Operational risks and operational performance – a cross-sectional analysis of deposit money banks

Purpose This study examines the influence of operational risks (ORs) on the operational performance of deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria, focusing on six dimensions: people-caused, internal process-caused, system-caused, damage to physical assets, external events and legal-caused operational risks (LORs). Design/methodology/approach A descriptive survey research design was employed. The population comprised all DMBs in Nigeria, with the sample including all 19 banks holding national and international authorisation. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 25 senior management staff per bank using random sampling. Data were analysed to determine the effect of each OR category on operational performance (OP). Findings The results revealed that people-caused (β = 0.619, t = 12.872, p < 0.001), internal process-caused (β = 0.285, t = 4.547, p < 0.001), system-caused (β = 0.694, t = 17.394, p < 0.001), damage to physical assets (β = 0.718, t = 16.920, p < 0.001) and external events-caused risks (β = 0.735, t = 19.884, p < 0.001) all had significant positive influences on OP. LORs (β = 0.253, t = 1.223, p = 0.222) were not statistically significant. Research limitations/implications These findings highlight the critical impact of various ORs on the OP of DMBs in Nigeria, emphasising the need for comprehensive risk management strategies. Originality/value The study provides empirical evidence on the category-specific effects of ORs on bank performance in Nigeria. By identifying the most impactful risk dimensions, it offers practical insights for developing targeted OR management frameworks to enhance resilience and performance in the banking sector.