OREANDA-NEWS. Swedbank Lithuania net profit for 2015 amounted to EUR 85m, a decrease of 21 per cent year-on-year (EUR 108m in 2014). The decrease was mainly due to lower income as well as credit impairments.

‘In 2015 the banking sector operated in a record-low interest rate environment that put pressure on Swedbank’s net interest income. Besides, revenue from international payments and foreign exchange dropped following euro introduction. Nevertheless, Swedbank’s performance improved from quarter to quarter throughout the year and we managed to maintain strong efficiency. In addition, we saw a positive trend in financing to private clients. New lending in consumer loans and mortgages grew by nearly 40 per cent compared with 2014’, said Dovile Grigiene, Head of Swedbank Lithuania.

Loans and deposits

Lending volumes in 2015 stayed close to flat compared with 2014 and in total, the loan portfolio amounted to EUR 4.0bn. The increase was in lending to private individuals by 9 per cent and included both mortgages and consumer finance. Corporate lending decreased by 9 per cent compared with year-end 2014.

Deposit volumes increased by 8 per cent during the year. Private deposits grew by 9 per cent while corporate deposits were up 3 per cent. The total deposit portfolio amounted to EUR 5.3bn. The gross loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 76 per cent (82 per cent in 2014).

Credit quality

In 2015, Swedbank Lithuania reported credit impairments of EUR 3m, while in 2014 net recoveries of EUR 9m were reported.

Gross impaired loans continued to decline throughout the year and amounted to EUR 106m (EUR 128m 2014).

Revenues and costs

Total income decreased by EUR 26m in 2015 and amounted to EUR 184m. During the year net interest income decreased by 12 per cent due to pressure from low market interest rates. In total, net interest income amounted to EUR 97m in 2015. Net commission income amounted to EUR 72m, a 3 percent decrease compared with 2014.

Total expenses decreased by 13 per cent during the year and amounted to EUR 84m for 2015.

The cost-income ratio for 2015 stood at 45.6 per cent (45.9 per cent in 2014).

Swedbank Lithuania has paid EUR 37m in taxes to the state budget for the period January – December 2015.

Swedbank reached an agreement with Danske Bank to acquire its retail banking business in Lithuania and Latvia. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in both Lithuania and Latvia and is scheduled to close in the first half-year 2016.

On January 1st 2016 Lithuania joined the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Swedbank Lithuania was actively involved in this process and provided all information necessary on the coming changes for both corporate and private clients.