Back in 2002, the Turkish banking system significantly involved investing depositors’ funds into high-yielding government bonds. It was a profitable business and the inflation-adjusted “real” yield on the government bonds averaged a quite high 15% between 2002 and 2005. Lucrative returns on that market left no real appetite for proper retail and/or SME banking. Of overall banking assets, 40% were invested into government securities, and the share of loans were as low as 23% at 2002 yearend. Bank loans were therefore expensive, with government bonds dominating the financial market, and low average household disposable income did not offer potential for personal retail banking. 

 

In the ten years following 2002, inflation was brought down to single-digit levels, GDP per capita increased substantially to USD 10,000 levels from USD 3,500, and public debt-to-GDP ratio fell to 17% in 2012 from 62% in 2002. More easily available financing in global markets and annual FDI inflows averaging around USD 10 billion greatly facilitated growth in the economy. Enjoying returns on equity of above 20% and annual loan growth of around 40%, Turkish banks became popular acquisition targets.

 

Along with the increased purchasing power and rising consumption, Turkish banks commenced retail banking and invested heavily into branch network and advanced technological infrastructure. The mortgage market blossomed from nowhere and consumer loans grew at a 35% CAGR between 2004 and 2012.

 

The government allowed banks to operate without imposing suffocating regulatory controls and the banks were therefore able to focus on expanding their core business. Turkey became an attractive market with a growing appetite for new investments. Despite the disastrous effects on the global financial system caused by the 2008-9 global economic meltdown, the Turkish Banking system emerged relatively unscathed. The reason for this was generally accepted as the adoption of the banking reforms following the 2001 economic crisis in Turkey. The current efforts in international markets to increase the capital adequacy of banks in accordance with Basel regulations had already largely been implemented in Turkey. Indeed the Turkish experience, which disciplined Turkish banks to adopt better internal auditing and controlling mechanisms, and to maintain higher levels of liquidity and higher capital adequacy ratios, was a very good example for the rest of the world. Following the temporary GDP contraction of 4.8% caused by the global recession of 2008-9, the economy bounced back with 9.2% growth in 2010. By the end of 2012, Turkish banking was back on the fast track with loans making up around 60% of total assets, and with retail loans (including SMEs) comprising 58% of total loans. Turkish banking assets now reflected a more customer orientated outlook. On the other hand, their liabilities reflected their growing dependence on external borrowings allowed by the abundance of global liquidity, such that the loan-to-deposit ratio in the Turkish banking system exceeded the 100% threshold in 2011. Turkish banks had rid themselves of their classic old fashioned banking structure, and had streamlined their activities such that they now had a very lean and efficient look worthy of modern and developed financial institutions.

 

After 2012, however, the positive factors which had previously helped to drive the Turkish banking industry forward to make the most of greater growth opportunities and technological advancements, began to fade. Turkey began to be left with the hang-over symptoms of the giddy growth enjoyed in the previous decade. High current account deficits as a result of reliance on capital inflows, rising private sector external debt, consumption-driven economy with a large savings gap, and the slowness in implementing structural reforms, increased the need for fiscal discipline and tighter monetary policies. With the current account deficit running at a very high 9.7% in 2011, the Turkish government decided in 2012 to put the brakes on the overheating economy. Turkey’s average GDP growth rate decreased to 3.1% during the following three years, compared to the 2002–11’s average of 5.5%.

 

The government’s austerity measures came through the banking system, with higher provision requirements and stricter lending rules being applied on retail loans and credit card business. These measures began to slow the Turkish market which started to struggle to generate profits. Average ROEs decreased substantially to about 12%, and since 2014, the loan-to-deposit ratio has been around or near 120%. With the expected tightening in global liquidity conditions, it was felt that there was now no longer room for the Turkish banking market to grow without improvement in the retail deposit base. It was at this time that some international banks announced their decision to exit Turkey.

 

The banking industry has had an important respite as a result of the Turkish government’s fiscal impetus measures introduced towards the end of 2016 to compensate for the negative economic effects of the failed coup attempt in July 2016. The introduction of the government’s credit guarantee scheme greatly improved banks’ profits. Growth has soared to an expected 7% for the year 2017. The fears of inflation increasing and the economy overheating means that the government will continue with its tight monetary policy for the foreseeable future, and the growth rate for 2018 is expected to fall back to 4-5%.

 

Turkey undoubtedly still has great potential for growth as a result of its favourable demographics. However, the low household savings ratio is a problem waiting to be solved, and the low profitability environment now facing the banking industry requires banks to re-evaluate the way they operate. They will need to even further focus on improving operational excellence, technology infrastructure, risk management and governance.

 

As of December 2016, Turkey has a total of 52 banks operating 11,741 branches and employing some 211,000 people. The number of branches fell by 533 branches (4.3%) from 2015 and the number of employees decreased by 6,400 people (some 3%)  from 218,000 in 2015. The private banks are leading the sector with 35.2% of the overall branches, followed by public banks with 31.5%, foreign banks with 24.8% and participation and investment banks with 8.5%. Similarly, 35% of the workforce employed in the Turkish banking sector work for private banks, 27.5% for public banks, 28% work for foreign banks, and the remaining 9.5% for participation and investment banks.

 

Total assets of the Turkish banking sector comprised TL 2,731 billion (USD 776 billion) as of 2016 yearend, a 15.9% increase over 2015 in TL terms (4% fall in USD value). Credits issued comprised TL 1,747 billion (USD 496 billion) as of 2016 yearend, a 16.7% increase over 2015 in TL terms (3.1% fall in USD value), representing 64% of total assets. Deposits comprised TL 1,454 billon (USD 413 billion) as of 2016 yearend, a 16.8% increase over 2015 in TL terms (3.3% fall in USD value), and representing 53.2% of total assets. As of 2016 yearend, the net profit of the Turkish banking sector comprised TL 37.5 billion (USD 10.7 billion), an increase of 43.7% over 2015.

 

As of December 2016, the Capital Adequacy Ratio of the banks operating in the Turkish market is 15.6%, and the doubtful debts ratio is 3.4%, up from 3.2% in 2015.

 

For conversion purposes regarding the above Turkish lira statistics, as of 31.12.2016, the Turkish Central Bank’s buying rate for US Dollars is USD 1 = TL 3.5192.

 

 

Borsa Istanbul

 

The Borsa Istanbul (BIST) is the sole exchange entity of Turkey combining the former Istanbul Stock Exchange (İstanbul Menkul Kıymetler Borsası, IMKB), the Istanbul Gold Exchange (İstanbul Altın Borsası, İAB) and the Derivatives Exchange of Turkey (Vadeli İşlem Opsiyon Borsası, VOB) under one roof. It was established as an incorporated company on April 3rd, 2013, and began to operate on April 5th, 2013.

 

The founding capital of the Borsa Istanbul is 423,234,000 Turkish liras. The main shareholders comprise the Turkish Government (49%) and old Istanbul Stock Exchange entity (IMKB) (41%). It is planned for the Government-owned shares to be eventually offered for sale.

 

The Istanbul Stock Exchange (İMKB) was the only corporation in Turkey for securities exchange and was established to provide trading in equities, bonds, bills, revenue-sharing certificates, private sector bonds, foreign securities and real estate certificates as well as international securities. The ISE was founded as an autonomous, professional organization in early 1986.

 

416 national companies are quoted on the new Borsa. Trading hours are 09:30–12:30 for the first session and 14:00–17:30 for the second session, on workdays. All members are incorporated banks and brokerage houses. The Borsa’s stock index, National 100 Index XU100, reached an all-time high of 120,845.29 index points on January 29th, 2018. This capitalization-weighted index, with a base value of 1 as of January 1986, is a major stock market index which tracks the performance of 100 companies selected from the National Market, and capital and real estate investment trusts quoted on the exchange.

 

 

Istanbul International Finance Centre Project

 

The Turkish Government introduced its plan to build a financial centre in Istanbul in 2009. It is the aim of the government to take advantage of Turkey’s geographical location to create a regional financial hub in Istanbul. Land has been allocated and it has been foreseen that this centre will house the head offices of all the private and public banks in Turkey. The location will include 45 million square feet of office, residential, retail, conference, hotel and park space.

 

Strategically located between Ataşehir and Umraniye on the Asian side of Istanbul, the site offers easy accessibility to all the major central commercial. cultural and historical centres of Istanbul. Major infrastructure improvements include a transportation system featuring a new underground railway line and station as well as new infrastructure for sustainable power, water, data and security. The growth of Turkey’s economy over the last decade and its acceptance as an important emerging market have certainly justified the expectations behind this project to turn Istanbul into a global financial centre. It is certainly an exciting and feasible project. However, this project must become more than just a property development. Turkey will need to make many important changes to its regulations to meet the expectations of such a project. The centre will need to have access to skilled personnel, other international markets, suppliers of professional services, customers, and to the latest communication technology. The Turkish government will need to create a fair and just business environment, an acceptable corporate and personal tax regime, a more flexible work and residence permit regime for foreigners, and a quality of life which is suitable for cosmopolitan life-styles.

 

 

Financial Advisory Firms in Turkey

 

There are many national and international firms in Turkey which can provide expert financial advice and support to foreign investors. These firms may be national or international investment funds, accounting firms, or firms expert in international financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, privatisations, infrastructure projects, restructurings, project financing, as well as other corporate matters in Turkey.