Cimb Posts 28 Pct Rise In Fy2023 Net Profit, Declares Total Dividend Payout Of Rm4.59 Bln

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- CIMB Group Holdings Bhd posted a strong performance  for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023) with its net profit jumping 28.3 per cent to RM6.98 billion from RM5.44 billion in the preceding year. 

Group chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the better performance was underpinned by robust operating income growth with solid loan and current account savings account (CASA) expansion from all core markets, coupled with lower provisions from prudent risk management and recoveries.

Operating income rose 5.9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM21.01 billion from RM19.84 billion previously, driven by non-interest income which grew strongly by 36.5 per cent to RM6.39 billion from investment and market-related income. 

“This offset the challenging net income margin (NIM) environment caused by the continued elevated cost of deposits with net interest income dipping 3.5 per cent to RM14.63 billion,” he said at CIMB’s FY2023 financial results press conference yesterday. 

Abdul Rahman also announced that CIMB Group has proposed an all-cash second interim dividend of 18.5 sen per share, bringing the total proposed annual dividend to 36 sen per share for a payout ratio of 55 per cent, in line with the group’s dividend policy. 

In addition, the group is also proposing a special dividend payout of RM747 million or seven sen per share, which translates to a record total dividend payout of RM4.59 billion for FY2023, he said. 

CIMB Group saw total gross loans increase by 8.3 per cent to RM440.9 billion while total deposits grew by 8.1 per cent to RM497.7 billion and total CASA expanded to 11.5 per cent y-o-y, underpinned by key countries and segments. 

The bank expects its total loan growth for FY2024 to be in the range of 5.0 to 7.0 per cent, in line with market performance. 

“I think in terms of our loan growth target, we are not constrained by demand. I think demand continues to be positive in terms of economic recovery and growth, and demand for loans continues to be strong.

“I think the constraint for all banks, not just us, is really about the deposit side, whether we have the ability to grow deposits more to manage what we call the NIM compression, which is happening in the industry environment,” he said. 

Abdul Rahman stressed that CIMB Group has set up an achievable loan growth target by raising its deposit to a level that would not put pressure on NIM.

He noted that the cost-to-income ratio was marginally higher y-o-y at 46.9 per cent, with FY2023 operating expenses rising by 6.9 per cent y-o-y from cost inflation and technology investments. 

“This led to the bank’s pre-provisioning operating profit growing 5.1 per cent to RM11.15 billion. 

“Total provisions declined significantly by 26.4 per cent y-o-y, attributed to the moderated credit environment and sustained improvement in asset quality from portfolio reshaping,” he said. 

According to him, CIMB Group continues to be well capitalised as its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio remained strong at 14.5 per cent as at December 2023, with its total capital ratio standing at 18.2 per cent.

On NIM compression, CIMB Group recorded a nine-basis point NIM compression mainly driven by two markets, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“In Singapore, we expanded our margins on a yearly basis because of the flush liquidity. 

“In Malaysia, the NIM compression was mainly due to the very intensified deposit competition that we saw especially in the first half of 2023. We did take some action in terms of moderating that deposit pricing pressure towards the second half of 2023,” he said.

For FY2024, CIMB Group is expecting the NIM margin to be stable and expand around five basis points, mainly driven by the Malaysia market. 

Moving forward, the group will remain vigilant of the global economic uncertainties due to geopolitical tensions and concerns of a slowdown in China, together with continued industry competition for deposits, he said. 

“Our priority remains on completing our Forward23+ strategic plan and delivering on key focus areas, such as strong Preferred Banking and wealth management, strengthening our CASA and deposit franchise, and balance sheet management to improve NIM regionally. 

“Accordingly, we are confident in continuing the momentum of positive financial performance where we are currently on track to meet our FY2024 targets across most profitability metrics,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA