Demand Deposit Contracts and Probability of Bank Runs in Nigeria

The problem of bank runs is a global phenomenon and often damaging to the banking systems both in developed and developing countries. Monetary authorities always find it very difficult to resolve such a crisis; hence, it became imperative to examine this scenario in the case of Nigeria. Therefore, we examined the effect of demand deposit contracts on the probability of bank runs in Nigeria. This is considered a major contribution to the literature on finance from the perspective of an emerging market economy (EME). In this study, a multilevel Tobit regression approach was employed. This study identified statistically significant and positive effects of liquid assets (total assets) and total loans (total deposits) on bank runs in Nigeria. Based on the results, the study concluded that bank-specific factors have an effect on bank runs, and from these variables, liquid assets/total assets and total loans/total deposits have significant effects on bank runs. As a sequel to the findings and conclusion of this study, it was recommended that to avoid such a banking crisis, there is a need for deposit money banks in Nigeria to maintain adequate liquid assets and ameliorate the high level of deterioration in the quality of risk assets as well as the cost of funds.