Training as a tool for performance improvement in the modern banking industry: A case study of the rural banks in the Brong - Ahafo region

Abstract

Training is a pre-requisite for the growth and survival of rural banks in this era of competitive banking. Indeed, the importance of training to the effective and smooth running of rural banks cannot be over-emphasised. The principal aim of the study was to ascertain whether training is a tool for performance improvement in the modem banking industry with particular reference to rural banks. The descriptive research design was used for the study. The target population comprised all the rural banks in the Brong-Ahafo Region. The research instruments used for collection of data were questionnaire, interviews schedule, documents, and observation. Frequency of responses, percentages and mean values were used to analyze the data collected. The types of training available in the rural banks are on-the-job and offthe-job. Although rural banks combine on-the-job and off-the-job training to develop their human resource capacities, prior attention is open to the former. An insignificant number of the staff and directors of rural banks are professional bankers. Rural banks are entangled in competitions to attract donor support in the form of funds and offerings of training opportunities to upgrade the knowledge, skills and attitudes of their staff. Also, they are competing with each other to attract and retain customers. Training of staff and directors of rural banks has proved to be an effective tool in enabling the banks to withstand the competition in the banking industry.