BUSINESS REPORTER
Financial services provider, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, has reported a ZWL$744bn in the 12 months to December 31, 2024, a 210% increase from ZWL$240 bn reported in the previous year.
Stanbic Bank CEO, Solomon Nyanhongo said inflation adjusted net interest income closed the period at ZWL$429bn, exceeding prior period income of ZWL$299bn by 44%.
“This growth was largely spurred by the increased demand for both foreign currency and local currency funding by our customers. This in turn saw new lending assets in both foreign and local currency being written during the period,” Nyanhongo said.
He said during the year under review, demand for foreign currency loans was elevated, supported by the continued migration of business operations from local to foreign currency.
Fees and commission income improved by 171% to ZWL$471 bn up from ZWL$174 bn.
Nyanhongo attributed the growth in Stanbic Bank’s inflation adjusted fee and commission income to the uplift in its foreign currency denominated commission.
He said increased volumes of foreign currency denominated transactions were processed on the Bank’s various service channels during the year 2023 as business operations had shifted significantly from local to foreign currency owing to the depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar currency against the United States of America dollar.
“In addition, new customers were acquired during the period supported by an improvement in customer transactability as the usage of foreign currency in the market increased. A net release of ZWL50 billion was recorded in expected credit loss allowances during the year, improving from a net raise of ZWL$55 bn in the previous period,” Nyanhongo said.
He said the release in expected credit loss allowances was largely driven by the improvement in the quality of Stanbic’s lending book following the February 2023 interest rate reduction from 200% to 150%. This saw some customers settling the previously reported loan arrears thereby contributing to a reduction in the value of stage 2 facilities on which lifetime impairments are recognized.
Nyanhongo said the Bank’s customer deposit base grew by 90% in real terms from ZWL$1.7 trillion in 2022 to ZWL$3.3 trillion largely boosted by growth in both foreign currency and local currency deposits as new customers were acquired combined with an increase in wallet share on existing customers.
“The Bank continues to drive value chain support including funding of out-growers in the agriculture sector particularly in tobacco, dairy production, and horticulture to improve both food security and foreign currency generation in the country,” said Nyanhongo. He acknowledged the support of the bank’s clients.
“My sincere gratitude goes to our esteemed customers for their relentless support and commitment which has contributed immensely to the success of the Bank,” Nyanhongo said.
He also paid tribute to the Stanbic Bank’s board, management and staff for proving their resilience and sharp focus during 2023, who all did not hesitate to share ideas and put their best foot forward.
Stanbic Bank chairman, Gregory Sebborn said the institution ended the year with a qualifying core capital of ZWL$912.8 bn up from ZWL$83.5bn in 2022, which is equivalent to US$149.5m against the regulatory minimum in the local currency equivalent of US$30m.
