THE RE-ENTRY OF INTERNATIONAL BANKS INTO THE IRANIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS: GREETINGS OR RESISTANCE?

Farrokh Safavi Western Washington University

Tehran University 

ABSTRACT

In a recent survey of banking executives in Tehran, Iran, the participants expressed their views towards the possible impact of international banks on the Iranian banking system. The economy has been experiencing a global sanction, and the presence of international banks would have been perceived as a major challenge to the operations of the domestic (Iranian) banks. The initial assumption was that the Iranian banking executives would resist the entry of international banks out of the fear of losing lucrative domestic customers. In reality, a clear majority of the banking executives supported the entry of international banks. The positive attitude was shared equally between the male and female executives and in three major types of banks, namely state- owned commercial, state-owned specialized, and private banks. Only some executives in the credit lending institutions expressed doubts on the contributions of the international banks to the improvement of the Iranian banking system. Data from the survey is presented in tables and charts to facilitate communication.