The SpareBank 1 SR-Bank group achieved a profit before tax of NOK 121 million after the third quarter, compared with NOK 308 million after the corresponding period last year. The underlying banking operation contributed with a profit before losses of NOK 478 million so far this year, an improvement of NOK 18 million compared with last year. The group's return on equity capital is 2.8 % after tax, compared with 10.8 % after the third quarter of 2001.

 

There is a loss of NOK 74 million before tax in the third quarter of 2002. The corresponding quarter last year showed a profit of NOK 64 million.

 

So far this year, the bank's current portfolio of shares and primary capital certificates has had a yield of -27.2 % compared with -9.6 % by the end of the third quarter last year.

 

The group's ordinary activities show an interest margin (2.08 %) after the third quarter of 2002 at about the same level as for the corresponding period last year (2.11 %). Net commission income has increased by 17 % compared with last year. The cost-effectiveness remains good, and measured in relation to average total assets, costs constituted 1.68 after the third quarter compared with 1.69 % last year. So far this year the group has posted net losses of NOK 140 million, which is NOK 50 million more than last year. Net losses amount to approximately 0.4 % of gross annual lending. The default volume is stabile.

 

The growth in lending continues to level off with a 12-month growth of 6 %, down from 11 % as of 31 December 2001. The volume in deposits shows a 12-month growth of 16 %, compared with 9 % at the end of last year. The deposit coverage has been strengthened from 54.9 % at the beginning of the year to 59.0 % as of 30 September 2002.

 

The bank is still strong with a core capital of 7.66 % and a capital adequacy ratio of 11.58 % not including the result so far this year. SpareBank 1 SR-Bank has a target for the core capital of 8 % and a capital adequacy ratio of 12 %.

The group's net commission income amounted to NOK 221 million at the end of the third quarter, an increase of NOK 32 million compared with the corresponding period last year. Payment services, insurance and underwriting commission in particular contribute to the growth. The commission costs have been reduced, mainly as a result of reduced intermediary commission costs. Income from sale of mutual funds/unit trusts and guaranteed products so far this year is approximately at the same level as for the same period last year.

 

Total dividends and income from ownership interests have been reduced by NOK 105 million compared with last year. The negative share of the result from the SpareBank 1 group so far this year amounts to NOK 124 million, compared with NOK -40 million as of the third quarter last year. In addition, investments in Odin money market funds have so far this year yielded NOK 21 million less than last year.

 

The total capital loss of NOK 73 million consists of a loss of NOK 91 million on the current portfolio of shares and primary capital certificates, gains of NOK 20 million in the currency sector and a capital loss of NOK 2 million on certificates and bonds. The market value of the current portfolio of shares and primary capital certificates was NOK 215 million as of 30 September 2002.

 

Operating costs

The group's operating costs have amounted to NOK 619 million so far this year. Compared with total assets, this amounts to 1.68 % compared with 1.69 % for the same period last year. The corresponding figures for the parent bank so far this year and last year is 1.46 % and 1.47 % respectively. The group's nominal operating costs so far this year are NOK 46 million (+8 %) higher than last year's. Personnel costs are the main contributor to this growth. The reasons are the general wage increases, the effect of newly established banking offices so far this year and increased activity in EiendomsMegler 1 over the course of 2001. The average total man-years has increased from 791 last year to 800 so far this year.

Westbroker Finans AS has a profit before tax of NOK 13 million so far this year. The corresponding figure last year was NOK 24 million, and the reduction is mainly due to the sale of the housing loan portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2001. The activity in the company is aimed at leasing and project financing. The profit before tax in EiendomsMegler 1 amounts to NOK 12 million so far this year compared with NOK 10 million last year. There is still a good trend as regards the number of sales in the private market, while the commercial market is somewhat down.

 

SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS

SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS had a loss of NOK 954.5 million after tax in the third quarter 2002. This is the result among other things of extraordinary write-downs of goodwill and added value in the amount of NOK 593 million and the negative development in the securities markets. The loss in SpareBank 1 Livsforsikring as of the third quarter constituted NOK 696.2 million. The group has entered to income additional allocations of NOK 354 million before tax relating to the life insurance company.  SpareBank 1 SR-Bank's share of the negative contribution amounts to NOK 124 million so far this year compared with NOK -40 million as of 30 September 2001.

 

The SpareBank 1 group has now implemented a comprehensive program for improving the efficiency. The objective is to realize annual efficiency gains of NOK 234 million, with full effect from 2004. The program will also require a staff reduction of 125 man-years.

New initiatives

The bank has implemented a comprehensive improvement program - "Best in Banking" - to strengthen the underlying banking operations further. The program involves all employees, and the purpose is to identify all possibilities for improvement as regards costs, income, quality and customer service.

We have great expectations for the effect of this action plan with the objective of making the bank one of the premier banks in Norway as regards return on equity capital and customer satisfaction.

At the end of September, the market price for the bank's primary capital certificates was NOK 238, compared with NOK 247 at the beginning of the year. The number of primary capital certificate owners was reduced by 54 in the third quarter to 6 080. The bank has purchased 33 150 of its own primary capital certificates in the third quarter. However, on 2 October the bank sold 44 623 of its own primary capital certificates to employees in connection with employee placings. At the end of the quarter, the percentage owned by foreigners was 16.2 %, while 44.4 % of the owners are linked to Rogaland. The 20 largest owners owned 37.3 % of the certificates.

 

 

Based on the very weak development in the securities markets so far this year as well as extraordinary write-downs in the SpareBank 1 group, the Board does not anticipate a satisfactory return for 2002. However, the underlying operations are good and are expected to provide a good contribution also in the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

The Board is pleased with the measures that have been implemented for improving the operations and competitiveness of SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS. Based on the internal improvement programs in SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, the Board expects additional improvement of the group's underlying operations.

 

Business and industry in the region are influenced by the conditions for activities exposed to international competition. A sustained development with a combination of a strong Norwegian currency, high increases in wage costs and a big interest difference in relation to the euro area will reduce the possibilities as regards creation of value and employment.

 

 

***

 

For full 3rd Quarter report, including financial tables, please use the following link:

 

 

 

Stavanger, 24 October 2002

The Board of Directors of Sparebanken Rogaland

 

Please direct any questions to Managing Director Terje Vareberg, telephone +47 51 50 95 53 / +47 911 00 448, Deputy Managing Director Sveinung Hestnes, telephone +47 51 50 95 58 / +47 908 53 165, Financial Director Tor Dahle, telephone +47 51 50 95 56 / +47 915 47 503 or Spokesperson Thor-Christian Haugland, telephone +47 51 50 92 81 / +47 48 03 16 33.

 

 www.sr-bank.no