God is good as Catholic-owned bank registers a whooping K549m profit from a K3.9bn loss in 2022

Catholic Church owned Centenary Bank has pulled a wonder reporting a K549 million profit-after-tax for the year ended December 31 2023, from a K3.9 billion loss recorded in 2022.

This is according to a summary of audited results the bank published last week.

In the report, the bank rates 2023 as a recovery year following adverse performance for the previous two years.

“The group achieved significant progress, specifically business growth, customer confidence, improvement in liquidity and improved customer experience. We have attained business volume growth and reduced the cost of doing business despite increasing economic pressures,” the report reads.

It, however, laments continued downside risk the bank is facing in terms of increased impairments from existing facilities arising from economic conditions which have negatively affected its performance.

But the bank reported to have earned K18.1 billion in interest income compared to prior year interest income of K15.0 billion. This represents a 20 percent growth.

Interest expense for the year was seen at K7.6 billion against prior year expense of K7.8 billion, representing 2 percent interest expense reduction.

Total non-interest revenue increased by 92 percent to K10.0 billion from K5.2 billion earned in 2022 due to increase in exchange gains and increase in commissions earned on lending and transaction fees.

Impairment charges on loans and advances to customers declined by 31 percent to K1.8 billion in 2023, which is still on the higher side from K2.6 billion in 2022.

Operating expenditure rose by 17 percent to K17.8 billion from K15.2 billion reported in 2022 mainly due to inflationary pressures.

Total assets for the firm increased by 59 percent to close at K123 billion in 2023 from K77.2 billion in 2022, according to the report.

“The growth is mainly driven by increased customer deposits arising from business growth strategies and changes in shareholding.

The group’s earnings per share for the year increased to K39.00 in 2023 from (K683) in 2022.

Meanwhile, on outlook, the bank says it expects macroeconomic pressures to persist in the first half of 2024 and ease in the second half.

It has since expressed optimism about continuing with business growth as it continues to implement the various business growth strategies we have embarked on since the start of the year 2023.

“We will continue to focus on improving customer satisfaction and improving efficiencies, upgrading our systems and driving the digitalisation agenda to grow the business as well as enhancing customer’s experience.

“We will also continue to focus on cost rationalisation, prudent management of risk and liquidity, diversification of balance sheet funding, whilst maintaining a healthy capital position,” reads the report.

 

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