The result underscores the bank’s steady momentum amid higher funding costs and a competitive lending environment.
Strong loan growth and expanding earning assets pushed interest income up 13 percent, driving net interest income higher by 15 percent to P53.5 billion.
Chinabank maintained a healthy 4.6 percent margin while fee-based income rose to P3.1 billion on robust trust and bancassurance commissions.
Industry-leading profit indicators
It maintained solid profitability metrics, posting a return on equity of 15.3 percent and a return on assets of 1.6 percent—among the highest in the local banking industry.
Even with a 15-percent increase in operating expenses to P25.3 billion, the bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 45 percent, reflecting tighter cost control and greater operating efficiency.
It also boosted provisions to P7 billion, raising its non-performing loan coverage to 123 percent.
Assets at P1.7 trillion
Total assets grew 8 percent to P1.7 trillion, supported by a 14-percent rise in gross loans to P994 billion as demand from corporate and consumer borrowers remained firm.
Deposits increased 9 percent to P1.4 trillion, anchored by double-digit growth in checking and savings accounts. The non-performing loan ratio improved to 1.6 percent, reflecting the bank’s prudent credit strategy.
Capital strength remained solid, with total capital up 13 percent to P184.4 billion. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 15.8 percent and its common equity tier 1 ratio at 15 percent, well above regulatory thresholds.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
