Doha: QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, yesterday reported net profit of QR3.6bn ($1bn) for the three months ended 31 March 2022, registering an increase of 9 percent compared to the same period last year. Operating Income up by 16 percent to reach QR7.7bn ($2.1bn) which reflects the Group’s success in maintaining growth across a range of revenue sources.
Total Assets as at 31 March 2022 reached QR1,108bn ($304bn), an increase of 6 percent from 31 March 2021, mainly driven by growth in Loans and advances by 6 percent to reach QR763bn ($210bn). Diversified customer deposits generation helped to increase customer deposits by 5 percent to reach QR788bn ($216bn) from 31 March 2021.
Furthermore, Group’s drive for operational efficiency continues to yield cost-savings and enhanced revenue sources that has enabled QNB Group to improve its efficiency (cost to income) ratio for the three months period ended 31 March 2022 to 20.8 percent from 23.4 percent at 31 March 2021, which is considered one of the best ratios among large financial institutions in the MEA region.
QNB Group’s strong asset liability management helped in maintaining loans to deposits ratio at 96.8 percent as at 31 March 2022. The ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans stood at 2.3 percent as at 31 March 2022, one of the lowest amongst financial institutions in the MEA region, reflecting the high quality of the Group’s loan book and the effective management of credit risk. Also during the period, QNB Group set aside QR1.9bn ($0.5bn) as a precaution for potential loan losses. This helped the Group to increase its coverage ratio to 123 percent, which reflects the prudent approach adopted by the Group towards non-performing loans.
Total Equity increased to QR98bn ($27bn), up by 5 percent from March 2021. Earnings per share reached QR0.36 ($0.10). QNB Group reported a strong capital adequacy ratio of 18.9 percent as at 31 March 2022, higher than the regulatory minimum requirements of the Qatar Central Bank and Basel Committee. QNB Group supported by 27,000 staff resources operating from approximately 1,000 locations and 4,600 ATMs.
