I&M Group posted a profit after tax of Ksh 6.1 billion for the first six months of 2024, reflecting a 21.1% rise from the Ksh 5 billion recorded in the same period of 2023.
“We are pleased to record an impressive growth of 21% in Profit before Tax in our first half of the year. Our focus on offering relevant financial solutions for Kenyans like free bank to M-PESA & Airtel Money transactions to individuals and Solo Biz owners, strategic branch expansion and ecosystem partnerships has resulted in significant growth in our customer numbers and increase in deposit balances,” Mr. Gul Khan, I&M Bank CEO commented.
Customer loans expanded by 5.3% year-over-year, moving from Ksh 269.7 billion in the first half of 2023 to Ksh 284.2 billion in the first half of 2024. The bank also reported a 5.0% drop in gross non-performing loans (NPLs), which declined to Ksh 34.8 billion from Ksh 36.7 billion during the same timeframe last year.
Despite the improvement in NPLs, I&M Group raised its loan loss provision by 8.2%, increasing it from Ksh 3.2 billion in H1 2023 to Ksh 3.5 billion in H1 2024.
I&M Group’s total revenue grew by 18.5%, reaching Ksh 22.7 billion, compared to Ksh 19.1 billion in the first half of 2023. This growth was fueled by a notable 46.1% increase in interest income, which amounted to Ksh 31.1 billion, up from Ksh 21.3 billion in the previous year.
Net interest income also saw a significant rise of 35.2%, reaching Ksh 16.5 billion, compared to Ksh 12.2 billion in the first half of 2023. However, the bank experienced a 10.9% drop in non-interest income, which fell to Ksh 6.2 billion from Ksh 6.9 billion in the prior year. The group’s total assets also experienced a notable 12.1% growth, climbing to Ksh 564.4 billion from Ksh 503.5 billion in the first half of 2023.
Operating expenses for the bank increased by 15.8% to Ksh 10.8 billion, up from Ksh 9.3 billion in H1 2023. Interest expenses also saw a substantial surge of 60.8%, reaching Ksh 14.6 billion, compared to Ksh 9.1 billion in the same period last year. Despite the rise in expenses, I&M Group maintained a cost-to-income ratio of 47.7%.
The shareholders’ equity of I&M Group increased by 10.5% to Ksh 86.4 billion, up from Ksh 78.2 billion in the first half of 2023. Additionally, the bank’s share price saw a significant rise, climbing to Ksh 21.55 from Ksh 17.05 in H1 2023.
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During the first half of 2024, I&M Group’s regional subsidiaries boosted their contribution to the Group’s operating income to 30%, up from 28% in 2023, with 83% of the region’s customers being digitally active.
I&M Tanzania saw its operating income grow by 25% to Ksh 1.8 billion, with operating profit increasing by 50%. However, there was a 3% decline in total assets and a 6% decrease in loans and advances in Ksh (though loans grew by 12% in TZS). Customer deposits increased by 2% in Ksh (and 22% in TZS).
I&M Uganda recorded a 22% rise in operating income and a 54% growth in operating profit, with total assets increasing by 4% to Ksh 34 billion, while loans and deposits grew by 3% and 7%, respectively. Meanwhile, I&M Rwanda reported a 37% increase in operating income and a 59% rise in net profit.