The, year 2021 was another tumultuous year for the entire world due to wider and much longer impacts turned out by the Covid-19 pandemic. Fight back demanded quick response strategies with new thinking. However, ably supported by BoC by facilitating the priority imports of vaccines, the Nation was able to bring out much optimism during the mid and latter parts of the year.

Financial Performance

Speaking on the Bank’s performance for the year 2021, the General Manager/CEO of the Bank of Ceylon, K E D Sumanasiri stated, the Bank was able to reiterate its position as the undisputed market leader in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, demonstrating its unparalleled ability to truly support its customers and the overall economy in trying times. Demonstrating its strength, agility and strategic approach in succeeding in the midst of challenges, the Bank was able to show a notable increase in both its fund-based and fee-based income during the year and recorded Rs. 43.2 billion Profit Before Tax, regardless of headwinds created by market interest rates fluctuations and stressed portfolio quality emanating from Covid-19 related economic impacts. This is a remarkable achievement for the Bank as it denotes the Bank’s strength of converting challenges into opportunities. “Further, the Bank’s asset book surpassed Rs. 3.0 trillion during the year surpassing another milestone in our journey” he mentioned.

Fund Based Income

Mostly, owing to loan growth and continuous credit monitoring efforts put in place during 2021, the Bank reported Rs. 260.5 billion interest income which is a 15% increase over the year 2020. The benefits of the remarkable loan growth achieved in the previous year materialized during this year, generating an interest income of Rs. 193.1 billion through loans and advances which is 74% of the total interest income. The main contributive portfolios were overdraft, term loans and personal loans. The Debt instruments which mainly comprises of Government Treasury Bills, Bonds and other Foreign Currency Sovereign Bonds brought the major portion of interest income earned from the investment portfolio which stood at Rs. 65.7 billion.

In the meantime, interest expenses declined by 2% to Rs. 149.3 billion in line with the improvement in the CASA ratio to 36% from 35% (2020) and repricing the deposits at lower rates. The inverse movement in interest income and interest expense positively contributed to Net Interest Income (NII) of the Bank and NII increased by 49% to Rs. 111.3 billion YoY.

Non- Fund Based Income

Non-fund-based income of the Bank grew by 42% YoY basis and the main contributors were fee and commission income and exchange income. Fee and Commission income has shown a sizable growth owing to a flourishing trend reported towards digital banking channels. Suitably, transactional banking related fee and commission income has formed a major portion of fee and commission income reporting 69% of the fee and commission income. During the period under review, an exchange gain of Rs. 9.2 billion was also reported.

Impairment Charges for Loans and Advances and Other Financial Instruments

Impairment charges for loans and advances for the period amounted to Rs. 35.4 billion bringing the loan to impairment provision reserve ratio to 6%. NPA ratio stood at 4.5% against 4.8% reported by end 2020. Nevertheless, in calculating the impairment charge, the Bank always follows a prudential approach; given the high degree of uncertainty and extraordinary circumstances in the short-term economic conditions mainly caused by the continuous disruptions to businesses. The Bank made an additional expected loss provision using management overlays on identified risk elevated industries.

Individually Significant Customers were thoroughly assessed for their repayment capacity irrespective of the moratorium or concessions they enjoyed due to the Covid-19 situation and necessary provisions were made along with the independent review. Consequently, the provision made for stage III customers escalated by Rs.19.7 billion (19%) and provision for Stage II customers increased by Rs.3.7 billion (32%).

The Bank has considerable exposure to investments in foreign currency denominated sovereign instruments by way of Sri Lanka Development Bonds and International Sovereign Bonds. As per the regulatory and Accounting Standards requirements a significant amount of provision amounting to Rs. 8.3 billion was made for investments in aforesaid instruments accounting the impact of sovereign downgrade.

Operating Expenses

The operating expenses of Rs. 41.7 billion consists of personnel costs, assets maintenance, deposit insurance and other overhead expenses. The increment of 26% by Rs. 8.6 billion reported in operating expenses in line with the increase in personnel expenses due to the revision of salary scales according to the collective agreement, absorption of Trainee Staff Assistants to the permanent cadre and provision made for post-retirement benefit plans. Other expenses settled at Rs. 12.6 billion for the year with a 18% upward, backed by an increase in deposit insurance premium due to growth in deposit base, upturn in office administration and establishment expenses which includes special transport arrangements for staff and expenses made in relation to Covid-19 related special safety measures at the Bank’s premises. However, the Bank’s cost to income ratio of 32% shows prudent and effective cost management mechanisms adopted by the management to maintain the cost escalation in line with revenue growth.

Tax Expenses

VAT on financial services which is charged based on the value addition made by the financial services has a direct relationship to the growth in PBT. That’s being the case, the growth of 80% reported in operating profits, the VAT on financial services also increased to Rs.9.0 billion with the 65% YoY growth.

Although the income tax expenses reported in the Income statement is Rs. 5.6 billion after the adjustments made for deferred tax, the total income tax payment which will be paid for the year of assessment accounts to Rs. 10.3 billion.