RBL Bank’s net profit grows 46%

Yet another quarter of improving operating performance

R. Subramaniakumar, MD&CEO, RBL Bank

FinTech BizNews Service 

Mumbai, 21 October, 2023:  

The Board of Directors of RBL Bank Limited approved the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30th Sep 2023 at its meeting held on Saturday, 21st Oct 2023.

Results Summary for Q2FY24

• Strong Operating Performance:

• Net Profit grew 46% YOY & 2% QOQ to Rs294 crore
• ROA of 1.00% vs 0.77% for Q2 FY23
• Operating profit grew 43% YOY & 13% QOQ to Rs731 crore
• Total Revenue grew 24% YOY and 3% QOQ to Rs2,179 crore
• Net Interest Income grew 26% YOY and 4% QOQ to Rs1,475 crore; NIM was 5.54% vs 5.02% for Q2 FY23
• Other Income grew 21% YOY and 3% QOQ to Rs704 crore
• Cost to Income was 66.5% vs 69.3% for Q1 FY24 and 70.8% for Q2 FY23
• During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Bank received income tax orders relating to matter under appeal resulting in write-back of tax provision for earlier years of Rs222.92 crore (pre-tax of Rs297.89 crore).
• The Bank has prudently used this write-back of tax provision to build contingent buffers of 100bps created on Credit Card & Microfinance Advances to prudently build reserves and strengthen the Balance Sheet; amounting to Rs252 crore
• Modifying existing provisioning policy in credit cards to provide fully on NPA cases at 120 days as against the existing policy of 180 days. The quantum of additional provision taken by the Bank as a result of this change was  Rs48 crore in this quarter
• In aggregate, the Bank took additional provision of Rs. 300 crore on account of above.

•  CASA and Deposits Growth:

• CASA grew 12% YOY and 1% QOQ to Rs32,089 crore. CASA ratio at 35.7% vs. 36.2% as at 30th Sep 2022
• Total deposits grew 13% YOY and 5% QOQ to Rs89,780 crore
• Retail Deposits (as per LCR definition) grew 19% YOY and 4% QOQ to Rs39,706 crore 

• Strong Advances Growth:

• Net Advances book grew 21% YOY and 4% sequentially to Rs76,324 crore
• Retail Advances book grew 35% YOY and 8% sequentially to Rs44,092 crore
• Retail disbursement for Q2 FY 24 at Rs4,300 crore
• Retail: Wholesale mix at 58:42
• Housing loans grew 43% YOY; Rural vehicle finance grew 167% YOY
• 5.9 Lakhs credit cards issued in this quarter; Total cards outstanding at 4.8mn
• Total customers at 14.31mn vs 11.77mn in Q2 FY23, an increase of 2.54mn

• Well capitalized with sound liquidity:

• Overall capital adequacy was 17.07% vs 16.68% for June 23; Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 15.15% vs 15.05% for June 23
• Average Liquidity Coverage Ratio at 142%

• Asset quality:

• Gross NPA ratio improved to 3.12% vs. 3.22% as at 30th June 2023 and 3.80% as at 30th Sep 2022, improved by 68 bps in a year
• Net NPA ratio improved to 0.78% vs. 1.00% as at 30th June 2023 and 1.26% as at 30th Sep 2022, improved by 48 bps in a year
• Provision Coverage Ratio including technical write offs was 88.4% vs 85.9% as at 30th June 2023 and 84.3% as at 30th Sep 2022, improved 410 bps in a year
• Credit cost at 47bps in the normal course of business. Additional 43bps towards building contingency buffers of 100 bps on Credit Cards & Microfinance advances and accelerating provision on provisioning policy change in credit cards
• The total provisions of the Bank including specific, general and contingent at 106% of GNPA

Commenting on the performance, Mr. R Subramaniakumar, MD&CEO, RBL Bank, said “We are happy to announce yet another quarter of improving operating performance. The advances growth was healthy with strong growth in retail segment. Our revenue has grown at healthy pace; operating expenses are stable sequentially, driven by continued cost optimisation. In order to further strengthen the balance sheet and build buffers proactively, we have taken contingent provision on our credit card & microfinance portfolio. We are also pleased with the progress we are making on cross sell opportunity, within the large card and liability base we have, and we expect this to accelerate further going forward.”

• Network

• As of 30th September 2023, the Bank has 528 bank branches and 1,206 business correspondent branches, of which 296 are banking outlets. RBL Finserve Limited (“RBL Finserve”), a 100% subsidiary of the Bank, accounts for 882 business correspondent branches

Key Disclosures:

Reclass of Business Correspondent (BC) charges

In the quarter, the Bank has reclassed charges paid to its BC. Historically, the Bank used to net BC charges against the interest income line, with reason that BCs are paid from the interest income earned on the portfolio. In this quarter, the Bank has reclassed BC charges to the expense line for improved and comparable presentation. This has no impact on Operating Profit and Profit After Tax.

Write-back of tax provisions pertaining to earlier years

During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Bank received income tax orders relating to matter under appeal resulting in write-back of tax provision for earlier years of Rs222.92 crore (pre-tax of Rs297.89 crore). The Bank has prudently used this as follows:

1.Create contingent provisions in its microfinance and credit card segments at 1% of the total advances amounting to Rs252 crore

2.Modifying provisioning policy in credit cards to provide fully on NPA cases at 120 days as against the existing policy of 180 days. The quantum of additional provision taken by the Bank as a result of this change was Rs48 crore.