Union Bank shows resilience in a challenging environment

Union Bank recorded a resilient performance within the first six months of 2020 amidst many challenges triggered by the Covid-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka from March this year.

Commencing from April 2020, the Bank began to immediately roll out the customer financial relief programmes recommended by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) with special focus on affected customers in the Corporate, SME and Retail Banking segments.

Within the review period, the Bank had approved debt moratoria worth Rs. 22.2 Bn under the CBSL recommended debt relief scheme providing extensions for repayment of capital and interest on loans granted. Loan facilities for approximately Rs. 40 Bn were granted with payment extensions for two months. Further, a significant number of affected customers have been granted debt relief schemes outside the CBSL defined criteria, in–line with the Bank’s internal credit policy guidelines. Amongst the schemes that were considered for moratoria are Loans and Leases, Overdrafts, Pawning and Trade Finance facilities. Additionally, non-performing borrowers who had requested for relief schemes have also been provided customised re-schedulements, inclusive of waivers on accrued interest whilst withholding further recovery action.

Union Bank’s core banking activities compressed in the second quarter amidst the country-wide lock-down that prevailed in the month of April up until mid-May.

Amidst the challenging economic landscape, the average prime lending rate (AWPLR) dropped by approximately 250bps and the Treasury Bill rates too showed a declining trend. The Bank implemented a downward revision of interest rates on various lending schemes including credit cards in line with the directives of the Central Bank. Union Bank has also taken measures to provide loans at concessionary rates for Working Capital requirements of SMEs and exporters by participating in the CBSL credit schemes including the Saubhagya Covid-19 Renaissance Facility.

Maintaining healthy liquidity levels within the Bank, and employee and customer safety remained key management priorities while rolling out relief schemes to mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 on the diverse customer segments of the Bank. Within the period under review from January to June 2020, the average fixed deposits remained stable whereas total average CASA ended at Rs. 21,444 Mn, an increase of 13% over last year. Efforts of maintaining a healthy CASA inflow was supported through focused acquisition strategies driven by retail, corporate and SME banking segments. The CASA ratio of the Bank was 25.8% by end of the reporting period.

Accordingly, Union Bank’s Net Interest Margin declined from 3.4% to 3.2% within the review period. Credit Card late payment fee and other fee waivers issued to customers until September 2020 in-line with the CBSL guidelines aiming to support the customers affected by the pandemic coupled with a decline in economic activity caused a reduction of the overall fee income by about 26% during this period.

The Bank’s Treasury recorded a notable performance with a significant YoY increase of 68% in capital gains. Other Operating Income of the Bank increased on the back of exchange rate deflation by 6% during the said period.