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Maintaining adequate liquidity while preserving profitability remains a central challenge for commercial banks because liquid assets strengthen resilience but typically generate lower returns than loans and other earning assets. This study investigates the effect of liquidity on the profitability of U.S. commercial banks using 8,000 quarterly bank observations for 2010–2024. Profitability is measured by return on assets (ROA), with return on equity (ROE) used for robustness, while liquidity, capital adequacy, the loan-to-asset ratio, and bank size are modeled as explanatory variables. Pooled OLS, fixed-effects, and random-effects estimators are compared, and diagnostic tests support a two-way fixed-effects model with standard errors clustered by bank and quarter. The preferred estimates show that a one-percentage-point increase in the liquidity ratio reduces annualized ROA by 0.0183 percentage points (SE = 0.0031; p < 0.001). A one-standard-deviation rise in liquidity, equal to 5.52 percentage points, lowers ROA by approximately 0.101 percentage points, representing 9.2% of the sample mean ROA of 1.097%. Capital adequacy increases ROA by 0.0530 percentage points, and the loan-to-asset ratio increases it by 0.0148 percentage points, both at p < 0.001, whereas bank size is insignificant (β = 0.1008; p = 0.352). The ROE robustness model also yields a negative liquidity coefficient of −0.1074 (p < 0.001). The findings confirm a measurable liquidity–profitability trade-off and support risk-sensitive liquidity regulation that protects financial stability without encouraging persistently excessive holdings of low-yield liquid assets.

This study examines whether risk asset exposure affects the financial performance of commercial banks in Cameroon, a bank-dominated economy of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). Risk asset exposure is measured by lending intensity (the loan-to-deposit ratio) and credit expansion (annual loan growth), and performance by return on assets (ROA). The data form a balanced panel of ten commercial banks over 2014–2024, compiled from the prudential reporting system of the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) as published by Cameroon's National Economic and Financial Committee. Bank fixed-effects regressions with bank-clustered standard errors are complemented by a wild-cluster bootstrap suited to few clusters, Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, lagged regressors, panel Granger non-causality tests and a within–between (Mundlak) decomposition that separates changes in a bank's own exposure from persistent differences between banks. The main findings are that (i) neither lending intensity nor credit expansion is significantly associated with profitability in any specification (bootstrap p = 0.81 and 0.30), and the confidence intervals exclude effects larger than about one percentage point of ROA; (ii) lending intensity is unrelated to profitability both within banks over time and between banks (between-effect bootstrap p = 0.88); and (iii) the COVID-19 years of 2020–2021 were associated with ROA about 0.70 percentage points lower (bootstrap p = 0.009). The results indicate a limited role for lending exposure, while significant bank fixed effects and the COVID-19 coefficient point to persistent bank heterogeneity and common systemic shocks. Because the sample comprises ten banks under a single regulator, the findings should be interpreted with caution.

This study presents a thematic literature review aimed at understanding the systemic barriers that Black African women face when accessing bank loans in South Africa, as well as the critical role that the humanities can play in addressing these issues. In the context of the persistent economic instability facing South Africa, the small business sector has become a vital source of income and resilience for Black women. Despite this, their economic potential remains constrained by limited access to bank loans. Guided by an intersectionality framework, the study discusses the systemic barriers that contribute to the financial hardships and exclusion of Black African women. It further explores how gender-sensitive and humanities-informed approaches can contribute to more inclusive financial services. This includes emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive financial products, bias awareness training, and supportive policy frameworks. The review calls for strategic interventions to improve economic empowerment among Black African women entrepreneurs. Central to these interventions is the role of humanities faculties in facilitating Short Learning Programs and Skills Training Programs that provide business training, helping women manage finances and scale their ventures sustainably through enhanced financial literacy. This increased knowledge can improve their chances of success, even in the absence of formal funding. Conducting Afrocentric research is another avenue to uncover the barriers and address the current financial exclusion that Black women in South Africa experience. Gender equality in financial inclusion must remain one of the fundamental building blocks for steady and positive economic growth in South Africa.

