Q3:2017: Sterling Bank grows earnings by 19%

Sterling Bank Plc, has recorded sustained growth in earnings with 19 per cent increase in gross earnings for the third quarter ended 30 September 2017, boosted by 48.9 per cent increase in non-interest income.

The bank’s gross earnings rose to N94.6 billion during the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 as against N79.7 billion during the corresponding period of 2016. Other performance indicators showed that non-interest income grew by 48.9 percent to N16.0 billion as against N10.8 billion in the third quarter of 2016.

Commenting on the bank’s performance, Mr Yemi Adeola, Managing Director/CEO, stated, “In the third quarter, the bank sustained its earnings growth momentum with an 18.8 percent growth in gross earnings boosted by a 48.9 percent increase in non-interest income,” remarking that during the year, the bank’s strategy built on efficient operations and sustainable growth of its balance sheet in a cautious but optimistic manner, continued to deliver results.

According to him, despite the persistent inflationary pressures, cost-to-income ratio improved by 140 basis points driven by a moderation in operating expenses, thereby enabling the bank to record significant improvement in asset quality with a 380-basis point reduction in non-performing loan (NPL) ratio.

He also said that the bank continued to diversify its funding base leading to a 147.6 per cent increase in long-term funding and that overall profit before tax rose by 8.1 per cent to N6.6 billion while annualised pre-tax return on average equity improved by 50 basis points to 9.6 per cent.

The CEO noted, “As economic recovery gains momentum, we are well positioned to respond to emerging opportunities in education, health and transportation sectors. Our existing collaboration with pioneering technology companies in these sectors has started yielding results and this will provide a springboard for growth in 2018.”

Further analysis showed that net operating income increased by 0.5 percent to N45.3 billion compared with N45.1 billion in 2016. Operating expenses however moderated by 0.6 percent to N38.8 billion as against N39 billion in 2016; profit before tax rose by 8.1 per cent to N6.6 billion as against N6.1 billion in 2016, while profit after tax also appreciated by 7.3 percent to close the quarter at N5.9 billion compared with N5.5 billion in 2016.

The bank’s financial ratios showed pre-tax return on average equity of 9.6 per cent compared with 9.1 percent in 2016, post tax return on average equity was 8.6 percent as against 8.3 per cent in 2016 while earnings per share rose to 21 kobo in 2017 from 19 kobo in 2016.

Sterling Bank’s non-performing loan ratio dropped to 6.1 percent in 2017 from 9.9 per cent in 2016, while capital adequacy ratio increased to 11.4 percent in 2017 from 11.2 per cent in 2016.

The financial position statement of the bank showed that shareholders’ funds rose by 13.6 per cent to N97.3 billion as against N85.7billion in 2016 while total assets, excluding contingent liabilities, increased by 15.2 per cent to N961 billion against N834.2 billion in 2016.