RBL Bank Announces Positive Q4 2018 and FY 2018 Results; Proposes Dividend

The RBL Bank announced positive results for the fourth quarter of 2018 and fiscal 2018. The bank reported that Net Profit for the fourth quarter of 2018 (Q4 2018) is up by 37% to Rs 178.12 crore as against Rs 130.13 crore during the previous year (Q4 2017).

The Net Interest Income is Rs 500.46 crore during the Q4 2018 as against Rs 352.16 crore in Q4 2017, an increase of 42%.

Other Income for Q4 2018 stood at Rs 311.98 crore as compared to Rs 236.55 crore in Q4 2017, an increase of 32%.

The bank reported operating profit of Rs 383.10 crore during Q4 2018 as against Rs 281.75 crore during Q4 2017, up by 36%.

For fiscal 2018, RBL Bank reported a Net profit of Rs 635.09 crore as against Rs 446.05 crore in fiscal 2017, up by 42%.

The Net Interest Income stood at Rs 1,766.29 crore for fiscal 2018 as against Rs 1,221.34 crore during fiscal 2017, an increase of 45%.

Operating profit for fiscal 2018 is Rs 1,331.07 crore as against Rs 920.41 crore in fiscal 2017, an increase of 45%.

The bank's Current Accounts & Savings Accounts (CASA) ratio improved to 24.32% as on March 31, 2018, from 21.98% as on March 31, 2017.

The total number of branch and branching outlets increased from 239 to 462 and ATM networks increased from 375 to 388 as on March 31, 2018, as compared with previous year.

The Bank's growth in advances portfolio continued to be robust at 37 % on a year-on-year basis. The net advances as at March 31, 2018, were Rs. 40,267.84 crore as against Rs. 29,449.04 on March 31, 2017, with all-around growth, observed in all business segments.

The growth in the Corporate & Institutional segment and Commercial Banking (together termed as "Wholesale portfolio") was pegged at 33%, while that of other segments (Retail Assets, Development Banking & Financial Inclusion and Agriculture - together termed as ("Non-wholesale portfolio") was 42%.

The non-wholesale portfolio constituted about 41% of the loan portfolio of the Bank as at March 31, 2018. The gross NPA ratio has decreased to 1.40% as at March 31, 2018, from 1.56% as at December 31, 2017. The restructured standard assets portfolio has decreased to 0.08% as at March 31, 2018, from 0.18% as at December 31, 2017.

The net NPA ratio has decreased to 0.78% as at March 31, 2018, from 0.97% as at December 31, 2017. The Bank's provisioning coverage ratio (including technical write-offs), is 57.57% as at March 31, 2018, as compared to 52.54% as at December 31, 2017.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Vishwavir Ahuja, MD & CEO, RBL Bank said "In the year gone by we have continued to grow in a prudential, profitable manner. We have been able to maintain our strong growth momentum across all our various business segments with good asset quality and are tracking well to our Vision 2020 goals. At the same time, we continue to invest in the franchise to enhance our technology and other capabilities, distribution footprint, deepening customer relationships and offering quality products and services."