NBF’s nine months net profit rises 122% to hit AED 513.2m

FUJAIRAH / WAM

The National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) announced its results on Wednesday for the nine-month period ended September 30.
NBF recorded year-on-year growth of 122.5 percent to close the nine-month period with a net profit of AED 513.2 million compared to AED 230.7 million in the corresponding period of 2022.
On the back of a robust Q3 2023 performance, NBF posted a net profit of AED 181.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, a rise of 125.8 percent over the corresponding quarter of 2022, which reflects the bank’s high level of resilience in its core business, an improvement in the impairment provisions and the high interest rate environment.
Aided by higher net interest income and net income from Islamic financing and investment activities and fee income, NBF posted an operating profit of AED 1.2 billion for the nine-month period, a substantial increase of 26.6 percent compared to AED 932.5 million in the corresponding period of 2022 and up 22.3 percent for the three-month period ended on September 30 over the corresponding period of 2022. Operating income reached AED 1.7 billion for the nine-month period ended on September 30, up 27.7 percent compared to AED 1.3 billion in the corresponding period of 2022, reflecting the benefit from increasing interest rates and enhanced asset and liability management.
Operating income growth of 24.1 percent was recorded for the three-month period ended on September 30 over the corresponding period of 2022.
Net interest income and net income from Islamic financing and investment activities grew 47.0 percent to AED 1.3 billion for the nine-month period ended on September 30 compared to AED 855.4 million in the corresponding period of 2022.
It was up 29.1 percent for the three-month period ended on September 30 compared to the corresponding period of 2022.
Foreign exchange and derivatives income stood at AED 119.3 million for the nine-month period ended on September 30 compared to AED 142.5 million in the corresponding period of 2022.
Loans and advances and Islamic financing receivables rose by 3.0 percent to reach AED 27.7 billion compared to AED 26.9 billion at 2022 year-end.
Investments and Islamic instruments increased by 16.7 percent to reach AED 7.4 billion compared to AED 6.3 billion at 2022 year-end, up by 25.2 percent from September 30, 2022 evidencing the deployment of a portion of liquidity towards a high-quality investment book offering good risk-to-return as well as access to market liquidity.
The capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 18.9 percent (Tier 1 ratio of 17.7 percent and CET 1 ratio of 14.1 percent) compared to 18.6 percent (Tier 1 ratio of 17.4 percent and CET 1 ratio of 13.6 percent) at 2022 year-end and is being maintained at this level to support the bank’s ability to grow and meet any challenges that may arise from the swiftly evolving global economy.
Customer deposits and Islamic customer deposits increased by 4.1 percent to reach AED 37.2 billion compared to AED 35.7 billion at 2022 year-end, and were up by 13.8 percent from 30 September 2022. Current and Saving Accounts (CASA) deposits stood at 40.7 percent of total customer deposits softening the impact of increasing rates for fixed term products on deposit costs.
Total assets rose by 4.9 percent to reach AED 50.0 billion compared to AED 47.6 billion at 2022 year-end, up by 12.6 percent from 30 September 2022.
Ample liquidity has been maintained with lending to stable resources ratios at 70.4 percent (2022: 72.1 percent) and eligible liquid assets’ ratio (ELAR) at 26.1 percent (2022: 24.9 percent), well ahead of Central Bank of the UAE’s minimum requirements.
Return on average assets improved to 1.4 percent, up from 0.7 percent for the corresponding period in 2022.
Return on average equity improved to 11.2 percent, up from 5.4 percent for the corresponding period in 2022.
Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Deputy Chairperson, said, “These pleasing results demonstrate the ongoing impact of our business strategy, resilience in our core business and sound improvement in asset quality. Good growth across our operating and net performance augurs well for the results of the full year and beyond, despite the numerous challenges in the global economy and the prevailing macroeconomic uncertainty.
Spurred by strong liquidity conditions underpinned by high oil prices, foreign capital inflows and strong growth in oil and non-oil sectors, the UAE’s economic growth forecast has been revised for 2023 and 2024 to expand at 3.4 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.
Benefiting from this positive economic outlook, NBF is geared up and well-placed through the strength of its diversified balance sheet for growth in the current interest rate cycle.
Looking ahead, NBF will continue to focus on opportunities to enhance value creation, diversify revenue streams, digital initiatives for exceptional customer service, cost discipline and risk management and compliance practices. In parallel, the bank is upholding heightened focus on environmental, social and governance [ESG] activities which remain vital to the NBF franchise for a sustainable future.”