Bank Hapoalim's Net Profit Continues to Rise and Reached NIS 425 Million in the Third Quarter of 2009, an Increase of 11.3%

The Positive Trend Results From an Increase in Operating Income and a Decrease in Operating Expenses


TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 25, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank Hapoalim (TASE:POLI) (LSE:BKHD) today announced their earnings for the third quarter of 2009.

Highlights of the financial statements:



 * Net Profit for the third quarter of 2009 totaled NIS 425 million
   compared with a profit of NIS 382 million in the previous quarter,
   an increase of 11.3%.

 * Return on equity for the third quarter of 2009 was 8.8%, on an
   annualized basis compared with 8.3% in the previous quarter.

 * Operating income for the third quarter of 2009 totaled NIS 1,359
   million compared with NIS 1,231 million in the previous quarter,
   an increase of 10.4%.

 * Operating and other expenses decreased by 11.0% compared with the
   previous quarter and totaled NIS 1,683 million in the third
   quarter compared with NIS 1,890 million in the previous quarter.

 * The Bank's capital adequacy rose to 13.33% at the end of the third
   quarter of 2009 compared with 12.83% at June 30, 2009. This rate
   exceeds the Board of Director's year-end 2009 objective of 12%.

   Tier 1 Capital rose to 8.21% at the end of the third quarter of
   2009 compared with 7.84% at June 30, 2009.

Main developments in the financial statements for the third quarter of 2009:

Net operating profit for the third quarter of 2009 totaled NIS 422 million compared with a profit of NIS 380 million in the previous quarter.

Net return of operating profit on equity for the third quarter of 2009 was 8.8%, on an annualized basis, compared with 8.2% in the previous quarter. In the first nine months of the year, net return of operating profit on equity totaled 5.7%, on an annualized basis.

Profit from regular financing activity (profit from financing activity excluding one-off and other irregular items) totaled NIS 1,707 million in the third quarter of 2009, compared with a profit of NIS 1,686 million in the previous quarter

Financial margin from regular activity stood at 2.35% in the third quarter of 2009, compared with 2.34% in the previous quarter. This data clearly indicates the continuous stability of the financing margins in the present (low) interest rate environment.

The provision for doubtful debts was made on a conservative basis, with due regard for assessments of the risks in the credit portfolio. In the third quarter of 2009 the Bank recorded provisions totaling NIS 629 million, compared with NIS 538 million in the previous quarter.

The rate of the specific provision to total credit to the public, net of the reduction in provisions and the collection of debts written off in the past, reached 1.21%, in the third quarter of 2009, compared with 0.80% in the previous quarter.

The specific provision for doubtful debts totaled NIS 1,481 million in the first nine months of 2009, and the rate of the specific provision for this period is 0.83%, a rate within the range of the Bank's business plans.

Operating and other income -- totaled NIS 1,359 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with NIS 1,231 million in the previous quarter, an increase of 10.4%. The increase was mainly due to an increase in income from investments in shares and credit card fees.

Operating and other expenses totaled NIS 1,683 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with NIS 1,890 million in the previous quarter, a decrease of 11.0%. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in salary expenses as a result of effects of the wage agreement with the Employees' Union.

Cost-Income Ratio decreased in the third quarter of 2009 to 53.6%, compared with 59.3% in the previous quarter.

Developments in Balance-Sheet Items

The consolidated balance sheet as at September 30, 2009 totaled NIS 301.9 billion, compared with NIS 302.8 billion at June 30, 2009.

Credit to the public totaled NIS 215.6 billion, compared with NIS 216.0 billion at June 30, 2009. Consumer credit and mortgages increased, but were offset by the influence of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Deposits from the public totaled NIS 225.2 billion compared with NIS 228.1 billion at June 30, 2009, a decrease of 1.3%. The decrease is mainly a result of the devaluation of the U.S. dollar.

Shareholder's equity totaled NIS 20,316 million as at September 30, 2009, compared with NIS 19,733 million at June 30, 2009, an increase of 3.0%.

