Arab News, Tue, May 28, 2024 | Dhu al-Qadah 20, 1445
Saudi Arabia’s top banks see 8% earnings surge to $5bn in Q1
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia’s top 10 listed banks saw their earnings surge by 8 percent in the
first quarter of 2024, reaching SR18.65 billion ($5 billion) compared to the
corresponding period of the previous year.
The increase in earnings can be attributed to
several factors, including an 11 percent growth in lending and a rising interest
rate environment that has heightened the cost of credit.
According to the latest data from the Saudi
Central Bank, loans reached SR2.67 trillion by the end of March, with a growth
rate surpassing deposits, which increased by 8 percent.
Meanwhile, research by Kamco Invest indicated that
data from Gulf Cooperation Council central banks showed that, despite higher
interest rates, outstanding credit facilities in the region continued to expand
during the first quarter of 2024.
This growth was driven by widespread increases
across all seven countries, highlighting the resilience of the financial sector.
The robust expansion in lending reflects a broader trend of economic growth and
investment within the Gulf region, demonstrating the strength and stability of
its financial systems.
Their analysis showed that lending growth was
strong compared to last year, with each country experiencing significant
increases. This robust lending growth reflects a solid project pipeline, as
aggregate contract awards in the GCC rose by 20.3 percent year-on-year, reaching
$45 billion in the first quarter of 2024, up from $37.4 billion in the same
period last year.
S&P Global forecasts robust credit growth for
banks in the Kingdom, ranging between 8 to 9 percent in 2024. This expansion is
expected to be driven by corporate lending, fueled by increased economic
activities stemming from the Vision 2030 program.
In March, Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed a
positive outlook for Saudi Arabia’s banking sector. This endorsement was based
on the Kingdom’s economic diversification programs and the growth of loans for
low-risk government-backed projects. These initiatives are expected to enhance
loan performance and contribute to robust profits in the banking sector.
Moody’s emphasized that Saudi Arabian banks
anticipate a low nonperforming loan ratio and possess substantial
loss-absorption capacity. Furthermore, their capital ratios rank among the
highest in the Middle East region.
Furthermore, there is anticipation that the Saudi
government and its affiliated entities will inject deposits into the banking
system, thus providing additional support for the credit expansion of financial
institutions in the Kingdom.
In this quarter, Saudi National Bank reported the
highest earnings among the top 10 banks, reaching SR5.04 billion, followed by Al
Rajhi Bank, which had earnings totaling SR4.41 billion.
According to Forbes 2024 MENA’s 30 most valuable
banks list, Saudi Arabia accounted for a third of the entries, with 10 banks
featured. Al Rajhi Bank continued to lead the list, with its market value
increasing by $21.7 billion over the past 12 months to reach $96.6 billion.
Following closely, Saudi National Bank holds a
market value of $68.2 billion.
Despite representing just 7 percent of the total
revenues of listed banks in the first quarter, Alinma Bank’s growth
significantly contributed to the overall increase. It experienced a 36 percent
surge compared to the same period last year, reaching SR1.31 billion.
The bank attributed these positive results to
increases in net income from financing and investment, banking service fees,
income from evaluating investments at fair value, and other revenue streams.
According to S&P Global, Saudi banks are
anticipated to adopt alternative funding strategies to manage the swift
expansion in lending, driven by the increasing demand for new mortgages.
Even as the Saudi government and affiliated
entities are poised to inject deposits into the banking system, Saudi banks are
projected to persist in accessing international capital markets. This trend is
expected to endure for the next three to five years.