30 Jan 2014 08:32
Byblos Bank S.A.L.
Press Release - Q4 2013 Unaudited Results
30 January 2014
Despite uncertainty on the political level and an ongoing stagnation of the economy, Byblos Bank witnessed growth in key financial areas. Total assets stood at USD 18.5 billion as at the end of 2013, registering a growth of 8.6% during the year. Customer deposits also grew, rising by 10.2% (+USD 1.4 billion) to reach USD 14.7 billion as at the end of December 2013, while net customer loans increased during 2013 by 9.5% (+USD 393 million) to reach USD 4.5 billion.
Byblos Bank's sound asset quality remains one of the key indicators of its solid financial position. Indeed, the Bank allocated enough specific and collective provisions against credit losses for an amount of USD 57.3 million during 2013, of which USD 17.5 million in collective provisions against a loan portfolio of USD 4,792 million. These provisions affected the net income of the Bank for 2013, which amounted to USD 157.1 million, a decrease of 6% compared to 2012.
Byblos Bank's healthy financials are also reinforced by net non-performing loans accounting to only 1.0% of net loans as at end-December 2013, all of which are fully covered when collective provisions are taken into account. In fact, the Bank's coverage ratio on non-performing loans, including collective provisions, reached 118.0% as at end-December 2013.
Moreover, the Bank's Basel III capital adequacy ratio reached a level of 14.7% as at the end of June 2013 versus a 12% minimum regulatory requirement with full compliance by December 2015.The solidity of Byblos Bank financial position is also manifested through the Bank's primary liquidity placed with banks and central banks (including Banque du Liban certificates of deposit) amounted to USD 9.3 billion, representing 63.0% of customer deposits as at the end of 2013.
This steady financial performance is coupled with the trust of strategic international partners such as the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group; the Agence Française de Développement, the development agency of the French government, and its subsidiary, the Société de Promotion et Participation pour la Coopération Economique; who are among the maim Bank's main shareholders.
It is to note that The Bankers magazine, a sister publication of The Financial Times, confirmed that Byblos Bank is the most solid among Lebanese banks with a Tier 1 capital-to-assets ratio of 8.18% for 2012.
To view the text of the results, paste the following link(s) into the address bar of your web browser:
http://www.byblosbank.com.lb/Library/Files/Financial%20Reports/Quarterly%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements/Quarterly%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements/Unaudited%20consolidated%20financial%20statements%20as%20at%2031122013%20_English.pdf
For further information, please contact:
Ziad El Zoghby
Head of Finance and Administration Division
Phone: +961 1335 280