Determinants of bank capital structure: the case of Vietnamese commercial bank system

Abstract

The study aims to identify determinants of Vietnamese banking capital structure. Using panel data analysis like Fixed Effects Method (FEM) and Random Effects Method (REM), the study investigates the effect of size, growth, collateral value, profitability, dividend policy and business risk determinants to capital structure of commercial banks in Vietnam from 2007 to 2011. The main findings of the study are that Fixed Effects Model (FEM) is the most appropriate model in explaining the banking capital structure; furthermore, size, growth, collateral and profitability variables are statistically significant and have the expected sign with the book leverage variable. However, risk and dividend variables are not statistically significant. Based on reality situations, it is widely believed that the capital structure of Vietnamese banking system is not really good and does not meet the international standard at present. The system does not have enough equity so as to prevent risks from the negative externalities and unexpected change of business environment. Therefore, the study is going to recommend some policy implications to improve the capital structure situation by adjusting the determinants. Moreover, the study also makes valuable instructions to banking managers of each commercial bank. According to specific reality situation of each commercial bank, they will have right decisions to increase or decrease book leverage so as to not only maximize the own commercial bank’s value but also avoid facing up bankruptcy events.