Cargills Bank reports profitability turnaround with robust income growth and operating cost management

Cargills Bank reported a profit before tax of LKR 206Mn for the financial year 2022, recovering from a loss before tax of LKR 369Mn in the previous year, driven by robust growth in operating income that offset erosions due to increased provisioning and operating costs.

Total operating income rose 74% year-on-year to LKR 4.28Bn on account of growth in both Interest and Fee-based income in similar proportion. The Bank prudently managed its lending portfolio with the intention of preserving liquidity and maintaining asset quality, leading to a slight decline in the portfolio. However, the Bank was able to expand its net interest margins over the previous year, resulting in significant growth in interest income. Meanwhile robust performance in card operations, trade finance and remittances resulted in 75% year-on-year growth in fee-based income.

Mindful of the challenging environment and its impact on customers, the Bank proactively increased its provision cover ratio, resulting in a 114% year-on-year growth in impairment to LKR 1.46Bn. The Bank’s Stage 3 Loans (Net of Stage 3 Impairment) to Total Loans ratio consequently improved from 6.43% in 2021 to 4.85% in 2022.

The Bank prudently managed its operating costs to limit the increase to 16% year-on-year, resulting in the Bank’s Cost to Income ratio improving from 82.8% in 2021 to 55.4% in 2022. Consequently, the Bank reported an operating profit before taxes on financial services of LKR 448Mn.

The Bank maintained healthy capital and liquid asset ratios during the year, reporting a Total Capital Ratio of 22.85% and Liquid Asset Ratio – Domestic Banking Unit of 26.70% as at 31st December 2022.

Senarath Bandara, Managing Director/CEO of Cargills Bank commenting on the performance of the Bank stated, “Cargills Bank navigated the uncertain economic climate of 2022 with resilience and pragmatism.

The Bank adopted an agile approach in response to the challenges to seek growth and stability in spite of external pressure. Our approach has borne fruit with the Bank achieving profitability within the year under review, while also pursuing our long-term growth aspirations to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.”

The Bank continued to expand its network, opening two new branches in Negombo and Anuradhapura, and complemented branch expansion by opening eight new MINI service locations in Cargills Food City outlets. Furthermore, in line with its objectives to promote financial inclusion and financial deepening, the Bank launched a mobile branch vehicle to serve underbanked customers in the Central, North Central and Northern provinces.