Bergen, 12 July 2019. The Sbanken group generated a profit before tax of NOK 202.1 million in the second quarter. Net interest income increased by NOK 31.7, and net fee and commission income increased by NOK 2.9 million, from the second quarter of 2018. Lending growth in the quarter was 2.2 per cent. At quarter-end, total customer lending was NOK 79.9 billion, compared with NOK 76.8 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Return on equity in the second quarter was 10.3 per cent.
Highlights:
• Lending growth 2.2 per cent in the quarter, gaining market share
• Repricing of loan book will contribute to improve the net interest margin
• Increase in loss provisions for consumer loans mitigated by risk pricing
• New SME offering launched end of June, well received with customers
“We have regained lending growth and maintained a net interest margin of 1.57 per cent. We have confirmed our strong market position in the retail segment and have launched a new and simplified banking experience for the SME market”, says Magnar Øyhovden, CEO of Sbanken ASA.
Net interest income increased to NOK 359.1 (348.4) million as a result of increased net lending to customers. The net interest margin was 1.57 per cent, up from 1.47 per cent in the second quarter of 2018. Compared to the previous quarter the net interest margin was stable.
Operating expenses amounted to NOK 169.0 (168.3) million in the quarter.
The net cost of losses amounted to NOK 43.8 million in the quarter, equivalent to a loan loss ratio of 0.22 per cent. The underlying loss level in the quarter was 0.15 per cent. Losses were influenced by calibration in loss models for unsecured credit. This accounts for NOK 13.9 million in the quarter, equivalent to 0.07 per cent points of the loss level in the quarter. The financial effect will be mitigated by risk pricing.
At the end of the quarter, Sbanken had a CET 1 capital ratio of 14.9 per cent, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 16.4 per cent and a total capital ratio of 18.5 per cent. The capital ratios include 70 per cent of H1 2019 net profit.
“Since 2000, Sbanken has challenged the banking market by continuously offering customers improved services. This autumn we will again do this by taking long term savings and SME banking to the next level for Norwegian customers”, Øyhovden concludes.
A detailed financial report for the group and for Sbanken ASA is attached to this notice. The report for the wholly-owned subsidiary, Sbanken Boligkreditt AS, is distributed separately.
Contact details,
Investor Relations
Henning Nordgulen, CFO, Sbanken ASA, +47 952 65 990
Media contact
Geir Holen, Head of communications, Sbanken ASA, +47 959 68 286
About Sbanken ASA
In April 2000, Sbanken was launched as the first purely digital bank in Norway. Today, the bank offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services to individuals, households and SMEs in Norway within payments and card services, deposit-based savings, investment products, long-term loans and short- term loans. The bank has no branches and all products and services are offered directly through the digital platform, which is available on a broad range of user devices. As of 30 June 2019, Sbanken had total assets of NOK 95 billion. For more information, see sbanken.no/investor-relations.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
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