KCB Group reported a 54.6 per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ending in March 2022 to hit KSh 9.9 billion from KSh 6.4 billion in a similar period last year.
The group attributed the growth due to a rise in total income and a reduction in loan loss provision.
The bank’s outgoing CEO Joshua Oigara said the business showed sustained resilience backed by its proactive approach towards driving income growth, managing liquidity, conservation of capital, and cost containment.
Oigara noted that the group’s relentless focus on its strategy had enabled the bank to maintain robust asset growth and deliver a healthy return on its investments.
“We have effectively demonstrated our combined abilities and competencies in managing and responding to the impact of the healthcare crisis across all our markets,” Oigara said.
“The business showed sustained resilience backed by our proactive approach towards driving income growth, managing liquidity, conservation of capital and cost containment. Furthermore, a relentless focus on our strategy has enabled us to maintain robust asset growth and deliver healthy return on our investments,” said Oigara.
KCB Group PLC profit after tax surged 54.6% to KShs. 9.9 billion in the three months ending March 2022. This rise from KShs. 6.4 billion a similar period last year was boosted by growth in total income and reduction in loan loss provision. #KCBQ1Results2022 pic.twitter.com/inL2iC9O22
— KCB Group (@KCBGroup) May 25, 2022
Net interest income grew by 18 per cent to Sh19.7 billion driven by an increase in net loans and advances coupled with growth in investments in Government securities.
This was partially offset by an increase in interest expenses occasioned by tight market liquidity.
Non-funded income (NFI) grew by 47.2 per cent to Sh9.3 billion driven by additional disbursements during the period which increased lending fees by 73 per cent.
The resumption of economic activities across most sectors led to the growth of non-branch transaction numbers which surged by 70 per cent while branch transactions grew 16 per cent to drive overall service income up 35 per cent.
The other non-funded income streams were equally strong with FX income growing 46 per cent, trading income up 82 per cent and other income up 16 per cent.
From this performance, the Group was able to register a 32 per cent NFI to total income ratio.
Provisions decreased by 27.5 per cent from a similar period last year largely due to a drop in corporate and digital lending impairment charges after Covid-19 related provisions were recognized in the full year 2021.
The non-performing book continued to come under pressure due to slow recovery in the construction, hospitality and part of the manufacturing sectors causing deterioration from 14.8 per cent to 17 per cent.
The Group’s balance sheet expanded by 19.3 per cent to KSh1.2 trillion, driven by organic growth across the business and the consolidation of BPR.
Customer deposits increased to KSh845.8 billion, registering a 12.9 per cent growth driven by a proactive deposit mobilization strategy across our markets.
These deposits were utilized to fund net loans and advances which went up 18 per cent largely on account of improved corporate and retail lending to close the period at Sh704.4 billion.
The Group’s participation in Government securities recorded an increase of 32.6 per cent from KSh212.5 billion to KSh281.8 billion during the same period.
Shareholders’ funds grew 23.3 per cent to KSh181.8 billion on improved profitability for the period.
The Group was compliant with all capital requirements. Core capital as a proportion of total risk-weighted assets closed the period at 19.2 per cent against the Central Bank of Kenya’s statutory minimum of 10.5 per cent.
The total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio was at 22.8 per cent against a regulatory minimum of 14.5 per cent.
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