Leumi Reports 11.3% Return on Equity in the Second Quarter and 9.6% in the First Half of 2017

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --  

• Net income in the first half of 2017 totaled NIS 1,498 million ($429 million), while net income in the second quarter of 2017 totaled NIS  876 million ($251 million). The increase in profitability is reflected in most core business activities.
• Net income in the first half of 2017 reflects a return on equity of 9.6%. Net income in the corresponding period last year included one-time profits mainly from the sale of Visa Europe. When excluding these profits, the return on equity in the corresponding period last year reached 8.4%.
• A significant improvement in the efficiency ratio - 62.2% in the first half of 2017, compared with 69.4% in the corresponding period last year. The efficiency ratio in the second quarter of 2017 was 59.7%, compared with 65.9% in the corresponding period last year.
• Leumi (TASE: LUMI) continues to maintain the highest quality loan portfolio in the banking system in Israel -  credit loss expenses in the first half of 2017 reflected 0.11% of the bank's portfolio, while credit loss expenses in the second quarter of 2017 reflected 0.06% of the portfolio.
• Common equity tier I capital ratio in the first half of 2017reached 11.21%, while the total capital ratio reached 14.99%.
• The Bank will distribute a dividend of NIS 175 million ($50 million) based on second quarter earnings. From the beginning of 2017 dividend payments totaled NIS 300 million ($86 million).
• Net interest income in the first half of 2017 increased by 9.5% compared with the corresponding period last year. Net interest income in the second quarter of 2017 increased by 6.4% compared with the corresponding period last year.
• Noninterest financing income in the first half of 2017 totaled NIS 452 million ($129 million), compared with NIS 558 million ($160 million) in the corresponding period last year. Income in the corresponding period last year included NIS 378 million ($108 million) from the sale of Visa Europe. When excluding this one-time profit, the noninterest financing income increased by NIS 272 million ($78 million) compared with the corresponding period last year.
• Total operating expenses in the first half of 2017 decreased by 6.3% compared with the corresponding period last year. Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2017 decreased by 14.2% compared with the corresponding period last year. The decrease is mainly in salary expenses.

In Accordance with the Bank's Strategy:

• Leumi continues to lead the digital banking field in Israel. During the second quarter of 2017 'Pepper' was officially launched to the general public.
• Continued implementation of efficiency – during the second quarter of 2017 the Bank initiated an additional voluntary early retirement plan for some 500 employees. This plan follows a reduction of some 2,200 employees in the Group's workforce in the past 4 years.
• The Bank continues to selectively grow its loan portfolio, while maintaining a balanced risk management policy. Net loans to the public in the first half of 2017 increased by NIS 2.6 billion ($744 million) compared with the corresponding period last year. Excluding the effect of the shekel appreciation, the increase in loans was approximately NIS 5.5 billion ($1,573 million).

Balance Sheet Parameters:

• The Group's total shareholders' equity as of June 30, 2017 amounted to NIS 32.5 billion ($9.3 billion), compared with NIS 31.3 billion ($9.0 billion) as of December 31, 2016 (an increase of 3.7%).
• The leverage ratio as of June 30, 2017 reached 6.93%, compared to the Bank of Israel minimal threshold of 6%.
• Net loans to the public as of June 30, 2017 amounted to NIS 264.5 billion ($75.7 billion), compared with NIS 261.9 billion ($74.9 billion) as of December 31, 2016.
• Deposits from the public as of June 30, 2017 amounted to NIS 342.8 billion ($98.1 billion), compared with NIS 346.8 billion ($99.2 billion) as of December 31, 2016. The decrease is mainly due to the appreciation of the shekel compared to foreign currencies.

Conference Call Details:

A conference call to discuss the results will be held today at 5 PM (Israel); 3 PM (UK); 10:00 AM (ET). The call will be accompanied by a slide presentation which will be available at Leumi Q2 2017 Financial Results Investor Presentation.

It is recommended to connect to the link at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. An archived recording will be available on the Leumi website one business day after the call ends.

Conference Call Dial-in Details (no passcode required):

Israel                             03-918-0664

UK                                0-800-917-9141

US & Canada               1-866-652-8972

All other locations        +972-3-918-0664

For more information, visit www.leumi.co.il or contact Daphna Golden, VP, Head of Investor Relations, at [email protected]

The conference call does not replace the latest periodic/quarterly reports in which full information is contained, including forward-looking information, as defined in the Israeli Securities Law, and set out in the aforementioned reports.

Leumi Group   - Principal Data from the Financial Statements

SOURCE Bank Leumi