The Innovative Approaches to Estimating Business Models of Modern Banks

Abstract

The analysis of business models of banks is a new approach to determining the financial condition and financial soundness of an individual bank and the entire banking system. The definition and analysis of banks' business models allow understanding better financial and economic activities, risk appetite, and management system. The National Bank of Ukraine moves to SREP based banking supervision. Such an analysis involves the verification of banks' business models for their viability and sustainability. No regulatory act provides a precise definition of these concepts. It is still no single approach to the analysis of business models among scientists and researchers. At the same time, traditional methods that focused on the analysis of the bank's capital adequacy, its liquidity, and compliance with mandatory NBU economic norms are not sufficient. The study shows that most researchers use cluster analysis methods with a variety of sets of variables, the number of cluster groups, and business models. To determine the business models of Ukrainian banks, to analyze them, and to form on this basis the risk profile of each bank, the authors proposed an innovative methodology of structural-functional groups of banks (SFGB-method). The method is based on the use of neural networks, in particular self-organizing Kohonen maps (SOM). For cluster analysis, it is suggested to use the system of financial indicators calculated by the National Bank of Ukraine in the SREP system. The cluster analysis allows identifying ten business models of Ukrainian banks. The article describes the features of each cluster and its propensity to take risks. The distribution of banks by cluster and their place on the map depends mostly on the structure of its assets, liabilities, income, and expenses, currency position, as well as other qualitative and quantitative indicators. The conducted research has confirmed that the definition of business models of banks allows forming the basis for introducing a differentiated approach to banking regulation and supervision, taking into account the essential characteristics of each bank, its risk profile, and the main distinguishing features. Keywords: bank business model, innovative approaches, bank risk profile, structural-functional group, bank.