Bank of Ceylon ends Q2 on positive note with development agenda

Chairman Ronald C. Perera PC (left) and General Manager/CEO W.P. Russel Fonseka

• Total Assets base at Rs. 4 trillion
• Total Deposit base at Rs. 3.4 trillion
• Gross loans and advances at Rs. 2.1 trillion

The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has reported Rs. 10.5 billion of Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the six-month period ended 30 June 2023 amidst the unprecedented challenges continued to prevail from previous year.

The interest income of the Bank grew by 32% to Rs. 259.7 billion primarily due to the increase in AWPLR compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. However, interest expenses grew by 98% as the deposit mix has been re-priced at higher rates, resulting in high cost of funding and led to 65% decline in net interest income compared to H1-2022.

 Net fee and commission income amounted to Rs. 8.7 billion with 11% growth mainly backed by increase in commission income from card related transactions and travel and remittance related services. Income from trading and investment activities and other operating income resulted in a negative note due to exchange loss reported during H1-2023 in line with the 15% rupee appreciation.

Operating expenses for the period reported an increase of 12% in the backdrop of cost escalation due to inflation. Accordingly, the Bank has reported the PBT of Rs. 10.5 billion with 52% decline over H1-2022. At the end of H1-2023, the Bank’s asset base recorded a negative growth of 7% reflecting the impact of rupee appreciation. Amidst the high competition prevailed in the market, the Bank’s deposit base stood at Rs. 3.4 trillion as of end June 2023.

Despite the adverse headwinds, the Bank has complied with regulatory capital requirements above the stipulated norms by maintaining the Tier I Capital Adequacy Ratio of 12.83% and Total Capital Adequacy Ratio of 15.64%. All the liquidity ratios also improved given the positive market liquidity vibes conquered during the period under review.

General Manager/CEO Russel Fonseka highlighted that: “Bank of Ceylon remains committed to deliver on its mandate of fostering the SME sector and ensuring funding of large infrastructure development in the nation despite the challenging operating environment. Further, he stated that showing its continued commitment to being the Bankers to the Nation, the Bank has recently introduced a new bank funded loan scheme to grant credit facilities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the name of “SME Energiser” in order to promote economic sectors and export earnings leading the revival of economy.”

Chairman Ronald C. Perera PC said: “Reviewed against a tightened monetary policy on the backdrop of unprecedented economic turmoil in the country, being among the “Top 1000 Banks” in the world is a clear indication of BOC’s strong financial position and the measures undertaken by Bank of Ceylon to remain resilient by overcoming multiple challenges.”

Bank of Ceylon is ranked by “The Banker” UK magazine, among the world’s top 1000 banks, becoming the only Sri Lankan Bank to be included in the global list for the 12th consecutive year in an extremely challenging period.

Further, Bank of Ceylon was named as the No.1 Banking Brand in Sri Lanka for the 15th consecutive year with the brand strength rating at “AAA” by the Brand Finance Lanka and BOC boasts for over Rs. 50 Billion Brand value for the year 2023, the highest in the sector.