Influence of agency banking on business growth: a case of Equity bank Embu county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was out to investigate the influence of agency banking on growth of business and specifically the business run by the agents in Embu, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives, to assess how management training of the agents influences agent business growth, to establish how the nature of the agents' businesses influences the business growth, to examine how the location of the business premises influences business growth and to assess to what extent attitude towards the business influences business growth. The study would enable the banks executives and indeed the policy makers of the banks and other financial institutions to be aware of agency banking as a product of electronic commerce with a view to making strategic decisions, it would provide answers to factors against the implementation of agency banking in the Banking industry the study would also assist academicians, institutions, Corporate managers and individuals who may want to know more about agency banking trends especially in Kenya. The study used 113 banking agents as the sample size based in Equity Bank Embu, the researcher used self administered drop and pick questionnaires with closed and open ended questions to ensure consistency and getting the independent respondents view. The researcher edited, coded, classified and tabulated the data. The researcher also used statistical tools in data analysis such as measures of central tendency to reduce large volumes of raw data to an extent to which it can be read easily and used for further analysis. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study concludes that agency banking influence growth of business in Embu County. Management trainings have positive effects on business performance by imparting skills necessary for improvement of agency banking business. Agency banking provides low-income people with an opportunity to use scarce time and save financial resources which they would have used through travelling to distant bank branches. Positioning of agency business near a market, a big town, on the highway, heart of tea growing area and near a market place influences business growth. The availability of multiple outlets across the country implies more points of contact with customers as opposed to the traditional banking hall set up. Customer association and customer loyalty in agency banking business influences business growth to a great extent. The study recommends that agency business should be located near a market, a big town, on the highway, heart of tea growing area and near a market place where there are high number of customers in order to have ensured business growth.