The Philippine National Bank posted net profit of P9.7 billion in the first six months this year on the back of sustained growth in net interest margin and revenue from fee-based businesses.
Net interest income grew 25 percent year-on-year to P21.6 billion, primarily driven by higher yield rates on earning assets amid the rising interest rate environment. This translated to improved net interest margin of 4.24 percent from only 3.35 percent last year. Likewise, fee-based revenue increased 31 percent to P3.1 billion with higher volumes of credit and deposit-related transactions as well as intensified cross-selling efforts in the first half of the year.
Net income for the period, however, was lower than its year-ago level of P11.1 billion, which included substantial reversals of credit provisions aggregating P3.2 billion as a major portion of the bank’s nonperforming Covid-impacted accounts showed improvements in their credit and payment status with the re-opening of the economy and recovery of most businesses in 2022. On the other hand, the bank prudently set aside additional provisions of P1.6 billion given the prevailing uncertainties in 2023 due to rising interest rates.
The bank took advantage of market rate movements during the period resulting in a 53 percent growth in treasury-related income despite the limited trading opportunities brought about by the ongoing global monetary tightening. The bank also continued its strategy to dispose and monetize the value of foreclosed properties in the first half of 2023, albeit lower than the gains posted a year ago.
Operating expense remained flat at P14.9 billion due to prudent spending despite continued business growth.
As of end-June 2023, its total consolidated assets stood at P1.16 trillion, relatively flat against the year-ago level. Gross loans inched higher from year-ago by 0.7 percent to P615 billion as the bank accelerated its commercial lending by 9 percent year-on-year. The growth in loans was funded by deposits, which likewise slightly went up by 0.8 percent year-on-year to P892.9 billion, following the maturities during the period of Long-Term Negotiable Certificates of Deposit worth P10.1 billion.
The bank’s consolidated common equity tier 1 ratio and capital adequacy ratio based on Bangko Sentral guidelines rose to 16 percent and 16.8 percent, respectively, as of end-June 2023, well-above the regulatory requirement of 10 percent.
“PNB is able to sustain its profitability on the back of sound execution of business strategies that are expected to ensure long-term growth as set forth in our vision, mission, and strategy for the next five years,” said PNB president Florido P. Casuela. “Our growth initiatives are focused on strengthening commercial banking and the consumer finance business. We intend to play a key role in helping small and medium enterprises flourish as the nation continues to journey towards recovery.”
