Ime Akpan
In spite of slow recovery in economic activities in Nigeria, the total assets of United Bank for Africa Plc grew by 19.7 percent to an unprecedented N4.9 trillion for the year ending December 2018.
The group managing director/chief executive officer of the bank, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, disclosed this in a submission while presenting the bank’s 2018 full year results at international investors/analysts conference call in Lagos recently.
He said the growth was driven largely by a strong deposit growth of 23 per cent “as the drive for retail deposits continue to yield desired results.”
“Leveraging on enhanced customer service, the group grew retail deposits by 48 per cent, thus strengthening the funding base and providing the foundation for lower cost of funds in 2019.
“Notably, the growth in balance sheet also partly reflects the impact of exchange rate difference between the reporting dates (2017: N331/USD vs. 2018: N359/USD), as 37 per cent of loans and 27 per cent of overall balance sheet is FCY-denominated.
“The Group maintained its appetite for a well-diversified balance sheet, with over 60 per cent in liquid, low risk instruments,” he added.
Uzoka further said the bank recorded impressive growths achieved across major financial lines, recording a 48 percent year-on-year growth in retail deposits and improved CASA ratio to 77 per cent.
He said UBA’s gross earnings grew by 7.0 per cent to N494.0 billion, compared to N461.6 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.
Throwing more light on the financials, he stated that gross earnings grew by 7 per cent year-on-year, despite regulation and market conditions undermined the non-interest income line.
Interest income, which contributed 73 per cent of gross earnings, grew by 11 per cent, driven by strong interest income on treasuries, reflecting the low-risk appetite and treasury-led strategy adopted during the year.
He noted that the lower non-interest income was occasioned by market condition and regulatory impact on foreign exchange trading income, adding that growing volume on FX trading is compensating for lower margin on this business, thus reinforcing our positive growth expectation on this income line in 2019.
Speaking on the strength of the financial institution in the coming years, especially on the back of its African and non-African subsidiaries, Uzoka said the bank’s recent foray into key markets and economies remain a milestone that will catapult the institution in the coming years.
“UBA is a unique pan-African franchise with diversified risk and earnings across fast growing African economies with sound governance, risk management and compliance culture which can be seen from our adherence to international best practice. Our robust digital banking platform through which we are leveraging technology to serve over 15 million customers in a cost efficient approach that has helped to deepen African banking penetration.
“We have the strong financial capacity backed by high capitalization (BASEL II capital ratio well above requirement) and strong liquidity, and we have worked hard towards connecting Africa and the world through our presence in key African markets and major global financial centres such as New York, London and Paris,” he said.
He assured the bank’s local and international investors that the financial institution’s prudent focus on improved asset quality, as well as the continuous adoption of strict cost efficient measures, will help the bank achieve its objectives and priorities for the 2019 financial year and beyond.
That, he said, will culminate into an institution with even stronger indices laced with the capacity to churn out strong double-digit growth in annuity-based trade services, enhanced offerings and improved customer service.
He added that the bank had instituted a number of enhanced risk management and control framework which have in no small measure contributed to its financial performances and overall balance sheet growth over the years.