DNB's results for 3rd quarter 2015

“This is one of DNB’s best quarterly performances ever, which gives us reason to be satisfied. The figures show that the Norwegian economy is still growing, even though the situation is challenging for many companies in oil-related industries. I am also very pleased that our customer satisfaction scores are continuing to improve,” says Rune Bjerke, group chief executive.

There was an average increase in the healthy loan portfolio of 10.0 per cent parallel to a 12.6 per cent increase in average deposit volumes from the third quarter of 2014. The growth in volumes reflected the weaker Norwegian krone rate. Lending spreads narrowed slightly during the quarter, while deposit spreads widened. Volume-weighted interest rate spreads were unchanged compared with the third quarter of 2014.

Increase in Tier 1 capital
Including 50 per cent of interim profits, the common equity Tier 1 capital ratio increased from
12.6 per cent at end-September 2014, to 13.1 per cent. Based on an unchanged dividend payout
ratio from 2014 (30 per cent), the common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 13.4 per cent.

 “DNB is one of the world’s best capitalised banks, and we are continuing to build more Tier 1 capital
in line with the regulatory requirements. We are following our plan to reach the targets set to be able
to normalise our dividend payments as soon as possible,” says Bjerke.  

Focus on digital products
DNB is continuing its modernisation process by developing new digital products.

“Vipps is our most important product launch in a very long time. It is hard to believe that more than 900 000 Norwegians have downloaded the app four months after it was introduced. We will work contiuously to build more functions into Vipps in cooperation with our customers,” says Bjerke.

DNB’s customers are continuing to increase their use of the bank’s digital services, and the mobile phone will represent the largest growth. In the third quarter, 86 per cent of savings products were sold online, which is a significant rise from last year.

"This is the first quarter we have registered more than 40 million visits to our mobile bank. The launch of FingerID enables even faster log-on, and some 40 000 customers already use their finger to identify themselves in the mobile bank. It cannot be done faster than this," says Bjerke.

Increase in impairment losses
Ordinary operating expenses were on a level with the year-earlier period.

There were net reversals on impairment losses of NOK 392 million in the third quarter.

In late September, DNB signed an agreement with Lindorff Capital AS to sell portfolios of non-performing loans. Adjusted for this transaction, impairment losses totalled NOK 675 million for the quarter, compared with NOK 183 million in the third quarter of 2014.

The largest impairment losses on individual loans stemmed from the mining industry and the shipping sector. The total level of impairment was nevertheless below the normalised long-term level.

Key figures for the third quarter of 2015

• Pre-tax operating profits before impairment were NOK 8.1 billion (7.6)
• Profit for the period was NOK 6.4 billion (5.6)
• Earnings per share were NOK 3.83 (3.45)
• Return on equity was 14.7 per cent (14.8)
• The ordinary cost/income ratio was 39.6 per cent (40.4)
• The common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (transitional rules) was 13.1 per cent (12.6)

Comparable figures for 2014 in parentheses.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

 
Contact person:
Thomas Midteide, group executive vice president, Corporate Communications, tel.: + 47 962 32 017
Rune Helland, head of Investor Relations, tel: +47 977 13 250

The quarterly report, presentation and Fact Book can be downloaded from www.dnb.no/investor-relations