Banks record $100m profit

Banks record $100m profit
Published: 03 August 2017
Zimbabwean banks have made $100,59 million profit in the half year to June 30, 2017, representing an increase of 47,99 percent from $67,97 million reported in the corresponding period last year, the central bank has said.

Presenting his mid-term monetary policy statement yesterday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya said despite the current harsh economic environment, all but one out of 19 operating banking institutions recorded profits in the period under review.

"To ensure sustainable profitability, banking institutions should implement adaptable business models which are sufficiently solid and resilient over time, by further interrogating their value chains, with a particular focus on efficiency enhancement initiatives," he said.

In the period under review, the performance of the country's banking sector was satisfactory as total assets increased to $9,65 billion, while capitalisation and profitability indicators reflect improved performance.

Notwithstanding the current liquidity crisis, total deposits increased by 6,71 percent, from $6,55 billion as at March 31, 2017 to $6,99 billion as at June 30.

Mangudya said the financial institutions' aggregate core capital increased by 1,81 percent from $1,22 billion by the end of March this year to $1,24 billion as at June 30, 2017, on the back of improved earnings performance.

The capital adequacy and tier 1 ratios of 26,89 percent and 24,02 percent as at June 30, 2017, respectively, were above the required minima, he added.

"The average prudential liquidity ratio for the banking sector of 66,87 percent as at June 30, 2017, was above the regulatory requirement of 30 percent," he said.

"The high average prudential liquidity ratio is largely reflective of the cautious lending approach adopted by banking institutions especially under the context of foreign exchange shortages. Lending exacerbates the demand for forex," Mangudya said.

The central bank chief noted that notwithstanding the high average prudential liquidity ratios recorded across the sector, the banking industry continued to experience underlying shortages of physical United States dollar cash.

"The cash constrains are a manifestation of the structural challenges facing the economy including the high fiscal recurrent expenditures, particularly employment related costs, which result in increased demand for cash," he said.

In the six-month period under review, banking institutions reduced their lending interest rates and bank charges to promote provision of affordable banking services and access to credit.

By the end of June, the average maximum effective lending rate was 11,94 percent compared to 15,7 percent as at the end of December 2016, according to central bank figures.

"The Reserve Bank shall continue collaborative engagements with banking institutions to boost credit to the productive sectors of the economy. In addition, banking  institutions are required to adequately disclose and communicate their respective effective lending rates to their borrowers," Mangudya added.
- dailynews
Tags: Banks,

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