ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMERS’ SATISFACTION WITH BANKING SERVICES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Problem
Banking subsector like many other sector is not free from the influence of globalisation. In so far, globalization alongside regulatory, structural and technological factors has caused significant changes in this subsector. This in turn has led to profound cut throat competitive pressures (Grigoroudis et al, 2012). On the other hand customer satisfaction emerged to be cornerstone of increased demand of banking services and indeed, is recognized as a key business strategy of every bank. In fact customer satisfaction is not only a prerequisite for a successful and competitive bank but also a benchmark against which many banks have set their standards. According to Anubav (2010) maintaining existing customers for organisations is ever more important than the ability to capture new ones. Customers are critical for any bank success without which the survival of a bank in the market will be in jeopardy.
In modern economics, banking sector performs its activities with significant role side by side manufacturing and other sectors. Bank managers are therefore more concerned about quality of service and client satisfaction (Olorunniwo et al., 2016). Service quality, service charges, perceived value and customer satisfaction are the key sources of success in any bank (Olorunniwo and Hsu, 2016). Issues that affect service quality and customer satisfaction have operational and marketing orientations. The improvement of service quality, perceived value, and satisfaction ensure customer loyalty (Kuo et al., 2009; Lai et al., 20201509; Wu and Liang, 2015). Commercial banking sector is very important for the economic development of the country. Financial services rendered to the community stimulate economic opportunities. However the customer’s satisfaction from banks plays the great role to the development of the community.
The banking Industry is high competitive with banks not only competing among other financial institution (Kaynak and Kucukemiroglu, 2012). Hull 2002, said that most of banks product developments are easy to duplicate and when banks provide nearly identical services. Since customer have more choice and more control long lasting and strong relationship with them are critical to achieve and maintain competitive advantages as a consequences and earnings. However due to the similarity of the offers of many financial services loyal customers have huge value since they are likely to spend/buy more. Peter and Donnely argued that satisfied customers can be loyal customers, the literature furthermore reveals that services quality. Customer’s satisfaction will make a great foundation for return business and they may also bring in their friends and associates. Other authors have brought out theories relating customer satisfaction and service quality in their researches. Wang and Hing-Po, (2002) showed that the dynamic relationship among service quality, customer value are key factors of customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is an outcome of good internal feelings arising from quality services (Henning and Thurau, 2003). Satisfaction in banking subsector represents the extent to which banking products and services meet customer needs. According to various authors, customer satisfaction can be measured by looking at different dimensions such as service quality, customer loyalty, repurchases behaviour and trust, among others (Anderson and Fornell, 2001; Anderson and Mittal, 2000, with conclusion that a satisfied customer is loyal and contributes to profitability.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The issue of sustaining sufficient profitability within the banking sector in the global business environment could not be overemphasized. In fact, without having a wider customer base the prospects of making profit in a bank are dim. That’s why a number of researches have been undertaken in various parts of the world to establish a link between customer satisfaction and variables such as bank profitability and retention, among others. As the financial institutions struggle to expand their reach, customer satisfaction with services rendered by such institutions has become an issue (Kotler, 2009). Service quality is one of main elements of customer satisfaction and their intention to purchase (Peter and Vassilis, 1997). According to Wilson et al., (2008) customer satisfaction is influenced by the quality of product and services offered by institutions quality. Other crucial determinants of customer satisfaction include price, personal and situational factors (Lee et al., 2000). If these determinants are not satisfactory capable of convincing customers royalty, the overall competitiveness of a business will be at a stake (Wilson et. al., 2008; Wen-Yi et al., 2009).
According to Gustafsson, et al., (2005) customer satisfaction occurs when customer needs and expectations are met all the time, every time throughout the life of a product or service. Customer satisfaction results from either the quality of banking services, quality of service, engagement of the customer, price factors and meeting or exceeding customers’ expectations, consuming products and services (Prabhakar, 2005). If the performance of a bank falls short of these expectations, the customer becomes dissatisfied. If the performance matches expectations, the customer is satisfied. If the performance exceeds expectations, the customer is delighted. Only delighted customers or highly satisfied customers stay loyal to the services provider (Salmen and Muir, 2003; Dubrovski, 2001). Although entrance of technology have enhanced customer satisfaction in the banking sub sector, with impact on increased customers retention, still much is need to make financial services firms become customer’s first preference (Waqarul and Bakhtiar, 2012). Amid an economy of innovative technologies and changing markets, poor quality of service has been blamed to contribute to customer dissatisfaction. In addition, insufficient innovations in establishing new financial products and services add salt to the injury, exacerbating further the level of customer dissatisfaction. These jeopardize the ability of banks to stay competent leading to poor opinion financial firms among customers (Puja and Yukti, 2010). With the ensuing mistrust among the customers, the leverage of financial firms to stay in the market hangs at a stake (Tiwary, 2011).
The financial sector reform set in motion the liberating interest rates, eliminating administrative credit allocation, strengthening banks of Tanzania’s role in regulating and supervising financial institutions, restructuring state owned financial institutions and allowing entry of private banks into the market. However, despite of the financial reforms accesses by large segment of the rural or urban population to financial services particularly from commercial banks has remained stunted. In additional, the service satisfaction to community also played the alarming note to the community and growth of economic activities. This is to say in the long run will make it hard for the bank to achieve economic development objectives and those expected with community at large if there is no strategic plan to curb these drawbacks.
In recognition of the significance of customer satisfaction in sustainable profit making in banking subsector, this study intended to examine customers’ satisfaction with banking services with particular focus of Standard Chartered Bank –Tanzania. The result of this study has managerial and academic implications. Managers of commercial banking service providers can use the findings as sources of reference to manage their business and improve their service quality, and academicians can use the finding for application of service marketing field and further extension of this topic or related topics so as to enhance the banking sub-sector contribution to economic growth and poverty alleviation.