The impact of deposit structure on the profitability of Iraqi Islamic banks

Abstract

      The current study aimed to investigate the impact of the structure deposits on the profitability of Iraqi Islamic banks over the period from 2016 to 2022 using data of 13 banks. We employed cross-sectional time series models (panel data), including the pooled regression model, the fixed effects model, and the random effects model to analyze the impact of the deposit structure on the bank profitability.

The results indicated that the current deposits represented the largest proportion of the deposit structure in Iraqi Islamic banks. Additionally, the results revealed a negative and significant effect of the current deposit ratio on the profitability of these banks. This could be attributed to Islamic banks holding a considerable proportion of demand deposits; which could be withdrawn at any time and Islamic banks guarantee repayment of the principal deposited, and account holders do not have rights to a share in the profits. Therefore, Islamic banks usually invest only a small fraction of the current accounts.  In contrast, we found a positive and significant impact of the savings deposit ratio and the investment deposit ratio on the profitability of Iraqi Islamic banks. The study recommends that Islamic banks should adopt strategies aimed at attracting more deposits, particularly investment deposits, due to their stability and flexibility in investment. Such these deposits can be utilized for medium- and long-term investments, providing further opportunities to increase profitability.