Sterling Bank Optimistic as Core Banking Profit Rises

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Sterling Bank Plc rode on the back of improving internal efficiency to reduce funding costs and improve profitability of its core banking operations in the first quarter of 2016.

Key extracts of the unaudited report and accounts of the lender for the period ended March 31 2016, showed appreciable improvements in core underlying fundamentals, although macroeconomic and industry headwinds subdued overall performance.

The report indicated that net interest margin, which measures the profitability of a bank’s lending operations, improved to 8 per cent in the first quarter of 2016 as against 7.4 per cent recorded in thecomparable period of 2015. The bank tightened grips on costs with cost of funds improving from 5.9 per cent in first quarter 2015 to 5.3 per cent in first quarter 2016.

Major highlights showed steady performance with net interest income increasing by 24.7 per cent to N11.4 billion in 2016 as against N9.2 billion in 2015. This was driven by a 14.4 per cent decrease in interest expense resulting in a 940 basis points improvement in net interest margin to 56.9 per cent. However, profit before tax declined by 30.6 per cent to N2.8 billion in 2016 as against N4.0 billion in 2015. But when adjusted for non-recurring items, which would have brought the 2015 figure to N2.7 billion, the 2016 figure represents a 3 per cent increase on fourth quarter 2015 and 2.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.

Also, while profit after tax on the face of it, declined by 35 per cent to N2.5 billion as against N3.9 billion in 2015, adjustment for non-recurring items would bring the 2015 first quarter figure to N2.6 billion. This depicts a marginal decline of 2.6 per cent.

Outlining the bank’s outlook, Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said the lender adopted a cautious but progressive approach to business due to the challenging macroeconomic conditions.

He noted that subdued crude oil prices, fuel and power supply disruptions, as well as significant foreign exchange shortages have persisted, increasing the cost of doing business and heightening the pressure on household income.

The Sterling Bank boss said that as the nation’s inflation rate witnessed an uptick from 9.6 per cent in December 2015 to 12.8 per cent in March 2016, the resultant monetary tightening measures couldfurther challenge the operating environment.

Accordingly, Adeola said the management of the bank prioritized balance sheet efficiency, cost efficiency and prudent credit risk management, which ensured that non-performing loan remained flat below the regulatory threshold of 5 per cent.

He said: “We are confident that our goals for 2016 will be met despite the subdued outlook for the Nigerian economy. Our optimism comes from the various investments focused on operating efficiency that the bank had made over the past year, which are now starting to pay off. Our plan for the year is to prioritize operating efficiency, ensure moderate loan growth, while continuing to diversify funding sources as our retail banking strategy matures”.


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