MUMBAI, July 14: ABN Amro Bank has posted a 68 per cent rise in its net profit to Rs 65.07 crore in 1997-98, compared with Rs 38.78 crore in the previous year. The bank's operating profit for the period stood at 115.06 crore, an increase of 36.48 per cent over Rs 84.3 crore in the previous year.The bank's deposits in March 1998 stood at Rs 1,458.74 crore, up by 30.17 per cent over the 1996-97 figure of Rs 1,120.57 crore while advances increased to Rs 1,547.58 crore, up by 34.68 per cent from Rs 1,149 crore.
The bank's non-performing assets as a percentage of net advances declined to 0.42 per cent from 1.15 per cent. The capital adequacy ratio improved to 9.82 per cent from 9.16 per cent.
The bank's results also reflect the industrywide trend of reducing spreads. The ratio of interest income to working funds (WF) declined to 9.64 per cent in 1997-98 compared with 13.03 per cent in 1996-97 while the non-interest income stood to working funds at 3.75 per cent and 3.97 per cent respectively. Operatingprofits to working funds was 4.03 per cent compared with 5.13 per cent in 1996-97. The return on average assets improved to 2.33 per cent in 1997-98 compared with 2.08 per cent in the preceding fiscal. Business per employee stood at Rs 6.49 crore, up from Rs 5.68 crore while net profit per employee stood at Rs 14.11 lakh, higher than Rs 9.74 lakh.
ABN Amro Bank is moving towards being a full services player in the country. The bank has set up ABN Amro Equities (India) and ABN Amro Securities (India), and will operationalise its money market mutual fund during the current year. On the retail front, the bank has launched its consumer banking initiative.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.