This study examined the impact of bank lending rate on the performance of Nigerian Deposit Money Banks between 2000 and 2010. It specifically determined the effects of lending rate and monetary policy rate on the performance of Nigerian Deposit Money Banks and analyzed how bank lending rate policy affects the performance of Nigerian deposit money banks. The study utilized secondary data econometrics in a regression, where time-series and quantitative design were combined and estimated. The result confirmed that the lending rate and monetary policy rate has significant and positive effects on the performance of Nigerian deposit money banks. The implication of these is that lending rate and monetary policy rate are true parameter of measuring bank performance. We therefore recommend that government should adopt policies that will help Nigerian deposit money banks to improve on their performance and there is need to strengthen bank lending rate policy through effective and efficient regulation and supervisory framework.
Keywords: Bank, Bank Performance, Co-integration, Financial System, Lending Rate
