By Dipo Olowookere
The largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, QNB Group, has announced its results for the nine months ended September 30, recording the highest in the history of QNB Group.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net profit increased to QAR10.3 billion ($2.8 billion), up by 6 percent compared to last year, demonstrating QNB Group’s success in maintaining robust growth while controlling costs.
Total assets reached QAR792 billion ($218 billion), up by 11 percent from September 2016, the highest ever achieved by the Group.
This was driven by a growth rate of 14 percent in loans and advances to reach QAR579 billion ($159 billion).
Further, QNB Group’s deposit mobilisation efforts helped increase customer funding by 15 percent to reach QAR574 billion ($158 billion) from September 2016.
This led to the reduction in the Group’s loans to deposits ratio to 100.8 percent, compared with 101.3 percent in September 2016. This clearly demonstrates the success of QNB’s strategy to diversify its funding sources.
QNB Group’s efficiency ratio (cost to income ratio) dropped to 29 percent, from 30.1 percent, due to prudent cost controls and strong revenue generating capabilities.
The Group was able to maintain the ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans at 1.8 percent and coverage ratio reaching 111 percent, which effectively demonstrate high quality of Group’s loan book and robust management of credit risk.
In September 2017, QNB Group successfully completed the issuance of Formosa bonds under its Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) programme and listed on the Taipei Stock Exchange.
Under this programme, a $630 million tranche was issued with a maturity of 30 years callable every 5 years. The issuance was part of QNB Group’s on-going strategy to ensure diversification of funding in terms of type, tenor and geography.
Also the above is an example of a highly diversified international and local funding base spread across various geographies in terms of currencies, tenors and product mix.
During July, QNB Group commenced its operations in the city of Mumbai, the economic capital of the Republic of India. This network expansion comes in support of its vision to become a leading bank in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia by 2020, in addition to establishing a foothold in highly competitive markets.
Total Equity increased by 2 percent from September 2016 to reach QAR77 billion ($21 billion) as at 30 September 2017. Earnings per Share reached QAR10.7 ($2.95) for the nine months ended 30 September 2017, compared to QAR10.3 ($2.83) last year.
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) calculated as per the QCB and Basel III requirements stood at 15.4 percent as at 30 September 2017 (18.0 percent including profitability up to 30 September 2017), higher than the regulatory minimum requirements of the Qatar Central Bank and Basel Committee.
Also it should be noted that QNB is now the most valuable banking brand in the MEA region, with the value of its brand increased to $3.8 billion, to rise to the 60th place globally, in addition to attaining the highest rating of AA+ in brand strength, making it the only Qatari banking brand among the world’s top 100.
The total number of staff for the Group is more than 27,800 operating from 1,230 locations and 4,200 ATMs serving more than 21 million customers.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale