The aim of this paper is to empirically investigate the effect of Intellectual Capital (IC) and its components on financial performance of Iranian banks accepted in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). The financial performances were measured by return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), assets turnover (ATO), and book to market ratio (MB). This research covers 14 banks listed in TSE over the period 2004 - 2013 and use VAIC method as a quantifiable measure to assess the intellectual capital and its components. The result of regression analysis shows that structural capital and human capital efficiency have positive and significant effects on banks' financial performance. Also, the first lag of physical capital efficiency has positive and significant effect on ROA, ROE, and ATO, but, its effect on MB is not significant. Finally, estimations show that the effect of IC on the financial performance of banks is positive and significant.

JEL Classifications: E03, E22, E44