Half-year results of St.Galler Kantonalbank: Well on track in a memorable first half year

First half of 2020 marked by COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on society, the economy and the financial markets. Numerous clients and business partners of St.Galler Kantonalbank have to cope with very painful cuts. The bank is also considerably challenged, although the direct effects of the corona crisis are comparatively mild. All branches were open without interruption and banking services were always fully available. The primary objective was and remains the protection of the health of employees and clients. In addition, the banks played a central role in setting up the bridging loans (COVID-19 Credit) in order to provide affected companies with liquidity in an unbureaucratic, targeted and rapid manner. All this was only possible because our employees continued to carry out their work with great dedication, whether at their workplace in the bank or in their home office. We are proud of their great commitment and proven flexibility and thank our employees most sincerely for their excellent performance.

The operating income increased by 3.9 % to CHF 477.6 million. With it, the result from commission business and services increased by 3.5 %, partly due to the increase in asset management mandates and the recently launched investment packages. The release of value adjustments for default risks and losses from interest operations had a positive impact on the net result from interest operations (+4.6 %) and compensated the slight decline in gross income, which was caused by the low interest rate environment. The negative stock market performance reduced the result from trading activities by 12.4 %.

Pleasing growth

In the first half of 2020, loans to clients increased by CHF 496 million (+1.8 %) to CHF 27.4 billion. CHF 304 million, or around 60 %, of this is attributable to mortgage loans, which grew by 1.2 %. Within due from clients, which rose by CHF 192 million (+8.4 %), the share of COVID-19 credits in connection with the support programmes of the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of St.Gallen is CHF 93 million.

From 26th March to 31st July 2020, St.Galler Kantonalbank issued a total of 1753 COVID-19 credit limits with a total amount of CHF 233 million, of which 43 % were drawn as of 31st July 2020. The largest part is made up by the 1730 COVID-19 credits up to CHF 500'000, with an interest rate of 0 % and fully secured by the Swiss Confederation. They amount to a total of CHF 185 million, with an average of CHF 107'000.

Assets under management again recorded excellent net new money of CHF 1.8 billion, which corresponds to a strong growth rate of 3.9 % for the first half year. Due to the global setbacks on the equity markets, however, a negative performance of CHF 1.7 billion (-3.8 %) was recorded.

Positive income situation

Gross profit for the first half of 2020 is CHF 116.3 million, CHF 8.2 million or 7.6 % more than in the previous year. This is the result of an increase in operating income of CHF 9.5 million (4.0 %) and relatively stable operating expenses, which rose by CHF 1.3 million (1.0 %).

Gross result from interest operations increased by CHF 6.8 million (4.6 %) to CHF 155.7 million. Interest and discount income declined (CHF -6.9 million, -3.7 %); this was particularly due to mortgage loans, where the renewal of expiring positions continued to be carried out at lower interest rates. In the first half of 2020, however, this was offset by a significant reduction in interest expenses of CHF 14.4 million. The main reasons for this are lower refinancing costs in bonds and mortgage bonds, lower interest rates on client deposits and the active management of the increased exemption threshold defined by the Swiss National Bank (SNB).

In an environment of volatile markets, result from commission business and services increased by a striking 12.3 % or CHF 7.1 million. Mainly as a result of the negative market performance of the bank's own asset management mandate in the first half of 2020, the result from trading activities was CHF 4.0 million (-19.7 %) lower than in the previous year. Lower income from participations and valuation losses in the financial investments of the bank led to a decline of CHF 2.9 million in the other result from ordinary activities.

Stable operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by CHF 1.3 million, or 1.0 %, compared with the previous year. The expansion of the workforce is the main reason for the CHF 1.7 million (2.1v%) increase in personnel expenses. General and administrative expenses however are slightly lower. On the one hand, the extraordinary situation meant that various costs were either not incurred at all or only to a significantly reduced extent. On the other hand, additional expenses were incurred due to the measures taken to protect against the spread of the corona virus. In addition, the charitable fund of St.Galler Kantonalbank will be provided with CHF 0.5 million as per 30th June 2020. This amount is to be increased to CHF 1.0 million by the end of 2020 and will also benefit charitable projects in connection with the corona crisis.

Solid risk situation

The development of credit default risks has been monitored particularly closely in recent months. The credit portfolio has been reviewed and is still in a very good condition. Although no increased risks have been identified to date, based on the current assessment of economic developments, a net amount of CHF 4.4 million in value adjustments and provisions has been set up for reasons of prudence.

The corona pandemic is challenging St.Galler Kantonalbank in various ways. With the primary objective of protecting the health of employees and clients, targeted measures were implemented which enabled the bank to offer its full range of banking services anytime. St.Galler Kantonalbank's business continuity management has also proven itself very well in this extraordinary situation.

The persistently low interest rates influence the risks in the interest operations. Expiring fixed mortgage loans are being extended with relatively long maturities. However, compared to previous years, fewer conversions of money market mortgages with short fixed interest periods into fixed-rate mortgages can be observed. Overall, however, the pressure from mismatch of maturities in the balance sheet remains and the risks in the interest operations are slightly higher than in the previous year.

Outlook 2020

Provided that the recovery of consumption and the economy continues and is not halted by a second wave of the pandemic and new restrictive measures, St.Galler Kantonalbank continues to expect for the 2020 financial year an operating result slightly below the previous year's level.

Key Figures

¹) Managed assets = Client funds (Due to clients in savings and deposits, other due to clients, medium-term notes) and assets under management. Not included are custody assets (=assets that are held solely for transaction and storage purposes and for which the Bank offers no advice to the clients).

²) As of Dec. 31, 2019, an adjustment of CHF 584.8 million was made to the double counting of self-issued funds in global custody accounts with third-party banks. Reported assets under management decreased by this amount.

³) Average balance

Adrian Kunz
Corporate Communications
+41 71 231 32 04
adrian.kunz@sgkb.ch

Adrian Kunz
Secretary General
+41 71 231 32 04
adrian.kunz@sgkb.ch

Media release
Group key figures