KARACHI: The Board of Directors of Meezan Bank Limited in its meeting held on Thursday approved the financial statements of the Bank for the half year ended June 30, 2021.
The meeting was presided by Riyadh S. A. A. Edrees, chairman of the board, and Faisal A. A. A. Al-Nassar, vice chairman of the board, was also present.
The board approved second interim cash dividend of Rs1.50 per share (15 percent). Further, the board has also approved 15 percent bonus share issue. This brings the total cash dividend payout for the half year to Rs3.00 (30 percent) per share along with 15 percent bonus shares as Rs1.50 per share.
According to the financial results, the Bank's profit after tax increased to Rs12.6 billion as compared to Rs11.7 billion in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a growth of 8 percent. The EPS of the Bank, on enhanced share capital, increased to Rs8.91 per share from Rs8.25 per share in June 2020.
Total deposits of the Bank closed at Rs1.37 trillion - a growth of 9 percent from last year. During the half year, the Bank opened 20 new branches bringing
its geographical network to 835 branches in 258 cities and a network of 917 ATMs (2020: 880 ATMs) across the country which provides excellent client coverage to the Bank in addition to its widespread geographical network. The Bank's Mobile Banking App has been consistently ranked as the No.1 Mobile Banking App in Pakistan on both Apple Store and Google Play Store. The Bank maintained leadership position in overall 1-link transaction grid, both by value and number of transactions, during the half year ended June 30, 2021.
The VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has upgraded the Bank's credit rating to 'AAA/A-1+' - the highest possible level which indicates highest possible credit quality, with negligible risk factors.
The Bank's net spread dropped by 4 percent to Rs31.2 billion from Rs32.4 billion due to decline in the underlying SBP policy rate which reduced from average 11 percent in January-June 2020 to 7 percent during the current period. The effect of the decline in the underlying SBP policy rate was offset by the Bank's higher volume of earning assets and 45 percent growth in the Bank's current account deposits which increased to Rs576 billion in June 2021 as compared to Rs397 billion in June 2020.
The Bank's non-funded income recorded a growth of 36 percent closing at Rs6.81 billion as compared to Rs5.03 billion in corresponding period last year mainly due to higher trade finance, branch banking and debit card related fee income.
Total assets of the Bank grew to Rs1.67 trillion from Rs1.52 trillion in December 2020. The Bank's financing portfolio grew by 11 percent to Rs570 billion from Rs513 billion in December 2020. The Bank continues to have one of the lowest non-performing financing ratio of 2.4 percent, compared to banking industry average of 9 percent, while maintaining a comfortable coverage ratio of 136 percent. The Bank is also actively supporting SBP's measures for economic revival and has extended financing to its customers under a number of SBP refinance schemes. The Investments portfolio of the Bank also increased to Rs472 billion -- recording a growth of 9 percent from last year.
Being a responsible corporate citizen and to make Pakistan COVID-19 free, the Bank has joined hands with the Government of Sindh and has established Pakistan's largest Drive-Through Facility COVID-19 Vaccination Centre for the general public in Gulberg Town, Karachi, in which around 1,200 individuals are getting vaccinated daily. The Bank has also recently been recognized in relation to State Bank of Pakistan's Roshan Digital Account initiative as the 'Best Performing Bank (1st Position)' and the 'Fastest Growing Bank' by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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