Capital adequacy ratio rose to 13.33% at the end of the third quarter of 2009 compared with 12.83% at June 30, 2009.

Tier 1 Capital rose to 8.21% at the end of the third quarter of 2009 compared with 7.84% at June 30, 2009.

About Bank Hapoalim

Bank Hapoalim is Israel's leading financial group. In Israel, the Bank Hapoalim Group includes financial companies involved in investment banking, credit cards, trust services and portfolio management. The Group also has holdings in non-banking sectors.

Internationally, Bank Hapoalim operates through 40 branches, subsidiaries and representative offices, in North and Latin America, Europe, the Far East, Turkey and Australia. In these markets, the Bank is engaged in trade, corporate finance, private banking and retail banking.

Bank Hapoalim is the only Israeli Bank listed on both the Tel Aviv and London Stock Exchange. In addition, a Level-1 ADR is traded "over-the-counter" in New York, under ticker BKHYY.



               Principal Data of the Bank Hapoalim Group
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Profit and               For the three months ended on 
  profitability
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                9/30/2009  6/30/2009  3/31/2009  12/31/2008  9/30/2008
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Profit (loss) 
  from financing
  activities 
  before pro-
  vision for 
  doubtful debts    1,779      1,955        972       1,242      2,083
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Operating and              
  other income      1,359      1,231      1,162       1,013      1,153
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total income       3,138      3,186      2,134       2,255      3,236
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Provision for              
  doubtful debts      629        538        314         765        471
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Operating and              
  other expenses    1,683      1,890      1,940       2,008      1,960
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Operating                  
  profit (loss)       422        380         21       (393)        384
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net profit from            
  extraordinary             
  transactions,             
  after taxes           3          2         21          30         57 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net profit                 
  (loss)              425        382         42       (363)        441
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                           

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Balance Sheet -
  Principal 
  Items
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                9/30/2009  6/30/2009  3/31/2009  12/31/2008  9/30/2008
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Total balance 
  sheet           301,894    302,844    305,156     306,847    297,854
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Credit to the 
  public          215,638    215,973    220,859     222,100    214,296
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Deposits from 
  the public      225,196    228,136    232,442     226,953    214,802
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Debentures and 
  subordinated 
  notes            23,307     22,162     18,967      20,818     20,676
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Shareholders' 
  equity           20,316     19,733     18,986      18,795     19,030
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Overall Credit 
  risk 
  - Problematic 
    Debts          18,687     17,693     17,558      16,142     15,208
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Of which: 
  Non-income 
  bearing debt      4,152      4,369      4,187       4,168      4,011
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------


 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Principal 
  financial 
  ratios
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                9/30/2009  6/30/2009  3/31/2009  12/31/2008  9/30/2008
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Loan to Deposit
  Ratio            95.76%     94.67%     95.00%      97.86%     99.76%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Shareholders' 
  equity to 
  total assets      6.73%      6.52%      6.20%       6.13%      6.39%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Tier I capital 
  to risk assets    8.21%      7.84%      7.55%       7.44%      7.74%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total capital 
  to risk assets   13.33%     12.83%     11.27%      10.92%     11.29%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Cost-Income 
  Ratio            53.63%     59.32%     90.91%      89.05%     60.57%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Financing 
  margin on 
  regular 
  activity (a)(b)   2.35%      2.34%      2.36%       2.28%      2.89%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ratio of 
  specific pro-
  vision to
  total credit 
  to the public 
  attributed to 
  the statement 
  of profit and 
  loss(a)           1.21%      0.80%      0.49%       1.49%      0.76%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Return of 
  operating 
  profit (loss) 
  on equity, 
  net(a)            8.75%      8.22%      0.44%     (7.90%)      8.34%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Return of net 
  profit (loss) 
  on equity(a)      8.82%      8.26%      0.89%     (7.32%)      9.62%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net earnings 
  (loss) per 
  share              0.32       0.29       0.03      (0.29)       0.33
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 (a) Quarterly figures on an annualized basis
 (b) Calculated -Financing income to income-yielding assets


            

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