Determinants of Banking Competitiveness at the Level of Resources, Skills and Abilities: An Empirical Study

Considering the deep transformations that the banking sector has been experiencing in recent years at a competitive level, this research focuses on identifying the determinants of competitiveness and the variables affecting the same, regarding the level of resources, capabilities and competencies of the local branches. This study focuses in particular on the analysis of the determinants of competitiveness of a specific type of company (agency) in a particular sector (Commercial banking). The research studied all the 40 bank branches of the financial institution Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) located in the districts of Castelo Branco and Guarda (Portugal). Given the results of the study, it was possible to assess the perception of internal employees in relation to the critical determinants of competitiveness. It was further observed that the competitiveness of banks differs according to the evaluation of performance, with the planning of activities of human resources with the system of incentives and with the motivation of their managers. As to possible differences in perception between the various commercial managements involved, there were no significant differences on the factors of competitiveness.