Notwithstanding a challenging operating environment characterized by local economic challenges and the Covid-19 related headwinds, the Group’s financial performance was defensive, benefitting from improved performance by all its business subsidiaries. In historical terms, net interest income surged 264.88% from ZWL$1.15bn in FY20 to ZWL$4.22bn in the period under review, underpinned by increased lending and improved interest margin. The Group’s digitalized infrastructure effectuated an increase in volume of transactions by customers resulting in net fees and commission income registering a 224.40% uptick to ZWL$2.27bn in FY21 from ZWL$838.66mn recorded same comparable period prior year. Net earned insurance premium was up 170% to ZWL$1.26bn from ZWL$469.15mn recorded in FY20, on the back of increased demand and revaluation of insured risks. The Group registered positive revenue growth across all its income streams, with the exception on foreign currency dealing and trading income which declined from ZWL$3.15bn to ZWL$3.10bn. Consequently, total income for the Group increased 126.46%, outperforming annual inflation which stood at 67%, from ZWL$7.21bn in FY20 to ZWL$16.32bn. Despite FBC’s efforts to contain costs, total costs for the Group increased by 139.51% in FY21 from ZWL$3.59bn to ZWL$8.61 leading to an increase in cost to income ratio from 49.86% in FY20 to 52.74% in the period under review. Mainly driving costs were administrative expenses which went up 139.33% to ZWL$7.42bn being steered by staff costs. Overall, the bank registered a 126.46% growth in PAT for the period under review to ZWL$6.87bn from ZWL$3.21bn registered same period prior year. The Group closed the period with loans and advances worth ZWL$23.53bn, an improvement from ZWL$13.34bn recorded last year. Resultantly, total assets for the Group closed the year at ZWL$32bn from ZWL$5.92bn registering a 440.54% y/y growth. NAV for the Group closed the year at ZWL$14.33bn from ZWL$4.92bn. Both FBC Bank Limited and FBC Building Society have exceeded the minimum capital requirements as prescribed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). FBC declared a final dividend of ZWL148.82cents per share. This is in addition to the interim dividend of ZWL29.76cents per share for the half year ended 30 June 2021.
