THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL STRUCTURE ON PROFITABILITY: AN APPLIED STUDY ON TRADITIONAL PRIVATE BANKS WORKING IN SYRIA FOR THE PERIOD (2009 - 2013)

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of financial structure on profitability of traditional private banks working in Syria for the period (2009 ? 2013). Profitability (dependent variable) is measured by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). On the other hand, the independent variable, financial structure, is measured by the proportions of short liabilities to assets (SLA), long liabilities to assets (LLA), and liabilities to equity (LE). While the control variables are size, growth rate, and Syrian crisis. The study used the methods of Panel Data through estimating pooled regression model. The empirical analysis shows that proportions of (SLA) and (LLA) have a negative and significant impact on (ROA), while the proportion of (LE) has no significant impact on (ROA). On the other hand, there is a negative and significant impact of the proportion of (SLA) on the (ROE), and there is no significant impact of both, the proportions of (LLA) and (LE) on the (ROE).