Latest news with #MuhammadNassirSalim
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Capital markets: HBL becomes first bank to partner with NCCPL
KARACHI: HBL and the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the role of commercial banks in Pakistan's capital markets. This important agreement positions HBL as the first bank to form a partnership with NCCPL. Under this MoU, HBL aims to pursue opportunities in capital markets such as Margin Trading, evaluating the custodian clearing member's role, and utilizing NCCPL's Capital Gains Tax (CGT) services. Speaking at the ceremony, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO–HBL said, 'This partnership will enable us to provide enhanced services to our clients. In today's world, where digitization and value creation are paramount, this collaboration will be instrumental in achieving our goal of seamlessly accelerating topline growth by improving our products and service levels.' Commenting on the occasion, Naveed Qazi, CEO -NCCPL, said, 'This MoU reflects our continued efforts to foster integration between financial institutions and the capital market ecosystem. We believe this collaboration will pave the way for increased market participation and greater investor facilitation.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
HBL's H1CY25 PBT rises to Rs75.3bn, up 30pc YoY
KARACHI: HBL on Thursday declared a record consolidated profit before tax of Rs 75.3 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2025, 30% higher than in the same period last year. The profit after tax increased 19% to Rs 34.4 billion despite a 4% higher tax rate further burdening banks. EPS for H1'25 improved from Rs 20.18 in H1'24 to Rs 23.44. Along with the results, the Bank declared an Interim Cash Dividend for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, at Rs 4.50 per share i.e., 45.00%. This is in addition to the interim Cash Dividend already paid at Rs 4.50 per share i.e., 45.00%. HBL's balance sheet grew 26% to Rs 7.6 trillion. Total deposits increased 19% over Dec'24 to Rs 5.2 trillion, making HBL the first bank to cross Rs 5 trillion mark in deposits. Domestic deposits increased by 22% to Rs 4.4 trillion, as the Bank's focus on current account mobilization led to a growth of Rs 440 billion in current accounts; this also helped to drive the CA mix to over 40% while maintaining the CASA ratio at 89%. HBL's loan book reached nearly Rs 2.0 trillion as domestic advances recovered during the quarter. The Bank's flagship Consumer business continued its steady but solid growth trajectory, reaching Rs 156 billion. Despite continued monetary easing in the first half of 2025, HBL's net interest income increased 12% to Rs 138 billion. This was supported by an increase of Rs 425 billion in the average balance sheet, and lower deposit cost from the improved current account mix which enabled HBL to keep margins intact. Non-fund income increased by 12% to Rs 44 billion, driven by an exceptional Treasury performance and double-digit growth in the Bancassurance, Consumer Finance and Investment Banking businesses. HBL's total revenue thus increased to Rs 182 billion. Proactive cost optimizing initiatives across the Bank contained the YoY expense growth at 8%, driving a reduction of more than 200 bps in the cost/income ratio to 55.2% in H1'25. A strong recovery performance resulted in a decrease in the Bank's non-performing loans over the quarter; along with the uptick in advances, this reduced the infection ratio to 5.0%. The specific coverage strengthened to 90%, with the total coverage well above 100%. The Tier 1 Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 14.16% and the Total CAR of 17.91% remained well above the required levels. Commenting on the Bank's performance, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL, said, 'The Bank has delivered healthy results in the first half of 2025, driven by strong organic growth and a steadfast commitment to excellence for our clients. As we accelerate our critical role in national development, we remain optimistic about the future. While the macroeconomic environment presents its challenges, we are encouraged by signs of greater stability. Looking ahead, 'Accelerating Topline Growth' will be our guiding mantra as we build on this momentum and create lasting value for all our stakeholders.' Delivering value for stakeholders HBL continued to demonstrate its leadership in Agri Financing, by helping farmers maintain their incomes and contribute to national food security. The Bank issued the largest payout of over PKR 10 million under the Area Yield Index Insurance (AYII) program to support farmers by providing financial protection against yield losses. This initiative benefits farmers in Balochistan and