The Board appreciated the efforts of management team for achieving remarkable financial results during the year 2019 which enabled the Bank to post ever highest annual profit in its history. The tremendous financial performance is testimonial to a great transformation, the Bank has undergone in last few years. The Board also announced and recommended a Cash Dividend of 7.5% for Shareholders for the year 2019.

While, the Bank has achieved all set business targets for the year 2019, Net Interest Margin (NIM) of the Bank improved significantly to Rs 26.76 billion as against Rs 20.06 billion during last year thereby reflecting a spectacular growth of 33 percent. The Bank's Non-Markup/Interest Income remained at the level of Rs 3.94 billion. Accordingly, the Bank earned before tax profit of Rs 14.04 billion as against Rs 12.21 billion for last year. Further, Earnings Per Share (EPS) of the Bank improved to Rs.3.12 per share.

As on December 31, 2019, the Deposits of the Bank touched the level of Rs 691.02 billion as against Rs 595.58 billion last year. The gross advances and net investments stood at Rs 428.85 billion and Rs 361.45 billion, respectively. The Bank's Total Assets as on December 31, 2019 stood at Rs 868.93 billion as against Rs 714.38 billion as on December 31, 2018 thereby registering a growth of 22%.

The Bank's Equity improved to Rs 46.68 billion as against Rs 37.72 billion as on December 31, 2018. As on December 31, 2019, the Bank's Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) improved to 14.80 percent. Accordingly, the Bank stands fully compliant with SBP's prescribed CAR requirement.

The Bank has been assigned long term entity rating of "AA" by The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) with short term rating being at highest rank of "A1+".-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020