FBN Holdings Plc reported net interest income of N61.463 billion in the third quarter of 2020, slightly down from N61.836 billion posted in the same quarter of 2019.
In the unaudited financial statement filed through the Nigerian Stock Exchange, FBN Holdings Net Interest income after impairment charge for losses also declined to N45.446 billion during the period under review, down from N55.483 billion filed in the corresponding quarter of 2019.
Fee and commission income grew from N26.988 billion in the third quarter of 2019 to N31.810 billion in the same quarter of 2020.
The surged in fee and commission bolstered operating profit to N21.738 billion, up from N18.223 billion filed in 2019.
Profit before tax stood at N21.910 billion in 2020 from N18.223 billion recorded in 2019. While profit after tax rose to N18.723 billion from N18.223 billion filed in the corresponding quarter of 2019.
The strong third quarter performance was not surprising given what the Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. UK Eke, told shareholders in the last AGM.
He said “in line with the commitment to supporting our customers and providing leadership in the financial services industry, we will continue to provide unfettered access to financial services to our customers and address their needs. We are working in line with the guidance of the regulators including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in providing access to funding as we seek to kick-start the economy and drive growth.”
He assured stakeholders that overall, “the impact on our business has been broadly in line with our expectations, and our resilience, breadth of offerings, and investment in alternative channels have ensured that the Group is able to cushion the effect and thrive.”
“More fundamentally, the Group has begun to reap the dividend of its investment in technology that has enhanced the earning capacity of the business and expanded our market reach,” Eke said.