Despite changing Performance Management System (PMS) to Performance Management and Development (PMD) in 2018, public schools face difficulties in effectively implementing PMD in Botswana. This study, using a mixed methods approach, investigated the capacity of school managers to implement PMD. Quantitative analysis assessed capacity and workload, while qualitative insights explored managers’ perspectives on PMD.  From the study, poor PMD implementation is associated with capacity issues, moral laxity and organizational indifference. The study recommends building capacities at all levels of PMD and embracing PMD as a performance reform.

The AfCFTA presents significant opportunities for manufacturing SMEs in Namibia to expand into regional markets. However, limited evidence exists regarding the extent to which these enterprises are logistically prepared to participate effectively in continental trade. This study aims to examine the logistical readiness of GS1-registered manufacturing SMEs in Namibia to participate in trade under the AfCFTA. In this paper, it is also aimed to assess SMEs’ awareness of AfCFTA compliance requirements, identify key logistical challenges, and evaluate operational capability gaps related to supply chain documentation, inventory management, and export logistics. The study is underpinned by the Resource-Based View, Institutional Theory, and Trade Facilitation Theory. A qualitative research approach was employed using open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A dataset comprising responses from representatives of GS1-registered manufacturing SMEs operating in sectors such as food processing, cosmetics, agro-processing, textiles, and light manufacturing was analysed. Data were collected during 2025 and analysed using reflective thematic analysis supported by Atlas.ti 23 software. The main findings of the study demonstrate that: (i) although awareness of the AfCFTA exists among SMEs, knowledge of specific compliance requirements, including rules of origin, customs documentation, and regulatory procedures, remains limited; (ii) significant internal logistical and operational capability gaps persist, particularly in export skills, inventory management systems, and logistics planning; and (iii) external barriers, including high transport costs, regulatory complexities, and inadequate institutional coordination, constrain SMEs’ readiness to exploit AfCFTA opportunities. The study concludes that GS1 registration is a necessary but insufficient condition for trade readiness and recommends targeted capacity-building initiatives, improved trade facilitation measures, and stronger institutional support to enhance SME participation in continental trade.

Does Botswana’s economic growth drive insurance sector development or follows it? This study evaluates the empirical applicability of the supply-leading and demand-following hypotheses. It employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing approach and Granger causality analysis within a Vector Error Correction Model framework, to examines the significance of dynamic long-run, short-run and causal relationship between the Insurance sector development (total insurance penetration) and economic growth (Gross Domestic Product per capita) over the period 2000–2023. To reduce specification bias, the control variables used are gross fixed capital formation for physical capital accumulation, inflation for macroeconomic stability and trade openness for external trade exposure. The findings indicate a statistically significant long-run cointegrating relationship among the variables, with inflation exerting a highly significant negative effect on Gross Domestic Product per capita while total insurance penetration indicates a statistically insignificant direct long-run impact. In the short run, total insurance penetration exerts a robust and statistically significant negative effect on Gross Domestic Product per capita, validating the presence of a 'savings-substitution' effect and domestic capital leakage channel identified in earlier literature. The Pairwise Granger causality analysis yields a strong backing for the demand-following hypothesis at 5% significance level, and a weak evidence of a supply-leading effect at 10% level meaning the insurance market acts primarily as a passive responder to macroeconomic expansion rather than a primary growth locomotive. Policy recommendations stress the need for regulatory reforms to boost domestic insurance premiums reinvestment, stimulate structural product innovation, and deepen financial inclusion to unlock growth-insurance complementarities.

This study aims to examine the effects of price discount and delivery service on purchase decision and their subsequent impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty within an urban franchise retail context. A quantitative approach was employed using a survey of 220 consumers of Indomaret Anggrek Rosliana Raya, West Jakarta. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that price discount has a significant but relatively weak effect on purchase decision, while delivery service demonstrates a stronger influence, highlighting the increasing importance of service convenience in urban retail environments. Furthermore, purchase decision has a substantial effect on customer satisfaction, which in turn strongly influences customer loyalty. The study also confirms a sequential mediation mechanism, where marketing stimuli influence customer loyalty indirectly through purchase decision and customer satisfaction. Unlike previous customer loyalty studies that predominantly examine the direct effects of marketing stimuli on satisfaction or loyalty, this study develops a sequential framework in which purchase decision functions as a cognitive mediator preceding customer satisfaction as an affective mediator. This model extends existing customer loyalty frameworks by demonstrating that loyalty emerges through a two-stage evaluation process rather than through isolated direct relationships.

