KUALA LUMPUR: AmBank Group started its new financial year with net profit of RM386.60mil, an increase of 5.9% from the RM365.16mil a year ago amid a bumpy road in the country’s economic recovery due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said on Monday its revenue was lower at RM2.09bil in the first quarter ended June 30, down by 5.3% from RM2.21bil a year ago. Earnings per share were 11.86 sen compared with 12.14 sen.
“Total income grew 13.3% to RM1.23bil, driven by higher loans growth and net interest margin (NIM). Excluding the net modification loss, adjusted income increased to RM1,205.2 million, up 4.8% year on year (YoY),” it said in a statement.
AmBank said expenses were well contained at RM494.6mil, down by 8.2%. Cost-to-income (CTI) ratio improved further to 40.0% from 49.3% a year ago.
“Profit before provisions (PBP) increased 34.2% to RM743.3mil, adjusted PBP grew 16.2%. Net impairment charge of RM203.2mil (Q1FY21: RM49.9mil), including an additional overlay provision of RM87.2mil,” it said.
The gross impaired loans (GIL) ratio was 1.56% (FY21: 1.54%), with loan loss coverage (LLC) ratio of 138.0% (FY21: 135.6%).
It said gross loans and financing grew 0.7% year-to-date (YTD) to RM115.6bil (FY21: RM114.8bil).
As for customer deposits, there was a 5.3% decline year-to-date to RM114.1bil, with time deposits reducing by 5.6% while current account and savings account (CASA) balances saw a 4.6% reduction (CASA mix higher at 29.9%).
The group remains highly liquid with the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of 198.0% (FY21: 157.5%).
AmBank Group chief executive officer, Datuk Sulaiman Mohd Tahir said Malaysia’s road to economic recovery continues to be bumpy with the recent resurgence in Covid-19 infections and the reimposition of movement restrictions impacting many businesses.
Amidst these challenging circumstances, the group was able to register a solid overall performance.
“We delivered a 34.2% growth in PBP to RM743.3mi and a 5.9% growth in PATMI YoY to RM386.6mil on the back of RM1.237.9 million in revenue.
“At the same time, we continued to exert cost discipline demonstrated by AmBank’s improved CTI ratio of 40.0%. Indeed, our long-term transformation efforts, from our Top 4 strategy and now continuing into our Focus 8 strategy, has placed the group on a more formidable footing to face the challenging operating landscape.
“While we foresee increased impairment risk to our credit portfolios, this will only become more apparent in the latter part of FY22. Our mitigatory efforts continue to be in place. We are steadfast in our practice of credit vigilance.
“Accordingly, our prudent and proactive stance has seen us set aside a pre-emptive overlay totalling RM832.7mil since the very first Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020,” he added.
AmBank said the group recorded a higher net impairment charge of RM203.2mil, compared to RM49.9mil a year ago, this was mainly a function of higher overlays and forward-looking provisions. Amidst the ongoing uncertainties, an additional RM87.2mil of overlay was charged this quarter as a prudent measure against the group’s exposure to retail and SME customers as well as oil and gas sector.
Total pre-emptive overlay stood at RM832.7mil, of which RM745.5mil was charged in the previous financial year.
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