OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings Indonesia has assigned PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jambi (Bank Jambi) a National Long-Term Rating of 'A(idn)'. The Outlook is Stable.

'A' Long-Term National Ratings denote expectations of low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment to a greater degree than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

The rating reflects Fitch's view that Bank Jambi is important to the regional government of Jambi province on Sumatra island. Bank Jambi is owned by the government of Jambi province (27.32%), and by the government of municipalities (16.94%) and government of regencies (55.72%) in Jambi province. Although Bank Jambi is a small bank in the Indonesian banking industry (0.1% of system assets at end-June 2016), it has a strong franchise in Jambi (around 20% market share by assets) and has an important role in supporting development in the region. Based on its regional significance, Fitch expects potential, but limited, support from the central government due to its lower systemic importance compared with other larger banks in Indonesia.

Strong support from the shareholders to Bank Jambi is evidenced in annual capital injections since 2012. The bank's Fitch Core Capital and Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios were 25.8% and 23.1%, respectively, at end-June 2016, higher than the industry Tier 1 average of 20.0%. Fitch expects further capital support from the shareholders to support the growth of Bank Jambi's business.

Bank Jambi's asset quality is likely to remain manageable as 94% of the bank's loan portfolio comprises lower-risk loans to civil servants. The quality of these consumer loans remained sound at end-June 2016, with this segment's non-performing loan (NPL) ratio low at 0.2%. Excluding consumer loans, the NPL ratio has come down from peak of 18.0% at mid-2015 to around 5.5% at end-June 2016. The bank's total NPL ratio was 1.0% at end-June 2016.

Bank Jambi's return on assets stood at 1.8% at end-June 2016, lower than historic levels due higher credit costs and below its development bank peers' average of around 2%. Fitch believes it will take some time for the bank to significantly expand its low-cost deposit franchise, which will be important for it to sustain profitability and manage liquidity.

Its loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 97.9% at end-June 2016, above the industry average of 91.1%. The bank has a high deposit concentration risk, with its top 20 depositors accounting for around 70% of its total deposits, which means it faces higher risk of liquidity problems if there is any significant drawdown of funds by depositors.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Downward rating pressure may arise from a weakening of the regional and central government's ability and/or propensity to provide extraordinary financial support to Bank Jambi. However, Fitch believes this to be a remote prospect in the near to medium term. Deterioration in the bank's standalone financial profile is unlikely to impact its National Ratings, as its rating is driven by expectation of support from the government.

Upside potential for the bank's National Ratings may arise if Fitch is of the view that the bank's importance to the local economy has increased, such that the regional and central government have greater propensity to provide extraordinary financial support to Bank Jambi. Upside potential may also arise from considerable improvement in the bank's standalone profile, such as if it successfully closes the gap with its larger Indonesian peers in terms of the size of operations, assets and risk management, while maintaining sound asset quality, high core capitalisation and healthy profitability with predominantly low-cost funding base. However, Fitch views this as unlikely to happen in the near to medium term.