The effective utilisation of Integrated Logistics Systems (ILS) is increasingly recognised as a critical enabler of operational efficiency, accountability, and readiness within defence organisations. The study investigated the utilisation of Integrated Logistics Systems within the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) in the Khomas region of Namibia. A qualitative research approach was utilised, and data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 33 participants drawn from logistics officers, supply chain managers, system administrators, and information technology support personnel. The data was analysed thematically to generate insights into patterns of system use, organisational dynamics, and user experiences. The findings revealed that although the Integrated Logistics System operates within MODVA, its use is still inconsistent, disjointed, and primarily confined to fundamental functions. Advanced system features intended to enhance complete logistics integration, real-time visibility, and strategic decision-making are greatly underused. The study also identified internal organisational elements such as leadership styles, corporate culture, workflow inconsistencies, inadequate training, and lack of ICT support as key factors influencing system utilisation. Participants also described national ICT infrastructure, procurement regulations, reliance on external suppliers, and cybersecurity requirements as contextual constraints affecting the environment in which ILS is used. Moreover, the study found that the challenges related to ILS implementation and utilisation are closely linked. Insufficient rollout planning, minimal user engagement, ineffective change management tactics, and ongoing training and capability deficiencies have led to diminished user trust and opposition to digital processes. Technical and infrastructural limitations further diminish trust in the system, while behavioural obstacles such as fear of making mistakes, preference for manual processes, and reluctance to change remain firmly embedded in the organisational culture. The study concludes that effective ILS implementation within MODVA necessitates a comprehensive strategy that combines technological proficiency with organisational preparedness, leadership commitment, ongoing skills enhancement, and organised change management. The findings contribute to the understanding of digital logistics systems adoption in defence settings in developing countries and offer evidence-based recommendations for improving system usage and operational efficiency.

This study examines the economics and the cost per kWh (IDR/kWh) of household gas-fired power generation coupled with a renewable energy source, namely a Solar Power Plant (PLTS). The calculations in this research employ individual economic assessments for a standalone PLN system, a natural gas generator set, a solar power plant (PLTS), and a hybrid combination of a natural gas generator set and PLTS. The analysis focuses on the economic aspects of the household electricity system using the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Life Cycle Cost (LCC), and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) methods. The study is conducted by evaluating the electrical economics and determining the resulting IDR/kWh cost generated by the standalone PLN system, the natural gas generator set, the PLTS, and the hybrid system combining the natural gas generator set with PLTS. The research findings are expected to contribute to the development of a more efficient and sustainable distributed energy system.  

The resumption of indirect US-Iran negotiations in 2026, mediated by Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman, represents a critical test case for contemporary conflict resolution in the Arabian Gulf. While existing studies have extensively examined US-Iran hostility through the lenses of nuclear proliferation, sanctions regimes, and military deterrence, the mediating role of small-state actors, particularly Qatar, remains theoretically underdeveloped. This paper addresses this gap by constructing an analytical framework for understanding Qatar’s mediation strategy in the 2026 shuttle diplomacy efforts, with a specific focus on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and broader de-escalation. Drawing upon mediation theory, neoclassical realism, and hedging literature, the proposed framework conceptualizes Qatari mediation along three analytical dimensions: (1) structural enablers: Qatar’s strategic geography, financial resources, and institutionalized relationships with both Washington and Tehran; (2) strategic motivations: Doha’s pursuit of regional stability, protection of its maritime economic interests, and preservation of its security guarantee from the US while maintaining ties with Iran; and (3) tactical modalities: the indirect, rotating mediation structure involving multiple state intermediaries, draft proposal exchanges, and confidence-building measures. Applying this framework to the 2026 negotiation process reveals two primary findings. First, Qatar’s effectiveness as a mediator hinges on its perceived neutrality and its unique access to both parties’ red lines: the US demand for comprehensive nuclear constraints and Iran’s insistence on sanctions relief and security recognition. Second, the indirect shuttle format, while slower than direct talks, enables both sides to explore compromise without domestic political backlash, transforming the Strait of Hormuz from a flashpoint into a bargaining chip. The paper concludes that Qatar’s mediation, while promising, faces structural limitations inherent to asymmetrical power relations. Ultimately, this framework offers scholars a replicable model for analyzing small-state mediation in great-power conflicts and provides policymakers with insights into the conditions that facilitate or obstruct Gulf diplomacy

