Publications
Assessing Financial Distress in Banks Using the Altman Model – An Analytical, Comparative Study of a Sample of Iraqi Commercial Banks Listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange
Sep 5, 2025Journal IFR Journal of Economics and Business Management
Publisher International Federation of Research and Discovery
DOI https://doi.org/10.70146/ebmv02i03.006
Issue 3
Volume 2
The study aimed to analyze and diagnose indicators of financial distress in a sample of Iraqi commercial banks listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange, by adopting the Altman five-variable model as a quantitative tool to predict the banks’ susceptibility to financial distress. Public financial statements of these banks for the period 2020–2024 were utilized and analyzed using the financial ratios that comprise the Altman model, which include: working capital to total assets, retained earnings to assets, earnings before interest and taxes to assets, market value of equity to liabilities, and sales to assets. The study sought to classify banks into three main zones: financial safety zone, gray zone, and financial distress zone, in order to gauge their financial stability and diagnose operational and financing gaps that could lead them toward failure. The results showed a clear variation in financial performance among banks, with indicators of financial distress recorded in some banks, while other banks demonstrated strong performance reflecting solvency and operational stability. The study concluded the importance of using the Altman model as a proactive tool for assessing banks’ exposure to financial distress, given its high interpretive capacity and suitability to the Iraqi banking environment. It recommends adopting prudent financial policies that focus on strengthening retained earnings, improving asset utilization efficiency, and enhancing solvency ratios.