Sindh. Moreover, the Bank provide farmers with agri-finance options, advanced agronomy practices, and efficient farm management techniques through 'Agahi Programs' at the Dera of HBL Zarai. Since 2018, over 30,000 farmers have benefited from the program. HBL is taking a significant step towards enhancing financial inclusion and gender equity by supporting the Women Entrepreneurs (WE) Finance Code. The WE Finance Code is a multi-stakeholder effort to increase financing to women-owned, micro, small and medium enterprises. While much more still needs to be done in this aspect, since 2024, the Bank has supported over 450 women entrepreneurs with Rs 2.6 billion in financing. Additionally, HBL Group serves more than 5 million women — the largest footprint among commercial banks in Pakistan. HBL Group remains firmly committed to supporting global sustainability efforts. The Bank participated in the London Climate Action Week (LCAW) held in London, UK to discuss investment vehicles designed to achieve gender equity and climate resilience. HBL has launched an investment initiative, a USD 75 million Climate Resilience Facility, in partnership with British International Investment (BII) in 2025. HBL MicroFinance Bank entered into a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), securing USD 80 million to promote climate-smart lending that boosts rural resilience, enhances agricultural productivity, and addresses climate risks across Pakistan. In H1 2025, HBL Foundation contributed Rs. 273 million across various sectors, including healthcare, education, community development, and humanitarian assistance. Embracing cutting-edge technology, the Bank ventured into Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven platforms to engage with the youth. FanTunes, a groundbreaking fan engagement initiative was launched for the first time in Pakistan allowing fans to create their own unique HBLPSL songs using AI. More than 25,000 videos were created by fans during the HBLPSL event. In recognition of the Bank's leadership, performance, and innovative approach, HBL has been honored with 22 prestigious accolades in H1 2025, including 'Best Bank in Pakistan', 'Pakistan's Best Bank for Large Corporates', 'Pakistan's Best Investment Bank' by Euromoney Awards 2025, and 'Best Mobile App' by Pakistan Digital Awards 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
GIK Institute & HBL explore strategic collaboration
TOPI (KPK): The Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) hosted a high-level delegation from HBL led by Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL. The visit marked a pivotal step towards academia-industry collaboration to shape Pakistan's digital future. During the strategic dialogue, HBL's leadership expressed keen interest in innovation-led growth, talent development, and collaborative R&D initiatives. Key focus areas for the discussion were emerging technologies such as Blockchain, Cybersecurity, IP Sharing frameworks, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Spectral Analytics, and AgriTech. Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL, emphasized the need for job-ready graduates and proposed co-creating curricula with GIKI to bridge the skill gap. Internship programs, real-world problem statements, and potential faculty attachments with HBL were also discussed. Rector GIKI Prof Dr Fazl A Khalid (SI) highlighted GIKI's achievements in sustainable energy, robotics, AR/VR, and EV research through industry collaborations. He invited HBL to participate in Full Stack Development Bootcamps and proposed that the Bank support in the form of scholarships, interest-free loans, and endowment funds for expanding student facilities. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
HBL wins ‘Best Bank in Pakistan 2025' award
KARACHI: Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 has awarded HBL the accolade of 'Pakistan's Best Bank'. The Bank has also won 'Pakistan's Best Bank for Large Corporates' and 'Pakistan's Best Investment Bank'. Euromoney is a global English-language publication focused on business and finance. These awards are the most prestigious recognition in the banking industry, globally. The Euromoney citation acknowledges that 'HBL remains an undisputed leader as Pakistan's best bank, demonstrating once again standout financial growth and continuous improvement in the digital space.' The citation went on to note, 'HBL remains one of the key players in Pakistan's agriculture sector, a vital part of the country's economy, highlighting the Bank's commitment to the economic development of Pakistan.' Commenting on the recognition, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL said, 'HBL is proud to serve its valued clients who have made these wins possible. These wins are a tribute to our millions of clients' continued trust and confidence in HBL.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