This paper evaluates the performance of road construction contracts awarded by the Roads Authority (RA) of Namibia, addressing the persistent project delays, cost overruns, and contractor non-performance that have continued despite the enactment of the Public Procurement Act 15 of 2015. The study examines three interrelated dimensions of contract performance: the role of procurement processes in contractor selection, the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation systems, and the influence of external factors on project outcomes. A qualitative case study design, underpinned by a constructivist research philosophy, was adopted. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires administered to 27 purposively selected participants, comprising 10 Roads Authority procurement officers and project managers and 17 contractors who undertook road projects between 2020 and 2025. Responses were analysed in ATLAS.ti through inductive open, axial, and selective coding, yielding 68 codes consolidated into 19 clusters and five overarching themes. The findings show that contract performance is undermined by (i) procurement process limitations, particularly lowest-bid bias and unverifiable paper-based capacity assessment; (ii) monitoring and supervision gaps linked to understaffing and reactive contract management; (iii) institutional capacity constraints; (iv) external pressures, most notably delayed client payments and political interference; and (v) contractor-side weaknesses including financial mismanagement and capacity misrepresentation. These findings are interpreted through Principal-Agent Theory, the Resource-Based View, and Project Management Theory, which jointly demonstrate that performance failure is multi-causal rather than attributable to any single determinant. The study recommends reforming contractor selection criteria, introducing performance-based contracting, strengthening monitoring capacity through digital systems, and improving payment discipline, offering an empirically grounded contribution to public procurement and infrastructure contract management scholarship in developing countries.

The successful achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) largely depends on human behavior. Will people act sustainably when they consume, work, travel, or simply go about their lives? Only if the answer is yes can we truly make progress toward sustainability. Research into what influences SDG-supportive behavior has identified several factors. However, some studies emphasize knowledge, others highlight economic barriers, and still others focus on traits and psychological factors—rarely all at once. In this paper, we aim to broaden this perspective. By reviewing multiple sources, we develop and empirically test a comprehensive model of sustainable behavior. We propose that awareness of sustainability issues influences how individuals interpret and understand societal challenges. At the same time, a person’s motivational orientation will determine whether they internalize sustainability values as their own beliefs and develop positive attitudes toward the SDGs. Nonetheless, even if individuals strongly believe in sustainability, their actions also depend on other factors. Using data from the Japan Household Panel Survey on Sustainable Development Goals, this study constructs psychometric measures and creates a nomological framework to examine the mechanisms behind the formation of sustainability behavior. The findings suggest that prosocial peace orientation and awareness of sustainability issues positively influence sustainability values and attitudes, which, in turn, shape sustainability behaviors.

