Effects of Monetary Policy Rate on Interest Rate and Level of Customer Borrowing

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the effects of monetary policy rate on interest rate and level of customer borrowing in the banking industry with evidence GCB Bank from 2013-2017. The study outlined some specific objectives such as; to assess the effects of Bank of Ghana’s Monetary Policy Rate on lending rate of GCB Bank and to assess the effects of lending rate on the level of customer borrowing at the GCB Bank. The study also measured the impact of external factors such as inflation rates and GDP growth rate on the banking sector. The study adopted the quantitative approach to research. The study used descriptive and cross-sectional designs. The data was sampled from financial statements of GCB bank, the BoG fact file and Ghana statistics Service for the period under review. A regression analysis (Ordinary Least Square Method) was conducted to test the effects, relationship and significance of the level of customer borrowing, lending rates and policy rates. Results were mainly presented in charts and tables. The study found a strong effects and significant association between BoG’s policy rate and GCB bank lending rates at P<0.05. Also lending rates have a negative influence on the level of customer borrowing. Inflation rates have a negative influence on client borrowing. This project concludes that monetary policy rate and lending rate can affect level of customer borrowing.