietnamese banking sector.
The findings of this study project are likely to provide significant insights to policymakers, stakeholders, and Vietnamese banks. This study can enhance strategic decision-making and support the integration of sustainable finance practices in the Vietnamese banking sector by providing empirical evidence on the influence of green credits on profitability performance. The ultimate goal is to help Vietnam make the transition to a more sustainable and resilient financial system, in line with global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. Our methodology for this study involves selecting the most appropriate model through the application of specification tests, notably the Hausman test and the F test.
These tests play a crucial role in ensuring that our model is both theoretically sound and empirically valid. Once we have identified the best-fitting model, we proceed to examine how the inclusion of green credits in banks' portfolios moderates the effects of specific bank-specific determinants on a bank's profitability. The next step is to assess 6 whether two common statistical issues, namely autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity, are present in our model. We also employ the Feasible Generalized Least Squared (FGLS) method.
The analyzing process is conducted separately for two key financial performance indicators: Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). This separation allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how green credits impact these distinct aspects of a bank’s profitability. Hence, a more comprehensive assessment of the effects of green credits on financial performance can be provided. To carry out this extensive analysis, we utilize the software package STATA14.
STATA is a powerful statistical software tool that offers a wide range of capabilities for data analysis and econometric modeling. In summary, our methodology is designed to provide a robust and comprehensive analysis of how the presence of green credits in banks’ portfolios influences the profitability of these institutions. By carefully selecting the appropriate model, addressing statistical issues, and examining two distinct financial performance indicators over an extended period, we aim to contribute valuable insights to the intersection of environmental sustainability and financial performance within the banking sector. The paper is divided into five main sections.
Following the introduction, the second part delves into the theoretical underpinnings of green banking and explores the connection between green loans and bank profitability. The third section outlines the methodology, which encompasses the explanation of variables and the formulation of hypotheses. Subsequently, the fourth section presents the empirical findings derived from the panel model used to analyze the impact of green loans on a bank's profitability. The fifth section covers implications and conclusions.
Finally, the last part addresses the limitations within this research paper.1 Green Finance and Banking According to Zeng Hailiang, Wasim Iqbal, et al. (Zeng Hailiang, Wasim Iqbal, Ka Yin Chau, Syed Ale Raza Shah, Wasim Ahmad & Huang Hua, 2023), green finance improves ecological sustainability and management and acts as a treatment for environmental damage. Significant investments and funding for environmentally 7 friendly initiatives are being made under the green finance concept. As the growing worldwide concern about environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development, governments and the scientific community have concentrated more on green finance (Dr.
Trần Trung Kiên, 2023). Green finance is simply known as diversifying financial products and services provided by financial institutions towards the sustainable development of the country as well as financial support towards green growth through cutting down greenhouse gas emission and environmental pollution in a meaningful way (UN Environment, 2018). In recent decades, green finance has emerged in the banking sector as a way to protect banks and society to mitigate unexpected future economic issues (e., climate change, financial instability, social unrest and so on) (Ziolo, M. Green banking is mission-driven institutions that use innovative financing to accelerate the transition to clean energy and fight climate change (Coalition for green capital, 2020).
Being mission-driven means that green banks care about deploying clean energy rather than maximizing profit. It is a new financing trend where banks shift their investment strategies to focus on sustainable technologies and environmentally friendly initiatives (Julia, T. Based on Lalon (2015), green banking is any type of banking that provides a nation with ecological benefits. A traditional bank becomes a green bank by devoting its primary activities toward environmental improvement.
It entails implementing inclusive banking methods that will assure significant economic development while also promoting environmentally friendly practices. According to Bihari (2011), green banking encourages social responsibility by requiring banks to examine whether a project is environmentally beneficial and has any future environmental implications before funding it. Green banking assists banks in shifting their goals from "profit only" to "profit with responsibility." By Tara et al., green banking necessitates allocating finance to industries that promote diverse environmental protection actions (Kanak Tara; Saumya Singh; Rilesh Kumar, 2015).2 Green Credit Concept Green credits are understood as credits supported by the banking industry for production and business projects that do not pose risks, or for the purpose of protecting the environment, contributing to the protection of the world’s ecology (Chao, X. Green credit is also one of the solutions that the financial industry applies to deal with the world's environmental and social challenges through financial instruments (O V Cheberyako et al, 2021).
Not only that, green credit is also an expression of sustainable finance aimed at sustainable development (Bao, J. Green credit policy, as a key financial tool for reaching "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality" goals, it offers financial assistance for the green growth of businesses.