Sampath Bank’s diversified and resilient business model has proved to be valuable in navigating through the current macro-economic environment and has ensured a positive development on the bottom line of the Bank while ensuring the safety and well-being of the staff and customers during this turbulent time.

Sampath Bank posted a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 7 Bn for the first half of 2021, against Rs 3.9 Bn for the same period in 2020. This significant increase of 78.1% in profit after tax was the result of a 16.7% increase in total operating income coupled with strict cost controls and other innovative efforts implemented by the management. Considering the impact and uncertainty created by COVID 19 in the 1H 2020, the Bank provided a sufficient amount of impairment provision in that period. Since the Bank brought forward a sizable buffer of impairment provision from 2020, it did not require similar provisioning in 1H 2021.

As a result of the growth recorded in PAT, the return on Average shareholder’s Equity (ROE) increased by 533 bps to 12.91% as at 30th June 2021 compared to 7.58% reported at the end of the year 2020. In the meantime, Return on Average Assets (ROA) also increased to 1.67% as at 30th June 2021 against the 1.09% reported for the year 2020.

The Bank recorded a PBT of Rs 9.5 Bn for the first half of 2021 compared to Rs 5.3 Bn reported during the corresponding period in the previous year, denoting a growth of 79.3%. Driven by strong performance recorded by the Bank in the first six months of 2021, the Sampath Group too posted significant growth, with Group PBT and PAT growing by 86.1% and 88.2% respectively over the figures reported for the corresponding period. In the period under review, the Group recorded a PBT of Rs 10.1 Bn and PAT of Rs 7.5 Bn compared to the PBT of Rs 5.4 Bn and PAT of Rs 3.9 Bn recorded in the corresponding period.

The Bank’s Net interest income for the period under review was Rs 19.2 Bn compared to the Rs 17.4 Bn reported for the corresponding period in the previous year, reflecting an increase of 10.4%. Although interest income declined by 9.1%, it was compensated by the decrease recorded in interest expenses, enabling the Bank to record a growth in NII. The pandemic induced uncertainty and the global economic recession prevented businesses and individuals from investing in new projects and business opportunities, which in turn created a lower demand for credit. The lower demand for credit and the low interest rate regime are the main reasons for the 9.1% drop in interest income. The interest income of the Bank stood at Rs 41.9 Bn compared to Rs 46.2 Bn recorded for the corresponding period.

Meanwhile, owing to prudent fund management strategies, Sampath Bank was able to re-price its liability products in line with the prevailing lower interest rates. Timely re-pricing helped the Bank to register a decline in interest expenses. Interest expenses dropped by 21% to Rs 22.7 Bn in the first half of 2021 from Rs 28.7 Bn recorded for the same period in the previous year. This helped to boost the Bank’s NIM to 3.42% as of 30th June 2021, which is 12 bps higher compared to the figure recorded at the end of 2020.

Net fee and commission income (NFCI) recorded a growth of 33.5% from the figure reported in the corresponding period of the previous year. This segment comprises income from various sources such as credit, card, trade, and electronic channels. Growth in this segment was driven mainly by card-related activities. Comparatively higher business activities in Sri Lanka during the first half of 2021, was the main reason for the increase in card-related commission income.

Net other operating income increased by 27.9% in the first half of 2021 compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. This growth was mainly backed by the increase in realized exchange income stemming from the 7.5% depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar. During the first six months of 2021, the Bank recorded Rs 3.3 Bn as net other operating income compared to Rs 2.6 Bn reported in 1H 2020. The Bank recorded a Net trading income of Rs 46.3 Mn in the period under review, compared to the Rs 106.5 Mn loss registered in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. On this basis, the Bank’s net exchange income from foreign exchange transactions amounted to Rs 3 Bn for the period under review.