Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Banking Sector in Northern Europe

Abstract

This research intends to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial performance of the banking sector in Northern Europe spanning from 2010 to 2021. In order to execute an empirical investigation into the elements that influence profitability, we worked with the OLS method (FGLS panel-data model). The results demonstrate the importance of factors that are both macroeconomic and specific in explaining profitability. Specifically, the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) exerts a noteworthy influence on bank profitability. Additionally, the bank's Z-score exhibits a negative correlation with the net interest margin (NIM) and attains statistical significance.