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National Development Bank Plc (NDB) posted impressive financial performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2018, with record profit after tax [PAT] of Rs. 4 billion.
Profit attributable to shareholders *PAS) was a growth of 42% compared with the prior period amidst a challenging market conditions. Strong growth was recorded in the balance sheet along with improvement in net interest margin (NIM), cost to income ratio (CIR) and returns to shareholders.
Profitability
The bank recorded an operating profit before tax on financial services of Rs. 7.1 billion, an impressive increase of 25% over the comparative period of 2017. It is noteworthy that profits from core banking operations (excluding equity income) grew significantly by 43%, affirming the success of the focused business initiatives implemented in line with the bank’s medium-term strategy.
Accordingly, PAT exceeded Rs. 4 billion for the nine months period, with a 22% increase, demonstrating resilience to the evolving industry developments such as the adoption of SLFRS 9 and new tax regulations.
NDB Group Chief Executive Officer Dimantha Seneviratne stated that the recorded results are the clear output of the focused strategy the bank embarked in 2017 spanning up to 2020. The Group CEO stated with confidence that NDB was on a sound footing to achieve the medium terms goals of the strategy and bring prosperity to its valued customer base and all stakeholders.
Income and expenses analysis Operating income
Net interest income (NII) continued to grow in Q3 amidst marked industry challenges, with a 39% growth in NII up to Rs. 10.6 billion. Interest income grew by 17%, whereas the interest expenses increased only by 8%, directly benefitting from the sound balance sheet management and ALCO strategies. NIM which has been on a continuous upward movement improved in Q3 2018 to 3.4% compared to 2.9% for the corresponding period of 2017.
Net fee and commission income grew by 25% over the prior period to reach Rs. 2.3 billion. Increased loan volumes to customers and greater drive of fee generating services such as trade services, digital banking and card operations contributed to this increase in fee income.
Operating income also benefited from the sharp US dollar exchange rate movement experienced in Q3, leading the relatively high gains from foreign reserves. Resultantly, total operating income grew impressively by 30% to reach Rs. 15.6 billion.
Impairment
Reflecting the industry-wide trend of rising non-performing loans, the impairment charges for loans and other losses of the bank for Q3 2018 increased to Rs. 2.4 billion as compared to Rs. 872 million for the corresponding period of the prior year.
Individual impairment of Rs. 1.5 billion for the period represented precautionary provisions made by the bank for selective individually significant facilities, on a prudent basis, given the challenging economic environment.
Collective impairment charges of Rs. 934 million was also made for the period for collectively assessed loans and receivables portfolio in line with the notable growth in the loan book, which amounted to Rs. 54 billion for the nine months ended September 2018 (year-to-date) and Rs. 68.6 billion over the 12-month period from September 2017 to September 2018 (year-on-year).
Operating expenses
NDB has managed its cost levels well over the years through structured cost management strategies amidst rapid business growth, with its benefits clearly reflected in enhanced profitability levels. Total operating expenses increased by 13% over the prior period and was Rs. 6.2 bn.
Personnel expenses were the highest portion within total operating expenses, amounting to Rs. 3.3 billion and recorded an increase of 24%, reflective of the additional staff recruitments taking place to support the ongoing business growth in line with the bank’s mid-term strategy Transformation 2020.
Key drivers of cost during the period under review were the installation of 12 cash recycle machines, the opening of the Katugasthota branch, relocation of several branches and the establishment of five Privilege Banking Centres to serve high net-worth customers. Expanding the digital footprint also took a major step in August 2018, with the introduction of Bank2U branchless banking services.
The CIR further improved to 39.4% as one of the lowest CIRs amongst peer banks.
Balance Sheet
Analysis Assets
Balance sheet recorded exceptional growth by the end of the nine months compared to the year-end position of 2017, with a 20% growth in total assets to reach Rs. 458 billion, which is a quantum increase of Rs. 75 billion. The growth rate gives a clear indication that NDB will attain the medium term aspiration of becoming a domestic systemically important bank in the country by crossing the Rs. 500 billion mark, well ahead of its target timeline of 2020.
Within the overall assets growth, loans and receivables to customers grew by 20% to reach Rs. 328 billion, an impressive quantum growth of Rs. 54 billion. Accelerated performance of all business segments contributed to the growth in the loan book.
The bank retained the quality of its loan book as measured by the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio which stood at 2.57%, which was considerably below the industry average of 3.5%. The bank continues to adopt prudent risk management strategies and has well accounted for the impact arising from industry-wide stresses experienced on loan book quality, as evident from prudent impairments.
Liabilities
Customer deposits also recorded exceptional growth of 20% over 2017 to reach Rs. 329 billion, which translated to a quantum increase of Rs. 55 billion, whilst the year-on-year growth was Rs. 73 billion. Of this growth, over Rs. 12 billion in growth was recorded in the low cost current and savings deposits (CASA). The overall CASA ratio was well maintained at 21%, amidst stiff interest rate competition for deposits.
The growth in the loan book which equated the growth in customer deposits helped the bank improve its Loans to Deposits Ratio (LDR) to 102%, the best recorded so far by the bank since converting to a fully-fledged commercial bank from the development banking model.
Capital management and investor returns
The Tier I capital ratio (minimum requirement – 7.875%) for the bank and the group stood at 8.37% and 9.62% respectively whilst the total capital ratio (minimum requirement – 11.875%) stood at 12.13% and 13.12%.
The bank announced the Rights Issue of 1 share for 3 ordinary shares held, with the aim of raising Rs. 6 billion of which approximately 60% has been subscribed so far. The bank announced that it was exploring options with strategic investors for all Rights that remain unsubscribed.
Return on equity (ROE) at the bank level was 16.95% for Q3 2018 (2017 – 16.27%), whilst the ROE of the NDB Group was 13.72% (2017 – 11.09%). The Bank Earnings per Share improved by Rs. 4.57 to Rs. 29.09 from Rs. 24.52 in 2017. The net book value per share at the group level further increased to an impressive Rs. 203/15 from Rs. 192/51 in 2017, whilst the same at the Bank level also increased to Rs. 181/27 from Rs. 167/58.
Group Chief Executive Officer Seneviratne thanked the NDB Team for their full commitment to deliver the results and stated that the market was yet to realise the full potential of NDB in terms of its ability to generate sound results to its shareholders. He was confident that the excellent financial results recorded, considerable strides the bank was making in the industry space through new product launches and digital solutions and the strong brand reputation NDB enjoys as a best bank in Sri Lanka would take the bank to a different level.
The Group CEO further stated that the bank, together with its group companies, was engaged in the provision of assistance to its customers and the nation at large for their prosperity and success.
