Impact of HIV/ AIDS on the retail banking market

Abstract

The South African business environment is challenged by the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst people that constitutes the market place. While all organisations will feel the impact, consumer oriented businesses are directly and more immediately affected. The key driver for growth in the retail-banking sector is the increase in transactional volume underpinned by a growing customer base.The study examined perceptions amongst senior managers in retail-banking business units at the four major banks. A different, but similar, set of questions was posed to professional service providers that had a good knowledge of retail banking. The responses to the questionnaires were analysed to extract the understanding of the extent and nature of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the retail banking market as well as to identify the differences in perceptions with respect to the Home Loans, Credit Card and Asset Finance business units.There was unanimous belief that HIV/AIDS will impact on retail banking. There was a perception that the Home Loan business unit was likely to be most impacted with the Asset Finance business unit being least affected. It was felt that payment defaulting resulting from an increased healthcare cost in households with HIV positive individuals will first affect Credit Cards, then Asset Finance and lastly Home Loans as people are not likely to give up the roof over their heads.