Abstract:
Macroeconomic factors typically affect large segments of the population. And referred to as,
an important fiscal, natural, or geopolitical event that has a broad impact on the economy of
a region or a country. This study investigated the effects of different macroeconomic factors
on banks’ asset protection, focusing on selected branches of commercial bank of Ethiopia
within Bahirdar city. This study aims to explore how the selected macroeconomic factors like
currency devaluation, technological changes, geopolitical turmoils, and economic
fluctuations are impacting the asset protection endeavors of banks more specifically
commercial bank of Ethiopia. The study utilized an explanatory research design, employing
both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Data was collected by using a
combination of a survey questionnaire with simple random sampling, as well as semistructured
interviews with key informants selected by purposive sampling. The quantitative
data was analyzed using statistical techniques such as frequencies, means, standard
deviations, correlation analysis, ANOVA, t-tests, and linear regression, implemented in the
latest version of SPSS 26 software. The qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic
descriptive approach that summarized key themes and included representative quotes to
illustrate the main issues expressed by the key informants. Results from the regression
analysis presents R square value of 0.541 which implies that 54.1% of the effectiveness of
banks’ asset protection is predicted by the predicting variables mentioned in the model. And
the findings from the survey questionnaire and the interview showcased that, currency
devaluation, economic fluctuations, and geopolitical turmoils affect banks’ asset protection
strategies negatively. Technological changes present both an opportunity and a threat to the
banks’ asset protection endeavors. The study suggests banks strengthen their risk
management practices, create a policy that can help them to easily adapt to technological
changes, diversify their asset portfolios, foster collaboration and information sharing among
essential stakeholders, industry peers, and regulatory agencies, and install a system in place
which can enable them to do continual monitoring and evaluation. This way the study
believes, banks can improve the safeguarding of their assets and reduce risks associated with
macroeconomic factors.