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Unity Bank Grows 34% Pre-tax Profit, Records N23B Gross Earnings in H1 2021

Unity Bank has grown with 34% Pre-tax Profit and recorded N23B Gross Earnings in H1 2021.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc has declared a half-year result posting gross earnings of 23.6 billion Naira, which is a 3% increase compared with the corresponding period of 2020.

A review of the unaudited half year result (H1’2021) released to the Nigerian Stock
Exchange, the Agric-focused lender showed notable improvement across key
financial matrices. The Bank grew bottom-line by 34% as Profit before Tax (PBT)
moved up significantly in positive territory to close at N1.50 billion from N1.12 billion
recorded in H2 2020.

Similarly, the Profit After Tax, PAT closed at N1.38 billion within the period under
review from N1.03 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, a sign of a
stronger recovery in the overall economy and the Bank’s key focus market segment
after a disruptive pandemic year.

A major highlight of the result is the growth in the Bank’s loan book, which saw a
22% increase to N246.90 billion within the period compared to N202.08 billion
recorded in H2 2020.

The lender also sustained growth trajectory in its assets as total assets for the period
rose by 11% to N547.37 billion from N492.02 billion as of December 31, 2020.

Other highlights of the financial statement include a 21% jump in fee and
commission income to N3.07 billion from N2.54 billion in the corresponding period
of 2020; and N9.87 billion upticks in net interest incomes, representing a 9%
increase from the N9.06 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.

Interest and similar income also rose though recording a marginal 2% growth to
close at N20.27 billion compared to the N19.79 billion recorded in half-year 2020.
Earnings per share rose by 3 kobo to close at 11.82 Kobo within the period compared
to 8.82 Kobo recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.

The financial report also contained the details of the three months to June 2021 (Q2
2021) report showed that the Bank recorded a 17% leap in gross income to N12.32
billion from N10.50 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2020.

Pre-tax profit for the period closed at N718.0 million, a 31% increased from N546.35
million recorded in Q2 2020, while Profit After Tax equally closed at N660.57 million
from N502.65 million recorded in the corresponding review period.

Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi
Somefun noted encouraging trends in key performance indicators driving the
numbers reported in the H1 result, in that the Bank is beginning to reflect greater
consistency, steady outlook and resilience that places it on a performance pedestal
ahead of the volatilities in the operating environment occasioned partly by the
prevailing global pandemic and other market shocks that have far-reaching
implications in the local and foreign economies.

The double digits growth recorded in both earnings and profits, she further added,
was the result of a portfolio plan which the Bank set out in the beginning of the year
to diversify its portfolio whilst incrementally pursuing asset creation in
petrochemical downstream, consumer, healthcare and general commerce with
agribusiness providing the bulwark for identified business and brand benefits.

She stated that the Bank will be looking to strengthen its balance sheet from the
liability side as it continues to grow its brand franchise in many areas of the retail
market by promoting and leveraging its Agriculture value chain businesses as an
offshoot to achieve better performance ratios that enable it expand the scope of
business for even greater outcome.

Analysts share the optimism on the growth trajectory achieved on the back of
contributions from diverse portfolio investments which is a radical departure from
the past.