......................................................................................................................................... V CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 International business operations .............................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Agency banking as an approach to international business............................................. 3 1.1.3 Banking industry in Kenya ............................................................................................ 5 1.1.4 Equity Bank Limited ...................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Research Problem ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Research Objective ................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Value of the Study .................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 10 2.