Philippine National Bank (PNB), a subsidiary of LT Group Inc., posted a 10 percent improvement in net income to P5.3 billion in the first three months of 2024 from the P4.8 billion earned in the same period last year.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the bank said its core income for the first quarter of 2024 amounted to P12.9 billion, increasing by seven percent from P10.5 billion in the same period last year with net interest margin growing by 12 percent year-on-year to P11.7 billion.

“This is mainly due to the combined effect of the increase in the Bank’s loan portfolio and better yields which increased by an average of 47 bps,” PNB said.
It added that the bank was also able to mitigate the effect of higher cost of deposits and increase in deposit volume by reducing its high-cost funding.
Other income declined from P3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023 to P1.2 billion in the same period this year mainly due to the substantial ROPA (real and other properties acquired) sale recognized by the bank a year ago.
Operating expenses were lower by eight percent at P7.3 billion, highlighting the bank’s ability to manage its costs.
Provision for impairment losses is at P620 million, a 62 percent drop from the year-ago level, as the Bank’s loan portfolio fully recovered from the lingering effects of the pandemic as the economy maintains its growth trajectory to pre-pandemic level.
Total assets as of March 31, 2024 amounted to P1.196 trillion, 1 percent lower than the December 31, 2023 level. Net loans and receivables remain stable at P610.0 billion level and deposit liabilities at P916.4 billion.
“This year is exciting for the bank as we embark on expanding our reach to the small- and medium-enterprises as well as in consumer lending,” said PNB Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Francis B. Albalate.
He noted that, “We shall strengthen our relationships with our local businesses and retail customers by providing relevant services that will help them fulfill their financial objectives.”