Bahrain-based Bank ABC Islamic has posted a net profit of $19.2million for the first half of the year reflecting the bank’s success in returning to normal performance after absorbing the one-off exceptional fraud related impairment in 2020.

Key highlights of first half performance

• Total operating income of $21.5million, 8.1% lower than the same period last year mainly on account of low profit rate environment and slightly lower fee income

• Total operating expenses 7.5% lower than same period last year as a result of cost rationalization programs and staff / client activity not having reverted to pre-pandemic level

• Balance sheet remains strong with capital adequacy ratio of 36.2%

Business Performance (three-month period):

• Net profit for the second quarter was $8.8 million compared $8.7 million reported in the second quarter of last year.

• Total operating income was $9.7 million compared to $9.9 million for the same period of last year.

• Allowances for credit losses for the period were a write back of $0.6 million compared to$0.4 million reported during the same period last year.

• Operating expenses were $1.5 million, compared to $1.4 million for the same period of last year.

Business Performance (six-month period):

• Net profit for the first six months was $19.2millioncompared to $14.5 million reported in the first six months of last year.

• Total operating income was $21.5 million compared to $23.4 million for the same period of last year.

• Allowances for credit losses for the period were a write back of $1.3million compared to a charge of $5.1 million reported during the same period last year.

• Operating expenses were $3.3 million compared to $3.6 million for the same period of last year.

Balance Sheet:

• ABC Islamic Bank’s total assets stood at $1.998 billion as of June 30, 2021 compared to $2.314 billion at 2020 year-end.

• Shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2021stood at $286 million, compared to $293 million at 2020 year-end.

• The bank’s capital base remains very strong with a capital adequacy ratio of 36.2%, predominantly Tier 1, which totalled 35.2%.

Hammad Hassan, Managing Director of Bank ABC Islamic, said: “The Bank’s performance in the first half of the year is reassuring. The Bank has been able to recover to its normal performance after it has absorbed the impact of fraud related credit costs of 2020.”

“Whilst the top line continues to be adversely impacted by a combination of lower profit rate environment and a slowdown in the business activity not having resumed to pre-pandemic level, the Bank’s net profitability showed growth on a year-on-year basis, as a result of stability in the credit portfolio and positive macroeconomic outlook as compared to last year.

“The operating environment is still not back to normal but there is positive hope for recovery as vaccination programs across countries and regions are gaining traction. We remain cautiously optimistic about some pick up in market activity after the summer and as we go in to the next year,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service

Copyright 2021 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.