Risk exposure during the global financial crisis: the case of Islamic banks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the way Islamic financial institutions dealt with the recent financial problems in terms of risk management. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 27 Islamic banks and the same number of conventional banks selected from a wide range of countries around the world were analyzed. The capital ratios, based on the Basel Committee, are the primary tools used to analyze the riskiness of the Islamic and conventional banks. The focus on capital ratios is relevant in light of changes in banks' balance sheets due to significant write offs that caused a huge credit crunch in the western world. Capital ratios are considered as a reliable source in predicting potential bankruptcies. Findings – The paper shows that Islamic banks are maintaining better capital ratios than to their conventional counterparts. Originality/value – The paper presents a new approach to the comparative performance of Islamic and conventional banks in terms of risk management. The research design as well as the findings can be very useful to academicians and banking professionals alike.