KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Thai Bank PCL reported lower net profit of 954.80 million baht (RM123.24mil) in the first half (H1)ended June 30, 2021 due to higher provisions set aside due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Its net profit decreased by RM431.10mil or 31.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 954.80 million baht (RM123.2mil), mainly from the 19.1% y-o-y increase in expected credit losses, reflected by the elevated provisions from economic uncertainty and credit migration from customers affected by the pandemic.

       CIMB Thai said in H1, its net fee and service income increased by 61.6 million baht (RM7.94mil) or 8.9% y-o-y, arising from higher insurance brokerage and underwriting income.

       Net interest income decreased by 672.5 million baht (RM86.8mil) or 11.7% y-o-y caused by the lower interest income on loans and hire purchase business from the lower credit expansion.

       CIMB Thai bank office

       Operating expenses eased by 579.9 million baht (RM74.8mil) or 12.3% y-o-y, largely due to better cost management and better optimisation of resources.

       CIMB Thai Bank president and CEO Paul Wong Chee Kin (pic) said consolidated operating income decreased by 8.1% y-o-y to 7.28 billion baht (RM939.6mil).

       “The lower operating income was attributed to a 11.7% drop in net interest income and 2.3% decrease in other income, offset by a 8.9% expansion in net fee and service income.

       “Pre-provision operating profit decreased by 64.3 million baht (RM8.30mil) or 2.0% y-o-y to 3.15 billion baht (RM406.6mil), mainly due to lower operating income, offset by a 12.3% y-o-y decrease in operating expenses,” he explained.

       Other operating income decreased by 33.4 million baht (RM4.31mil) or 2.3% due to the drop in gains on financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss.

       CIMB Thai’s net interest margin over earning assets stood at 3.2% in the first half, compared with 3.3% in the first six months of 2020, resulting from lower interest income on loans and hire purchase business.

       The modified loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 89.6% from 90.3% as at Dec 31, 2020.

       The gross non-performing loans (NPL) stood at 10.6 billion baht (RM1.37bil), translating to an impaired loan ratio of 4.8% compared with 4.6% as at Dec 31, 2020.

       The higher NPL ratio was mainly due to the decrease in total loan outstanding balance, while the NPLs have not significantly changed.

       “However, CIMB Thai continues to exercise high credit risk underwriting standards and risk management policies. The bank is continuing its focus on improving productivity and monitoring collection,” he said.