NBP posts 23% growth in pre-tax profit

KARACHI (Staff Report) - National Bank of Pakistan has posted a growth of 23 percent in the pre-tax profit which stand at Rs.15 billion in the six months of 2015 which is higher by 23% from the corresponding period last year.

According to the financial results disclosed subsequently meeting of the Board of Directors at the Bank’s Head Office Karachi which also approved the financial statements of the bank, the Pre-provision profit for the six months period amounted to Rs. 22.3 billion compared to Rs. 15.6 billion of corresponding period last year registering an increase of Rs. 6.7 billion or 43%.

Due to recent budgetary changes, the bank had to record prior year tax charge of Rs.2.3 billion due to which pre-tax profit growth was not translated into after tax profit growth. After tax profit amount was Rs.7.5 billion as compared to Rs 8.1 billion for the same period last year. Earnings per share are Rs.3.54 as against Rs. 3.82 of the corresponding period last year.

Despite reduction in interest rates, net interest income increased from Rs. 19.4 billion in 1H 2014 to Rs. 24.1 billion in 1H of 2015 reflecting a healthy increase of 24% due to increase in balance sheet size and high yielding investments. The current and savings account (CASA) ratio improved to 75% compared to 72% at December 31, 2014 which helped in reducing the cost of funds and in improving NII of the bank. Non-interest income amounted to Rs. 19 billion, higher by Rs. 3.8 billion or 24.5% mainly due to increase in capital gains.

Compared to June 2014, deposits increased by Rs 135 billion. The bank is focusing on reducing the non-performing loans through restructuring. The bank is strongly capitalized with capital and reserves of Rs. 168 billion, which translates into break- up value per share of Rs.79/- per share. M/s JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company and Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) has re-affirmed the bank’s standalone rating of “AAA / A1+”, one of the highest by the company for any bank in Pakistan.

Mobilizing low cost deposit especially CASA with major emphasis on increasing current accounts is one of the top focus areas and we believe that the bank can significantly improve the growth by leveraging its existing customer base and improving existing products delivery.

The bank is focusing on consolidation and recoveries to bring down non-performing loans. Core Banking Application (CBA) roll-out in 1,100 plus remaining NBP branches is under implementation in 2015 to utilize maximum benefit of automation and facilitating NBP customers with enhanced services.

This year we have converted 178 additional branches on CBA taking total branches on the new platform at 451 on June 30, 2015. The bank plans to add 1,000 ATMs to its network by 2015, out which 250 ATM project is under implementation and remaining 750 ATMs are planned to be installed by the end of 2015.