Financial Services

The local banking industry’s 2013 pre-tax ROE adjusted for the sale of NPAs portfolios by Popular and FirstBank during the first two quarters of the year was 7.6%, the highest level since 2006 but still well below pre-2006 levels. Continuous cost rationalization measures, increasing pricing and fees, leveraging economies of scale and expansion in other markets of those banks with non-PR operations will be critical during 2014 and beyond to raise returns given a local context of continued diminishment of banks’ assets and few organic growth opportunities. Obtaining precrisis levels of profitability remains elusive in the short-term given economic hardships dating back to 2006 and Puerto Rico’s general obligation debt rating dip to non investment grade in early February 2014 by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.

The local banking sector reached an adjusted pre-tax ROE of 5.4% in 2013 YTD, an improvement when compared to 2012 but still very far from reaching pre-crisis levels of profitability. This adjusted rate does not include the adverse effects the sale of non performing loan (NPL) portfolios had on the sector’s bottom line. The Island’s current economic outlook characterized by a protracted contraction, low aggregate demand, no clear growth drivers in the shortterm, warnings from credit agencies of a potential downgrade to Puerto Rico’s general obligation bonds, a housing market that still faces steep challenges and disconcerting labor market indicators, presents few opportunities domestically for the local banking industry to perform at levels prior to 2007 when it reached double digit rates of profitability.

El sector financiero dominicano durante el periodo de enero a septiembre del 2013 continúa reportando altas tasas de rentabilidad impulsado por un crecimiento de su cartera de crédito y gastos sobre ingresos relativamente bajos. La calidad de activos de los bancos de la RD continúa fortaleciéndose y el índice de solvencia del sector se encuentra muy por encima del mínimo requerido por ley. Dichas tendencias son consistentes con una economía en recuperación. El PIB real creció 2.9% durante el periodo de enero a septiembre de 2013, reflejando una significativa mejoría en el T3 2013 respecto a inicios de año. Un importante cambio que aparenta avecinarse y que tendrá importantes repercusiones en el sistema financiero de la RD es la conversión de las asociaciones de ahorros y préstamos (AA&P) a entidades accionarias. Las tres principales asociaciones, APAP, Cibao y La Nacional, pudieran pasar a ser jugadores importantes en la banca múltiple, entidades dotadas con sólidas ventajas competitivas.

The banking industry’s YTD 2013 pre-tax ROE adjusted for the sale of NPLs portfolios by Popular and FirstBank was 3.9%. The industry delinquency levels continue to improve and solvency ratios remain very solid. In this banking report we are taking a closer look at the mortgage business which represents 37% of the industry’s total loan portfolio. As we will see, mortgage margins may reduce in the short/medium term driven by low originations in the context of rate increases, the implementation of new federal regulations and the recent and future repurchases of recourse portfolios. Both in the mortgage business and at the total bank level, workout efforts will need to be combined with cost reductions in order to boost profitability.

La reducción en las tasas de referencia que llevó a cabo la Junta Monetaria durante el 2012 y la primera mitad del 2013, así como la disminución del encaje legal, han dado sus frutos. La cartera de crédito de los seis principales bancos múltiples del país creció un 24% entre junio del 2012 y junio del 2013. En paralelo, la rentabilidad de la banca múltiple medida en ROE antes de impuesto pasó de 22.1% en 2012 a 26.2% en 2013 y la productividad medida en tasa de eficiencia pasó de 74.3% a 69.3% durante el mismo periodo. Además, el aumento de la cartera vino acompañado de un bajada en la tasa de morosidad y, también, de un incremento en el índice de solvencia.

The local banking industry reached a pre-tax ROE of 7% in Q1 2013 once we eliminate the negative impact from the sale of non performing loan (NPL) portfolios by Popular and FirstBank. The current environment of low leverage and still high provision expenses, is preventing the industry from reaching profitability levels in line with the pre-crisis period. The recent sales of NPL portfolios have helped decrease the delinquency levels but may also impact the local property prices given the discounts involved in the purchase prices which have ranged between 32% and 53% of the unpaid principal balance (UPB).

La banca múltiple dominicana responde a la incertidumbre provocada por el déficit público heredado del periodo eleccionario con un aumento en la rentabilidad sustentado en el control del nivel de gastos y con una mayor aún solidez patrimonial. Se detecta cierto aumento en el nivel de morosidad cónsono con un periodo de desaceleración económica y de aumento en los impuestos. Finalmente, la recuperación de la confianza en la capacidad del gobierno de hacer frente al déficit público a través del control del gasto y el aumento de impuestos, combinado con las medidas de estímulo monetario (reducción de tasas de referencia y del nivel de encaje legal) nos hacen ser marcadamente optimistas de cara a lo que queda de 2013.

The profitability of the Puerto Rico banking industry in 2012 was positive for the second consecutive year (3.4% ROE in 2012 and 6.3% in 2011) thanks to the reduction in the provision expense. However, higher profitability levels are not likely to materialize in an environment of still high charge-offs and slow credit activity. The debt burden that Puerto Ricans face in the coming years is likely to push credit activity further down and maintain delinquency at higher levels compared to pre crisis years. In this context, there will be pressure to increase pricing and fees and leverage economies of scale with additional consolidation.

As we have commented in previous reports, the Puerto Rico banking industry maintains its slow but solid recovery with its pre-tax ROE in 2012 (Jan.-Sep.) at 4%, approximately 14 percentage points above the 2009 and 2010 levels. Furthermore, the Q3 2012 pre-tax ROE reached 6.7%, the highest profitability level since Q2 2011.