Assessment of the bankers Ethics In Public and Private Banks: A study In Jimma Town

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the banker’s ethics in public and private banks: A study in Jimma town. To meet the desired objectives of this study, descriptive research design was employed with mixed approach in which both quantitative and qualitative data was included in the study. The target population of this study was the accountants (employee) of both private and government banks (Main and Hermata branch) and (Dashen, Awash and Abyssinia) Merkato branch Jimma town. In order to select the sample size, 139 employees from study banks were the target population of the study with their respective manager’s. A questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion were employed in the study. After the data was collected from accountants and mangers, the quantitative data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation whereas the qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The finding of this study show that, the study banks are good in practicing certain accounting ethics like following the guidelines of codes of ethics ,the employees are given priority for the customers, the bank’s assets are also used for the designed purpose, the managers are also good in demonstrating codes of conducts , and employees are also free from any bribes ,fraud of any resources of the banks .However, the finding of this study show that , in the study banks there is poor communication among managers and employees of the banks so as to discuss on ethical issues , the study also show that there is lack of training on ethical issues . As the result, the result of this study indicated that , employees were accustomed on absenteeism , late and early leaving of the working hours of the banks .Finally, the researcher recommended that, it’s better if the training and seminars are facilitated for the employee to create better awareness on accounting ethics practices in commercial bank of Ethiopia, Jimma zone. Further, the researcher recommended that the managers of each banks should be communicated with employee on bankers ethics and deliver certain decision making of ethics and codes of conducts of the banks.