Abstract

The call of giving all subscribers a greater opportunity in the Islamic banking systems is well documented in the
literature of the first decade of this millennium. Many banks and financial institutions across the world have
attempted to implement programs aiming at increasing the customer’s involvement in terms of investment and
financing with varying degrees of success. The study describes the attributes and profiles of the Islamic banking
subscribers.
A list of attributes and characteristics of the clientele having access to credit was developed from the current
literature to augment the process of identifying and selecting Islamic banks for the study. The potential Islamic
banks were nominated by the panel of proficient academicians. Four branches of Islamic banks having the
maximum subscribers and highest number of attributes observed during the visits were selected for site visits.
Interviews were conducted with borrowers to gain an insight into the diverse avenues of banking habits of
subscribers. Findings of the study are examined in relation to religious inclination of the subscribers and allied
socio-demographic factors. The empirical results suggest that the regulators of the Islamic banking should
concentrate on the demography of a location when it comes to establishment of a new branch. Branches should
be opened at those places where the prospective clientele are well-educated and inclined towards the Islamic
principles in order to tap the potential market. The aspirations and preferences of the educated class shall be
taken into consideration and products and services should be designed in such a way to cater to the needs of the
subscribers. Implications for the generalizations of practice should be carefully considered and further research is
suggested.

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