BCR H1 2020 financial highlights: Net profit of EUR 103.6 M

BCR achieved a net profit of RON 498.9 million (EUR 103.6 million) in H1 2020, against a net loss of RON 20.8 million (EUR 4.4 million) in H1 2019, mainly due to significant one-off provision allocation related to the activity of BCR Banca pentru Locuinte booked in Q2 2019.

Operating result improved by 9.3% to RON 898.2 million (EUR 186.5 million) in H1 2020 from to RON 822.0 million (EUR 173.3 million) in H1 2019, on the back of higher operating income along with lower operating expenses.

Net interest income increased by 7.0%, to RON 1,187.8 million (EUR 246.6 million) in H1 2020, from RON 1,110.2 million (EUR 234.1 million) in H1 2019, favoured by higher loan volumes in both retail and corporate.

Net fee and commission income decreased by 14.3%, to RON 316.2 million (EUR 65.6 million) in H1 2020, from RON 368.9 million (EUR 77.8 million) in H1 2019, due to lower business activity and measures implemented for supporting clients during the current pandemic context.

Net trading result decreased by 12.3%, to RON 142.9 million (EUR 29.7 million) in H1 2020, from RON 162.9 million (EUR 34.4 million) in H1 2019, mainly driven by lower trading activity.

Operating income slightly increased by 0.8%, to RON 1,703.5 million (EUR 353.6 million) in H1 2020, from RON 1,690.2 million (EUR 356.4 million) in H1 2019, driven by higher net interest income, partly offset by lower fee income and net trading result.

General administrative expenses reached RON 805.3 million (EUR 167.2 million) in H1 2020, down by 7.2% in comparison to RON 868.2 million (EUR 183.1 million) in H1 2019, mainly due to lower contribution to deposit insurance fund in 2020 versus 2019 and lower depreciation, partly offset by one-off pandemic related personnel expenses in Q2 2020.

As such, cost-income ratio improved to 47.3% in H1 2020, versus 51.4% in H1 2019.

Risk costs and Asset Quality

Impairment result from financial instruments recorded an allocation of RON 169.9 million (EUR 35.3 million) in H1 2020, as compared to a release of RON 88.8 million (EUR 18.7 million) in H1 2019. This result has been mainly influenced by updated risk parameters to reflect the economic downturn coupled with the implementation of stricter rules for credit risk classification under IFRS 9 applied to client exposures affected by the current situation.

NPL ratio reached 4.5% as of June 2020, slightly higher than 4.1% recorded at December 2019. This evolution is reflecting the effect of a one-off large new default registered in the corporate segment, after a long period of almost no new NPL formation, coupled with continuous trend of recoveries. At the same time, the NPL provisioning coverage remained relatively stable at 117.4% as of June 2020.

Capital position and funding

Solvency ratio for BCR Bank standalone, according to the capital requirements regulations (CRR) stood at 19.6% as of May 2020, well above the regulatory requirements of the National Bank of Romania. Furthermore, the Tier 1+2 capital ratio of 17.9% (BCR Group) as of March 2020 is clearly showing BCR’s strong capital adequacy and continuing support of Erste Group. In this respect, BCR enjoys one of the strongest capital and funding positions amongst the Romanian banks.

Loans and advances to customers increased by 1.2% to RON 40,532.1 million (EUR 8,374.9 million) as of 30 June 2020 from 40,049.0 million (EUR 8,373.2 million) as of 31 December 2019, supported by the increase in retail segment (+2.7% ytd).

Deposits from customers increased by 3.1% to RON 59,555.9 million (EUR 12,305.7 million) as of 30 June 2020 versus 57,791.8 million (EUR 12,082.8 million) as of 31 December 2019, supported by the increase in retail deposits (+5.1% ytd).

“Our main focus in 2020 up to know has been to ensure our teams’ and customers’ safety and wellbeing, through all means necessary. In the first half of this year, we became stronger, more united and more determined than ever. Our team acted as one solid, fast growing organism, and I thank all colleagues for their hard work and involvement. During these past months we advised hundreds of thousands of people; we acted quickly, with accelerated digital solutions. Most of offline banking operations can now be done 100% online.

In order to support our clients, we did a lot of peer-to-peer consulting, continuing our financial and entrepreneurial education efforts. We believe we have an opportunity for growth, despite the current time’s volatility, provided customers are proficiently informed. Through the measures taken to support corporate lending and payment deferral solutions, we have so far supported and assisted companies that create more than 200,000 jobs. We continue to be fully open for business and we aim to remain a trustworthy financial partner to all our customers, for the long run”, stated Sergiu Manea, CEO Banca Comercială Română.

BCR impact in the economy

In retail banking business, BCR generated total new loans in local currency to individuals and micro businesses of RON 3.7 billion in H1 2020 mainly driven by mortgage loans. Cash loan sales decreased by 9.3% yoy, impacted in Q2 2020 by lower consumption and higher uncertainties generated by the pandemic context. Mortgage new sales grew by 25% yoy in H1 2020 mainly driven by standard product. New loans to micros went up by 24.0% yoy in H1 2020.

In corporate banking business, BCR (bank standalone) approved new corporate loans of RON 3.2 billion in H1 2020. The stock of financing for SME segment (including BCR Leasing subsidiary) increased by 9% yoy to RON 6.3 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) as of 30 June 2020, as a result of a high focus on new business and advance in leasing. Public Sector financing increased by 16.1% yoy. Real Estate segment strongly increased by 20.9% year-on-year on drawdowns within the office and commercial projects financed over the last year.

The intelligent banking platform George reached 900,000 users, up by 70% as compared to H1 2019. The number of transactions through George increased by 130% in H1 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. In addition, there was an increase of over 150% in accessing banking products in the digital platform, the biggest appetite being for the 100% online George account, which reached a share of 52% of the total current accounts opened in 2020.

The shared online platform Casa Mea App, that runs document workflow for proprietary mortgage, has been already used for 44% of disbursed loans.