Corporate social responsibility disclosures and profitability of Islamic banks: an empirical study

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and financial performance (FP) of Islamic banking sector from a developing country perspective. It also explores the present status of CSR activities performing by the listed Islamic banks (IBs) of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach - The secondary data from seven IBs’ annual reports for the years 2009–2018 are taken to obtain substantial measures of CSR activities. A corporate social responsibility disclosure index is constructed based on disclosure status on nine dimensions and 75 items as per the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions standards. To find the association between CSR disclosures and profitability, panel regression analysis has been performed. Findings - The result indicates that CSR disclosures have a significant and negative relation with FP (return on assets) of IBs. It also suggests the expansion of CSR practices and the communicative CSR reporting of IBs, as an ethical identity, toward the stakeholders and society. Research limitations/implications - First, the samples used in this study are limited to IBs as ethical identities in Bangladesh. Second, the length of a time frame as the practice of CSR activities and its reporting is still ineffective following the enforcement of the central bank directive in 2008. Another limitation is that the study used a subjective measure, content analysis, of CSR activities that was self-reported disclosures, which may creep some biasness. Practical implications - The practical involvement of this research includes the assistance for policy development regarding better understanding of expansion of CSR practices and trustworthiness of CSR reporting by the Islamic banking segments in developing country context. Future researchers can get a glimpse of what reputational impact CSR initiatives really have on consumers and investors, considering CSR activities as an indicator of greater transparency and honesty in operations and financial reporting. Originality/value - This study makes an important contribution to the academic literature on CSR communication from developing country context where CSR activities are supported under Islamic banking system. In addition, its examination of the legitimacy of CSR disclosures elaborates the social obligations of corporate entities to their stakeholders and society.