Ownership structure characteristics and banks performance

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of ownership structure on the accounting-based performance of listed Nigerian deposit money banks (DMBs) on Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) from 2011 to 2020. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts ex post facto research design, using initially “the panel fixed and random effects regression analysis and Hausman specification test and thereafter, the IV Generalised method of moments (GMM) to check for endogeneity issues and strengthen the robustness of the results. Findings The one lagged value result reveals that ownership structure of DMBs in Nigeria has cumulative significant impact to influence corporate financial performance of the banks in the future. Overall, CEO, board/managerial, family, government and foreign ownership structures in DMBs in Nigeria do not have significant influence on accounting-based corporate financial performance of the banks. However, the study reveals that board/managerial ownership could significantly improve market value/growth of DMBs in Nigeria. Practical implications Policy makers, investors (both local and foreign), academics, corporate governance administrators, and the government could apply the study's findings to the management of banking operations in Nigeria. Originality/value The paper highlights the impact of five ownership structures on the accounting-based performance of DMBs in Nigeria from 2011 to 2020, providing valuable insights into the influence of stockholding categories on corporate financial performance, which is a shift from extant literatures with limited insights.