China Bank Posts 62% Profit Growth for Q1; Declares 10% Stock, 12% Cash Dividends
Makati—(PHStocks)—At the annual stockholders’ meeting of China Bank (stock code: CHIB) , the stockholders approved the declaration of a 10% stock and a 12% (Php1.20) per share cash dividend s for a total of Php1.56 billion, subject to approval by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The cash dividend represents 31% of the 2012 net income of PhpP5.03 billion, with a cash dividend yield of 1.7% based on China Bank’s latest share price of Php69.10.
The Bank also announced a first quarter net income of P1.79 billion — 62.5% higher compared to the same period last year. Gross revenues increased by 24.7% driven by trading and securities gains — which expanded 80.7% year-on-year — and higher fee-based revenues. Customer loan portfolio expanded by 16.3% to P179.5 billion y-o-y with all market sectors showing significant growth. Interest revenues from loans and receivables increased 14.8%. Overall net interest income grew to P2.1 billion, an improvement of 7.5% y-o-y.
The improved earnings translate to a robust 16.44% return on equity and a 2.19% return on assets. Despite the ongoing branch and ATM network expansion and investments in new technology, China Bank’s operating expense growth was controlled at 16%. Cost efficiency improved to 54.4% from 0.2%. The Bank is on track with its expansion plan, opening 23 new branches last year — 15 for the main bank and 8 for China Bank Savings (CBS) — and acquiring Unity Bank, a Pampanga-based rural bank, to be merged with CBS by the second half of 2013. This year, the target is to open a total of 67 branches.
Three CBS branches were opened in the first quarter, bringing the total branch count to 320 to date, including the new China Bank branch opened last April 26. The Bank is also implementing a new core banking system for roll-out by next year.
Total resources grew 22% y-o-y to P331.6 billion. Total deposits expanded by 22.2% to P271.5 billion, with total low cost deposits at P94 billion, up 14.4%.
Tighter monitoring of loans quality led to a drop in gross non-performing loans by P465.75 million, reducing the Bank’s non-performing loans ratio (gross) to 2.8%. The Bank set aside P71.38 million for probable loan losses, translating to a loan loss coverage ratio of 136.6%.
China Bank’s financial position remains solid. Total capital reached P46.36 billion, equivalent to a tier 1 capital adequacy ratio of 15.8% — still one of the strongest in the industry.
At the same stockholders’ meeting, Hans T. Sy and Gilbert U. Dee were re-elected chairman and vice chairman of the Board, respectively. The following directors were also re-elected to the China Bank Board: Peter S. Dee, president and CEO; Ricardo R. Chua, senior executive vice president and COO; Joaquin T. Dee; Harley T. Sy; Herbert T. Sy; Jose T. Sio; independent directors Dy Tiong, Alberto S. Yao, and Robert F. Kuan; Henry Sy, Sr. remained honorary chairman and advisor to the Board.
About China Bank
China Bank, established in 1920, is the first privately-owned commercial bank in the Philippines. It is likewise the first bank in Southeast Asia to process deposit accounts on-line in 1969 and the first Philippine bank to offer phone banking in 1988. China Bank and its thrift bank arm, CBS, provide a wide range of banking services through a combined network of over 300 branches and 500 ATMs nationwide. www.chinabank.ph