HBL's Q1'25 PBT at Rs36.6bn, up 22pc YoY
KARACHI: HBL declared a record profit before tax of Rs 36.6 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, 22 percent higher than in the same period last year. The profit after tax of Rs 16.6 billion is 11 percent higher despite a 4 percent higher tax rate applied on the banking sector. EPS for Q1'25 improved from Rs 10.37 in Q1'24 to Rs 11.32. The Bank also declared an Interim Cash Dividend for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, at Rs. 4.50 per share i.e., 45.00 percent. HBL's balance sheet stood at Rs 5.9 trillion, with total deposits closing at Rs 4.4 trillion. Domestic deposits increased to Rs 3.7 trillion, led by a growth of Rs 127 billion in current account, driving up the CA mix from 37.3 percent in Dec'24 to 40.0 percent in Mar'25. HBL's lending book closed at Rs 1.9 trillion as domestic advances came off their year-end peak. Nevertheless, our flagship consumer business continued its growth trajectory, reaching Rs 148 billion. Despite continuous monetary easing and a 1,000 bps reduction in the policy rate, HBL's net interest income increased 12 percent to Rs 68.8 billion. This was achieved by an increase of Rs 454 billion in the average domestic balance sheet and optimization of deposit cost. Non-fund income increased to Rs 21.6 billion, driven by strong contribution from the Treasury business. The fee franchise yet again posted double-digit growth in branch banking and Bancassurance, while the Cards business contributed more than 50 percent of the total fee. HBL's total revenue thus increased to Rs 90.4 billion. Cost optimizing initiatives across the Bank enabled HBL to contain expense growth at a subdued 7 percent, improving the cost/income ratio by 200 bps to 55.6 percent in Q1'25. The Tier-1 Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) improved from 14.27 percent in Dec'24 to 14.51 percent in Mar'25 on the back of strong profitability; Total CAR increased from 17.70 percent to 17.88 percent over the same period. The CAR ratios remain well above the required levels. Commenting on the Bank's performance, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL, said, 'The robust financial performance points to the soundness of our business strategy in a competitive market, while prioritizing client centricity. Our key focus areas, especially in agriculture, SMEs, digital services and sustainability continue to play a vital role in our success. We remain dedicated to improving lives, advancing financial inclusion and promoting sustainable development to ensure the enduring prosperity of Pakistan's future.' Delivering value for stakeholders HBL has entered into a strategic collaboration with Google to launch Google Wallet for its cardholders. HBL cardholders can add their credit/debit cards to Google Wallet on both Android and Wear OS devices. This reinforces the Bank's dedication to innovative and secure digital payment solutions. HBL is fully committed to growing the 'S' of SME business in a significant and sustainable way. The SME business rolled out structure of SME-centric branches and trade business centres to strengthen outreach and deepen focus on the SME segment. The Bank successfully completed the solarization of 25 high fuel-consuming branches, reinforcing its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. To date, over 360 branches and offsite ATMs have been transitioned to solar energy. HBL remains a thought leader in the Pakistan market with its latest initiative, a collaboration with S&P Global, to launch the HBL S&P Global PMI® (Purchasing Managers' Index™) series for Pakistan. This index will provide valuable monthly data and timely insights into the overall economic health of Pakistan's manufacturing sector and enhance transparency leading to investor confidence. This year, HBL is celebrating a decade of HBL-PSL. As the biggest sporting event in the country, HBLPSL has played a transformative role in both cricket and nation building. As part of its continued efforts to engage with the youth, FanTunes, a groundbreaking fan engagement initiative was launched for the first time in Pakistan allowing fans to create their own unique HBLPSL songs using Artificial Intelligence (AI). In recognition of the Bank's leadership, performance, and innovative approach, HBL has been honored with prestigious accolades this quarter including 'Best Investment Bank for 2025' by Global Finance, 'Best Investment Bank (Domestic)' by the Finance Asia Awards 2025 and 'Best Sukuk House' by Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards 2024. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
