Per week after “Globes” reported on the restrictions that Financial institution Leumi is inserting on offers involving contractors’ loans to homebuyers, the financial institution’s third quarter financials launched this morning include indications of the explanations for the choice. The financial institution’s mortgage mortgage portfolio was 10% bigger on the finish of September this 12 months than it was a 12 months beforehand.
Leumi is at present essentially the most aggressive of the banks in the true property market, and the mortgage numbers divulge to what extent. The financial institution’s mortgage portfolio totaled NIS 143 billion on the finish of September, making it bigger than the business credit score portfolio (NIS 136 billion). Whereas the mortgage portfolio grew 10% year-on-year, credit score to non-public prospects fell 2.6%, credit score to small companies rose by 5.1%, and business credit score rose 0.2%.
On the underside line, Financial institution Leumi posted a 30% rise in web revenue compared with the third quarter of 2023, to NIS 2.3 billion. Internet curiosity earnings rose 15.5% within the quarter to NIS 4.54 billion.
One other issue that boosted revenue within the quarter was a discount within the credit score loss expense, which was 68% decrease than within the corresponding quarter, when the Financial institution of Israel instructed all of the banks to make a normal credit score loss provision. The third quarter credit score loss expense was nonetheless increased than within the second quarter of this 12 months (when the truth is the financial institution recorded web earnings on this merchandise).
Financial institution Leumi’s return on fairness within the third quarter this 12 months was an annualized 15.5%, which compares with 13.6% within the corresponding quarter.
On the finish of October, the Supervisor of Banks convened a gathering of the heads of the banks’ enterprise divisions and instructed them to look at in depth the chance from housing contractors’ particular provides to homebuyers, which usually encompass a 20% down fee and 80% payable on handover. Within the coming months, the banks will most likely increase their credit score loss provisions, because of that examination and in addition so as to be ready for damaging situations because the struggle continues.
Financial institution Leumi states that its third quarter credit score loss expense represents 0.28% of the common steadiness in credit score to the general public. It says that the complete expense is a normal provision, “reflecting a continuation of the conservative and accountable method because the struggle continues. The overall expense was partially offset by earnings from particular person loans that had been collected.”
Leumi’s board has declared a dividend of 40% of the third quarter revenue, amounting to NIS 917 million. NIS 688 million shall be paid in money and the rest within the type of a buyback of the financial institution’s shares. Share buybacks have develop into widespread among the many main banks previously 12 months, after the regulator permitted them. Israel Low cost Financial institution introduced yesterday that it was becoming a member of the development. Up to now this 12 months, Financial institution Leumi’s cumulative dividend is NIS 2.9 billion, of which NIS 2.2 billion is money and NIS 726 million is within the type of share buybacks.
Printed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on November 19, 2024.
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