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Leumi Reports First-Quarter 2019 Net Income of NIS 1,092 Million ($301 million) and 12.7% Return on EquityTEL AVIV, Israel, May 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- - Net income in the first quarter of 2019 reached NIS 1,092 million ($301 million), compared with NIS 730 million ($201 million) in the same period last year - a 50% year-over-year increase. - Return on equity in the first quarter of 2019 was 12.7% (annualized), compared with 9.0% in the same period last year. Excluding the effect of the sale of Leumi Card, the return on equity in the first quarter was 10.1%, compared with 8.6% in the same period last year. - Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio as at March 31, 2019 was 11.65%, and the total capital ratio reached 15.07%. - Efficiency ratio continues to improve – A 53% ratio in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 63.8% in the same period last year. Excluding the effect of the sale of Leumi Card, the efficiency ratio in the first quarter of 2019 was 57.9%, compared with 63.7% in the same period last year. - Leumi's credit portfolio continues to be of the highest quality in the Israeli banking system - credit loss expenses in the first quarter of 2019 were negligible (0.03%), compared to 0.15% in the same period last year (excluding Leumi Card). - Dividends and buybacks - The Bank's Board of Directors approved a dividend distribution policy of 40% of the net income in the first quarter of 2019, totaling NIS 437 million ($120 million). Furthermore, the Bank's Board of Directors approved an additional share buyback plan of NIS 700 million ($193 million). - Net interest income in the first quarter of 2019, excluding Leumi Card, was up by NIS 183 million ($50.4 million) compared with the same period last year, a 9.4% increase. - Total operating and other expenses in the first quarter of 2019, excluding Leumi Card, were up by NIS 141 million ($38.8 million) compared with the same period last year, a 7.8% increase. The increase mainly arose from a bonus granted to employees in respect of the Bank's strong annual results in 2018. An Improvement in Balance Sheet Parameters: - Shareholders' equity was NIS 35.9 billion ($9.9 billion) as at March 31, 2019, compared with NIS 33.6 billion ($9.3 billion) as at March 31, 2018. - Net credit to the public was NIS 277.1 billion ($76.3 billion) as at March 31, 2019, compared with NIS 263.3 billion ($72.5 billion) as at March 31, 2018 (excluding Leumi Card). The increase is mainly due to mortgage, middle-market and corporate loans. - Deposits by the Public reached NIS 363.6 billion ($100.1 billion) as at March 31, 2019, compared with NIS 362.5 billion ($99.8 billion) as at March 31, 2018 (excluding Leumi Card). - Leverage ratio as at March 31, 2019 was 7.32%, compared to the 6% minimum required by the Bank of Israel. - Liquidity coverage ratio as at March 31, 2019 was 129%, compared to the 100% minimum required by the Bank of Israel.
Conference Call Details: A conference call to discuss the results will be held today at 5 PM (Israel); 3 PM (UK); 10:00 AM (ET). It is recommended to connect to the link at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. An archived recording will be available on the Leumi website one business day after the call ends. Conference Call Dial-in Details (no passcode required): Israel 03-9180609 The conference call does not replace the latest periodic/quarterly reports in which full information is contained, including forward-looking information, as defined in the Israeli Securities Law, and set out in the aforementioned reports. For more information visit www.leumi.co.il or contact
SOURCE Bank Leumi 
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