The Credit Crunch in Zambia

Commercial banks – mostly subsidiaries of foreign banks – are the most dominant financial institutions in Zambia. The banking system is comprised of 14 commercial banks, holding 90 percent of financial assets. Foreign equity participation is significant, accounting for three quarters of the banking system capitalization with regional leaders such as Standard Chartered, Barclays or Stanbic controlling a sizable part. However, a financial sector diagnostic carried out by the World Bank Group noted that by the end of 2005, credit to the private sector by banks represented only 8% of GDP in 2005. Furthermore, only 5,000 people hold 90% of loans, and just 8% of Zambia's adult population had a bank account as of 2005….(read more)