Net profit of NIS 2,835 million ($727 million) for Leumi in 2015

Capital Adequacy

  • The core capital ratio (Tier I) at 31.12.15 reached 9.58%, compared to a ratio of 9.09% as of 31.12.14.
  • On February 2016 the Bank announced several steps aimed at improving capital adequacy, including, among others, purchasing an insurance policy for guarantees given by the Bank to secure housing loans, and issuing Leumi shares to employees in place of rights. These steps are expected to improve the Bank's capital ratio by 0.6%.
  • On January 2016 Leumi raised NIS 926 million ($237 million) by issuing contingent convertible bonds (CoCo bonds), which will improve the Bank's capital adequacy ratio.

In accordance with the Bank's strategy:

  • Leumi exits its private banking operations in Europe with the closing of Leumi Switzerland and Leumi Luxembourg.
  • Efficiency:
    • Leumi completed the merger of the 'Arab-Israel Bank' into Bank Leumi at December 31, 2015.
    • The Retail Banking Division undergoes a structural change that includes downsizing the Division's head office and Regional headquarters.
    • In accordance with the efficiency program, the Bank's workforce decreased by 420 employees during 2015.
    • A decrease of NIS 240 million ($62 million) in operational salary expenses.

Leumi continues to lead the digital banking field in Israel:

  • On January 2016 the Digital Banking Division was established. The Division is responsible for leading and carrying out the digital strategy across the Bank and the Group, including implementation of innovative digital products in all business lines.

  • During 2016 the Digital Bank will begin its operations, allowing customers to manage their banking operations entirely through their mobile phone.

Leumi reports an improvement in balance sheet parameters compared with 2014:

  • Net return on equity for the year 2015 reached 10.3%, compared with 5.4% in 2014.
  • The efficiency ratio at the end of 2015 stood at 65.9%.
  • The Bank's credit portfolio increased by 3.5% and amounted to NIS 261.4 billion ($67.0 billion).
    • Credit to middle-market companies in Israel, including the high-tech sector, increased by 6.2% and amounted to NIS 33.7 billion ($8.6 billion).
    • Credit to small businesses in Israel increased by 8.6% and amounted to NIS 24.9 billion ($6.4 billion).
  • Credit loss expenses in 2015 decreased by NIS 273 million ($70 million) compared with 2014 and amounted to NIS 199 million ($51 million), reflecting 0.08% of the Bank's credit portfolio.

Additional data from the report:

  • Shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 28.8 billion ($7.4 billion), compared with NIS 25.8 billion ($6.6 billion) as of December 31, 2014 (an increase of 11.5%).
  • Capital adequacy ratio (in Basel lll terms) as of December 31, 2015 reached 13.74%, of which the core capital ratio was 9.58%, compared with 9.09% as of December 31, 2014.
  • Total assets under management of the Group as of December 31, 2015, balance sheet and off-balance sheet assets, amounted to NIS 1,214 billion ($311 billion), compared with NIS 1,223 billion ($313 billion) as of December 31, 2014 (a decrease of 0.7%).
  • Total assets of the Group as of December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 416.5 billion ($106.7 billion), compared with NIS 397 billion ($101.7 billion) as of December 31, 2014 (an increase of 4.9%).
  • Net credit to the public as of December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 261.4 billion ($67 billion), compared with NIS 252.5 billion ($64.7 billion) as of December 31, 2014 (an increase of 3.5%).
  • Deposits of the public as of December 31, 2015 amounted to NIS 328.7 billion ($84.2 billion), compared with NIS 303.4 billion ($77.8 billion) as of December 31, 2014 (an increase of 8.3%).

Bank Leumi le-Israel Ltd. issued this content on 29 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 February 2016 08:17:18 UTC

Original Document: http://english.leumi.co.il/Articles/38232/