Whether strategic leadership retains real value for firm performance has long been contested, and the debate has often outrun the evidence in sectors far from the manufacturing and service settings where the construct was first tested. This study revisits Upper Echelons Theory and asks whether strategic leadership matters for the performance of poultry firms in an emerging economy. It examined the nineteen registered poultry firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya, a value chain marked by declining output, rising import competition and volatile input costs. Anchored on Upper Echelons Theory, and complemented by Strategic Leadership Theory and the Resource-Based View, the study measured strategic leadership as an integrated four-dimension construct comprising setting strategic direction, building core competencies, building organizational culture and networking, and examined the association between each dimension and firm performance. All nineteen firms were taken as a census, and a proportionate stratified random sample of 209 managers was drawn from their top echelon and business unit ranks; 200 returned usable questionnaires, a response rate of 95.69%, with Cronbach's alpha clearing the 0.7 threshold on every scale (0.761 to 0.902). The firms reported a high level of strategic leadership practice (M=3.99; SD=1.088) and a slightly lower level of performance (M=3.83; SD=0.779). Multiple linear regression showed that the four dimensions jointly explained 72.5% of the variance in managers' reported firm performance (Adjusted R²=.725; F significant at p < .001). Each dimension contributed a positive and significant effect: networking (B=.282), setting strategic direction (B=.246), building core competencies (B=.243) and building organizational culture (B=.204), all at p≤0.05. The results indicate that, far from being overwhelmed by a turbulent agribusiness environment, strategic leadership practices are strongly and consistently associated with performance in it. The study extends an upper-echelons perspective to emerging-economy agribusiness, demonstrates the value of measuring strategic leadership as a consolidated four-dimension whole, and advises boards and managers of poultry firms to treat clear strategic direction, competence renewal, adaptive culture and value chain networks as investments that shape revenue rather than as overhead.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in the livelihoods of hospitality sector employees worldwide, with particularly severe consequences in developing country contexts characterized by limited social protection and high employment precarity. Kenya's hospitality sector, a vital source of employment and foreign exchange, suffered widespread operational disruptions, workforce downsizing, and prolonged income instability, yet employees' experiences of these crises remain underexplored in the literature. Drawing on a comprehensive review of global, African, and Kenyan empirical literature, this paper examines the institutional lessons that the COVID-19 crisis offers for sustaining employee livelihoods in Kenya's hospitality sector. The paper is theoretically grounded in African Socialism Theory, the Capability Approach, and Social Constructivism, which together provide an ethical, human-centered, and interpretive framework for analyzing the relationships among institutional responses, employee resilience, and livelihood sustainability. The review demonstrates that employee resilience during crises is not solely an individual psychological attribute but is significantly shaped by organizational practices, leadership quality, communication transparency, and access to welfare support. Evidence further reveals that institutional responses in the Kenyan hospitality sector prioritized business continuity over employee welfare, leaving many workers, especially those on casual and non-permanent contracts, without adequate protection. The paper argues that sustainable employee livelihoods require proactive institutional frameworks that integrate crisis preparedness, ethical employment practices, and targeted welfare mechanisms. Lessons from comparative contexts, including South Korea, Germany, and South Africa, are drawn upon to propose strategies for strengthening organizational and policy responses in Kenya's hospitality sector. The findings contribute to emerging research on ethical organizational leadership, sustainable employment, and crisis management in the Global South.

The rapid growth of internet penetration and smartphone adoption has significantly accelerated the development of Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services in Indonesia, transforming the way consumers access digital entertainment. The increasing competition among streaming service providers has highlighted the importance of understanding the factors that influence users' continuance usage intention. In this paper, it is also aimed to examine the effects of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use on Continuance Usage Intention by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and investigating the mediating roles of Trust and User Satisfaction among SVOD users in Indonesia. We employed a quantitative analytics method using a survey method, and the collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). A dataset of 180 respondents as active user of an SVOD platform through either an individual (private) subscription account or a shared subscription account has been analyzed in 2025. Main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) a satisfactory model fit with a Goodness-of-Fit (GoF) value of 0.659 and a Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) of 0.054. (ii) The hypothesis testing results revealed that Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Trust, and User Satisfaction had significant positive effects on Continuance Usage Intention., (iii). Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use significantly influenced both Trust and User Satisfaction. (iii). The mediation analysis showed that Trust partially mediated the relationship between Perceived Usefulness and Continuance Usage Intention, whereas Trust did not mediate the relationship between Perceived Ease of Use and Continuance Usage Intention. User Satisfaction also did not exhibit a significant mediating effect.

 The purpose of this research is to contribute to the development of the accounting process and disclosure in the context of the disruption that brings in artificial intelligence by providing an integrated framework, from the perspective of internal development of accounting processes to the external requirements of the disclosure. The framework is based on the following five pillars: digital transformation policies; influence of artificial intelligence on the quality of accounting information; basic principles of intelligent models; governance mechanisms; and related risks. This is a descriptive and analytical study. It discussed the theoretical background and accounting implications of artificial intelligence, proposed a disclosure framework, and then it utilized content and gap analysis to determine to what extent the considered annual report met the requirements of the frameworkThe above analysis was based on the 2024 annual report of Asiacell Communications Company-Private Joint Stock Company. The disclosures of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, applications in accounting and finance, information quality, governance, and technological risk were selected and analyzed together with 24 disclosure items based on the proposed framework. The findings show a large disparity between the technological sophistication of the company and its level of accounting disclosure on artificial intelligence. The fermentations described in the present disclosure examples were at 25%, but only 25% of the disclosures were reached, and disclosures of assumptions underlying predictive models and related risks were missing. The results also suggest that the introduced framework, if adopted, would cover all the 24 disclosure items with a maximum proposed disclosure score of 100%.Also, based on model assumptions, data sources, levels of confidence, responsibilities in governance, and procedures for verification, transparency would be increased, the credibility of accounting estimates would be strengthened, the level of information uncertainty would be decreased, and the level of investor confidence in financial reports produced in an artificial intelligence milieu would be enhanced

