APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN MANAGEMENT OF DISTRIBUTION/LOCATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: A CASE STUDY AWKA URBAN AREA, ANAMBRA STATE
ABSTRACT
In recent years, banking industry has been undergoing drastic changes, reflecting a number of underlying developments. Significant advancements in communication and information technology accelerated and broadened the dissemination of financial information and financial services and all these increase the complexity. Using location –based technology is a simple solution to complex, real-world problem for monitoring of distribution/location of financial institution in finding or selecting location for the best new bank branch for business expansion, monitoring of bank performances and lack of decision support tool for strategic planning amongst others. This study involved acquisition and digitizing of existing maps, points picking of financial institutions within the study area using GPS and demonstrating through various analysis the potentials of GIS in management of distribution of financial institutions.. The methodology adopted for this project involved acquisition of primary and secondary data of the study area, processing using different softwares such as ArcGIS 92, analyzing, and displaying a thematic map of the study area show of distribution of banks. The digital map of awka, the capital of Anambra State being a comprehensive final product of the project was produced. It was recommended that digital map of the study area should be made available to decision makers in order to enhance efficient social development, GIS as a tool should be used for research changes in the environment, monitoring, distribution, management and location of financial institutions amongst others.