Examination of Banks' Financial Inclusion Efficiency Within the Framework of Digitalization: The Case of Türkiye

Abstract

This study aims to determine the efficiency level of the Turkish banking sector within the framework of financial inclusion and digitalization. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is a nonparametric method, is utilized to determine bank efficiency. As a result of the analysis conducted over a thirteen-year period, from 2011-2012 to 2022-2023, the efficiency levels of the banks are determined on a year-by-year basis. The findings obtained from the analysis show that relative efficiency scores differ over the period under consideration and relative efficiency is achieved in a total of four years. However, it is also observed that the efficiency level of the banking sector increased in the years when the level of financial inclusion increased. This suggests that banks should focus more on financial inclusion. The analysis emphasizes the role of the banking sector on financial inclusion and the steps to be taken in this regard, and the findings are expected to make important contributions to literature.

Keywords

• Financial inclusion
• Digital banking
• Bank efficiency
• Data envelopment analysis
• Türkiye

Bankaların Finansal Erişim Etkinliğinin Dijitalleşme Çerçevesinde İncelenmesi: Türkiye Örneği

Abstract

Bu çalışma ile Türk bankacılık sektörünün etkinlik düzeyinin finansal erişim ve dijitalleşme çerçevesinde belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Banka etkinliğinin belirlenmesi noktasında parametrik olmayan bir yöntem olan Veri Zarflama Analizi (VZA) yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. 2011-2012 ile 2022-2023 yılları arasındaki on üç yıllık dönem aralığının değerlendirmeye alındığı analiz neticesinde bankaların etkinlik düzeyleri yıllar özelinde belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda elde edilen bulgular göreli etkinlik skorlarının ele alınan dönem aralığında farklılaştığını ve toplam dört yılda göreli etkinliğin sağlandığını göstermiştir. Bununla birlikte, finansal erişim düzeyinin arttığı yıllarda bankacılık sektörünün etkinlik düzeyinin de yükseldiği gözlemlenmiştir. Bu durum, bankaların finansal erişime daha fazla odaklanmaları gerektiğini göstermektedir. Yapılan analizler, bankacılık sektörünün finansal erişim üzerindeki rolünü ve bu konuda atılması gereken adımları vurgulamakta olup, elde edilen bulguların literatüre önemli katkılar sunacağı düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• Finansal erişim
• Dijital bankacılık
• Banka etkinliği
• Veri zarflama analizi
• Türkiye

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