KUALA LUMPUR: Another resilient earnings quarter has put Hong Leong Bank Bhd
on a steady growth path in the first nine months of its financial year (FY26).
In the third quarter ended March 31, 2026, the bank said net profit rose to RM1.03bil from RM946.7mil in the previous corresponding quarter. Earnings per share rose to 50.2 sen from 46.18 sen previously.
Quarterly revenue was slightly higher at RM1.58bil as compared to RM1.55bil in the previous comparative quarter.
For the nine-month period, net profit was RM3.29bil against RM3.18bil in the year-ago period, while revenue rose to RM4.93bil from RM4.78bil previously.
Net interest income increased 3.5% y-o-y to RM3.79bil on the back of a higher loans and financing base.
The net interest margin stood at 1.83%.
Non-interest income grew 2.2% year-on-year (y-o-y), buoyed by an increase in wealth management activities and global markets franchise sales.
Kevin Lam, group managing director and CEO, said gross loans and financing sustained the bank's growth momentum with 8.4% y-o-y expansion driven by growth across key segments including mortgage, auto loans, SME and commercial banking, as well as key overseas markets.
"We continue to be proactive in providing steadfast support to our customers, ensuring those facing disruption see this challenging phase through, while delivering a healthy asset quality with an overall GIL ratio of 0.6%," he said in a statement.
For the nine-month period, customer deposits grew 8.3% y-o-y to RM243.5bil. Current accounts savings account increased 14.1% y-o-y to RM77.9bil, leading to a Casa mix of 32%.
Separately, Hong Leong Bank's holding company, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd (HLFG), posted a net profit of RM2.49bil in the nine-month period ended March 31, 2026, as compared to RM2.4bil in the year-ago period.
The group's revenue climbed to RM5.55bil from RM5.45bil in the previous comparative quarter.
HLFG said HLA Holdings Sdn Bhd, its insurance arm, delivered a 5.2% y-o-y increase in pre-tax profit to RM515mil, mainly driven by stronger net investment income from Hong Leong Assurance Bhd as well as improved contributions from associate, MSIG Malaysia and the Singapore general insurance business.
Hong Leong Capital Bhd, the investment banking and fund management arm, recorded pre-tax profit growth of 4.2% y-o-y to RM59 million due to higher T&M income.
and higher gains in equity investments, offsetting lower earnings from stockbroking and fund management.
"Hong Leong Financial Group’s sustained growth in revenue, together with rigorous cost management and robust asset quality, highlights the strength of our operations, delivering an improved performance for 9MFY26.
"The group remains well positioned to pursue future opportunities while remaining vigilant of external headwinds stemming from geopolitical uncertainties," said HLFG president and CEO Tan Kong Khoon in a statement.