This paper examines the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and their high value in supporting strategic competitiveness. To examine the links among strategy formulation, ICT, AI, and uncontrollable factors affecting business operations, this study proposes an interpretive model of these relationships, with strategic competitiveness as the dependent variable. Drawing on interviews and real-world data from several SMEs, the research findings indicate that although adopting AI and forecasting practices may pose challenges, mid-level and top managers increasingly recognize the importance of ICT and AI in formulating and implementing competitive strategies that enhance organizational competitiveness. The key results are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.

This study examined the effect of deposit diversification on the financial performance of Deposit-Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (DT-SACCOs) in Kenya and evaluated the moderating effect of corporate governance on this relationship.  The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and a causal research design. The target population comprised 176 SASRA-licensed DT-SACCOs in Kenya, from which 122 SACCOs with complete financial records for the period 2015–2024 were selected using simple random sampling. Panel data techniques, including fixed-effects and random-effects regression models, were employed to estimate the direct and moderating effects, while hierarchical regression was used to test the moderation hypothesis. The findings revealed that non-withdrawable deposits significantly and positively influenced both surplus and dividend payout after introducing lags, whereas withdrawable deposits had no significant effect on financial performance. The results further established that corporate governance had a positive and significant direct effect on financial performance and significantly strengthened the relationship between deposit diversification and financial performance. The findings provide practical guidance for DT-SACCO managers and policymakers to strengthen stable deposit mobilization and corporate governance as mechanisms for enhancing financial sustainability and institutional performance.

Transformational leadership has been touted by several scholars as the real deal in necessitating organisational change. The approach encourages, inspires and motivates followers to be innovative and create change that necessitates growth and shapes organisational success. While several studies have confirmed that leadership plays a crucial role in effective change management, very few have gone further to identify the specific leadership style(s) necessary for effective change management. As such, the study sought to assess the influence of transformational leadership on organisational change in the mining industry with specific reference to ABC Mine in Zimbabwe. Guided by the interpretivism research philosophy and the inductive approach, the study adopted a qualitative research design where primary data was collected through semi structured interviews from 26 participants chosen through purposive sampling. The study found that transformational leaders act as key influencers in driving organisational change by fostering trust, inclusivity, and collaboration. It was also found that transformational leaders effectively address and mitigate employee resistance to change by fostering open communication and psychological safety. The study concluded that transformational leadership is effective and necessary in managing organisational change. The study also concluded that employee engagement and involvement, personalised employee relations and continuous training are key practices necessary for facilitating organisational change implementation.

This study examines the effects of Mobile Financial Services (MFS) on the growth and composition of bank deposits in Bangladesh over the period 2015-2024 based on bank-level panel data for 26 commercial banks. Using Fixed Effects (FE), Random Effects (RE), and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimation and controlling for COVID-19 dummy, the study finds that MFS transaction volume has a negative and statistically significant effect on deposit growth. This indicates that rising mobile financial activity slows the pace at which banks accumulate deposits. However, MFS positively and significantly affects both current and savings deposit levels, consistent with the financial inclusion channel through which mobile platforms channel funds into the formal banking system. The effect on total deposits and fixed deposits is statistically insignificant, indicating no direct substitution at the aggregate or long-term deposit level. Bank size and loan-to-deposit ratio are the most consistent determinants across all models. Non-performing loans negatively affect depositor confidence. The COVID-19 pandemic dampened deposit growth and total deposit accumulation but exerted limited influence on current and savings deposit levels. These findings suggest that MFS and traditional banking are complementary rather than substitutive, and that well-designed policy interventions can harness MFS-driven financial inclusion to strengthen rather than undermine the deposit base of commercial banks in Bangladesh.