GTBank reports N101.1bn PBT half-year

… declares 30 kobo interim dividend
Guaranty Trust Bank plc (GTBank) has released its audited financial results for the half year ended June 30, 2017 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges with profit before tax gaining 18 per cent to N101.1 billion from N85.69billion recorded in the corresponding period of June 2016.
With significant increase in profitability, The Bank’s management proposed interim dividend of 30k per ordinary share of 50 kobo each for period ended June 30, 2017.
A review of the half year performance, shows positive growth across all key financial metrics and improved strategic positioning of the brand.
Gross earnings for the period grew by two per cent to N214.1billion from N209.9billion reported in the June 2016; driven primarily by growth in investment securities income as well as income from risk assets.
The Bank’s loan book dipped by six per cent from N1.590trillion recorded as at December 2016 to N1.491trillion in June 2017 and customer deposits decreased by one per cent to N1.966trillion from N1.986trillion in December 2016.
The Bank closed the half year ended June 2017 with Total Assets and Contingents of N3.75trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of N538Billion. On the backdrop of this result, Return on Equity (ROAE) and Return on Assets (ROAA) stood at 38.8per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.
Commenting on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said that “Our strong performance in the first half of 2017 reflects the strength of our businesses, the quality of our past decisions and the success of our efforts towards becoming a digital-first customer-centric Bank that offers simple and easily accessible products and services.”
He further stated that “Despite the challenging environment of slow economic growth, we focused our resources on strengthening relationships with our customers, creating business platforms that seek to add value across all customer segments, whilst consolidating our leading position in all the economies in which we operate”.
The Bank has continued to report the best financial ratios for a Financial Institution in the industry with a return on equity (ROE) of 38.8per cent and a cost to income ratio of 40.2per cent evidencing the efficient management of the banks’ assets.
Overall, the Bank has enshrined its position as a clear leader in the industry. In due recognition of the Bank’s leading role in Africa’s banking industry, owing to its bias for world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery and innovation, GTBank has been a recipient to numerous awards over the course of the year. They include Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs and Best Bank in Nigeria from Euromoney Magazine, African Bank of the Year from African Banker Magazine, Best Banking Group and Best Retail Bank from World Finance Magazine, Best Bank in Africa for Corporate Governance from Ethical Boardroom Magazine.