The Co-operative Bank Group on Thursday reported a pre-tax profit of Sh14.65 billion for the nine months up to September 30, 2018 compared to Sh13.74 Billion recorded in the same period last year. A growth of 7 per cent against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment in the period. Profit after tax was Sh10.31 billion compared to Sh9.54 billion in the previous year, an 8 per cent growth.
Total interest income improved by 3.5 per cent from Sh29.85 billion to Sh30.89 billion on account of Interest income from government securities increasing by 13.5 per cent from Sh6.12 billion to Sh6.95 billion and Interest income from loans and advances increasing by 1 per cent from Sh23.58 billion to Sh23.77 billion. Total interest expense remained tightly controlled, increasing marginally by 1 per cent from Sh9.08 billion to Sh9.15 billion on account of a 3 per cent growth in deposits.
Total operating income grew by 5 per cent from Sh30.91 billion to Sh32.32 billion.Total assets grew by Sh15.85 billion (+4 per cent) to Sh404.15 Billion compared to Sh388.30 billion in the same period last year. Net loans and advances book declined marginally (-2 per cent) to Sh 254.21 billion compared to Sh259.39 billion in the same period last year.
Investment in Government securities grew by Sh15.16 billion (+22 per cent) to Sh83.25 billion compared to Sh68.09 billion in 2017. Total deposits grew by 3 per cent from Sh290.19 billion to Sh297.60 billion Borrowed funds from development partners dropped by Sh2 billion (-7 per cent) to Sh25.98 billion compared to Sh27.99 billion in the same period the previous year. This was as a result of an installment payment to the debt provider. Shareholders’ funds grew to Sh70.89 billion supported by a steady growth in retained earnings.
Co-operative Bank of South Sudan that is a unique Joint Venture (JV) partnership with Government of South Sudan (Co-op Bank 51 per cent and GOSS 49 per cent) made a remarkable Profit before tax of Kshs 235.12 Million in Q32018 compared to a profit of Kshs 39.15 Million in the corresponding period in 2017.
Wealth is built through a relatively simple equation
Wealth=Income + Investments - Lifestyle