This is mainly due to prudent approach adopted towards provisioning against both the credit portfolio and investment impairment. On credit front, certain loans have been subjectively downgraded, while full impairment charge has been taken on equity book instead of availing the relaxation allowed by SBP of deferring charge over the year.
On the revenue front, net markup income and non-markup income showed combined growth of 7.7 percent with strong contribution from FX income of Rs 1.056 billion. Last year net Markup income included recovery of suspended markup on a non-performing loan. Non Markup income was impacted by bearish stock market sentiments amid corona virus fear.
Non-markup expenses were higher by 19.4 percent compared to same period last year largely driven by higher investment in IT and digital channels, regulatory compliances, full period impact of 49 new branches opened last year along with overall impact of inflation and rupee devaluation.
Total deposits reported at Rs 755.135 billion, lower than December 2019 level, which is a customary decline in the first quarter. The Bank's gross advances were reported at Rs 520.436 billion. At the quarter end, our gross advances to deposits ratio stands at 68.9 percent while CASA ratio at 80.6% and remains amongst the highest in the industry. The Bank non-performing advances stood at Rs 23.502 billion and NPL ratio at 4.5 percent, being one of the lowest infection ratios in the industry.
Bank's Investment book has accumulated hefty unrealized revaluation gains on government securities which can increase the bank's profitability in the following quarters.
The shareholders' equity of the Bank improved marginally despite payment of dividend approved by the shareholders in the AGM held in March 2020. At the close of first quarter, the Bank remains adequately capitalized with CAR at 17.25 percent.-PR