Hua Nan Financial Holding Co (華南金控) yesterday said that it expects modest profit growth this year as it fine-tunes its loan portfolio, even as income from foreign currency swap operations is poised to decline.
The bank-focused conglomerate plans to optimize its loan mix by expanding higher-yielding corporate and consumer lending, while maintaining prudent credit risk controls, Hua Nan Financial president Hsiao Yu-mei (蕭玉美) said at an earnings conference in Taipei.
“By refining our lending structure and reinforcing core banking operations, we aim to preserve stable growth while reducing reliance on more volatile trading income,” she added.
Photo: CNA
Hua Nan Commercial Bank Ltd (華南銀行), which accounts for over 80 percent of the group’s earnings, anticipates flat loan growth this year, reflecting the central bank’s continued tight credit policy on property lending.
Meanwhile, gains from foreign exchange swap operations are expected to fall by 20 to 30 percent from last year, following a 30 percent drop last year after US Federal Reserve rate cuts, the bank said.
The bank noted that narrower borrowing-cost differentials between the US dollar and New Taiwan dollar would likely moderate opportunities in the swap market.
Despite the anticipated dip in trading income, the bank projects mild overall profit growth, supported by steady loan demand and disciplined cost management, it said.
Interest income is expected to rise about 10 percent, while fee income could grow 5 to 10 percent, driven by wealth management, private banking and offshore lending, the bank said.
The bank plans to expand fee-based businesses and deepen relationships with corporate clients as a key strategy for sustainable earnings, it added.
“There is ample room for improvement for the family office business targeting both individual and corporates,” the bank said.
Hua Nan Financial closed last year with a record net profit of NT$26.42 billion (US$826.99 million), up 14.2 percent from the previous year, setting a historical high. Earnings per share rose to NT$1.9, reflecting strong performance across its banking and insurance subsidiaries, it said.
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