DJ Commerzbank with strong start to the year - best quarterly net result in more than 10 years
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft (CZB)
Commerzbank with strong start to the year - best quarterly net result in more than 10 years
15-May-2024 / 07:02 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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-- Operating result significantly increased to EUR1.1 billion in first quarter (Q1 2023: EUR875 million) - net
profit rose to EUR747 million (Q1 2023: EUR580 million)
-- Revenues increased to EUR2.75 billion thanks to strong customer business and continued favourable interest
environment (Q1 2023: EUR2.67 billion)
-- Corporates Clients segment with a record quarter, Private and Small-Business Customers segment benefited
from seasonally strong securities business and deposit growth
-- Costs down to EUR1.6 billion (Q1 2023: EUR1.7 billion) - cost-income-ratio significantly improved to 58% (Q1
2023: 65%)
-- Moderate risk result of minus EUR76 million proves high quality of loan book
-- CET1 ratio further increased to 14.9% (end of Q4 2023: 14.7%)
-- Outlook for net interest income in 2024 improved to around EUR8.1 billion; other targets for current
financial year confirmed
-- Bank confirms targeted pay-out ratio for 2024 of at least 70%
In the first quarter of 2024, Commerzbank achieved its best net result in more than ten years. The Bank increased its
operating result by around 24% to EUR1.1 billion and improved its net profit by around 29% to EUR747 million. This was
driven by a strong customer business and the continued favourable interest rate environment. At EUR2.1 billion, net
interest income equalled that of the previous quarter and was close to the record result from the third quarter of
2023. Net commission income increased both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. Costs went down further in the first
quarter. The risk result remained at a moderate level in a challenging economic environment.
Commerzbank has successfully completed its capital return for the 2023 financial year. At the Annual General Meeting on
30 April 2024, the shareholders voted in favour of the proposed dividend of EUR0.35 per share. As promised, the Bank has
returned a total of around EUR1 billion to its shareholders, which comprises the dividend payment of around EUR415 million
and the second share buyback programme with a volume of around EUR600 million which was completed in March.
"We deliver on our promises. We got off to a very good start this year. The strong customer business and the excellent
result in the first quarter support our goal of increasing our profit in 2024," said Commerzbank CEO Manfred Knof. "We
are continuing to make good progress in implementing our strategic plan until 2027. Particularly in terms of revenue,
it's becoming increasingly clear that our customer-centric business model is bearing fruit even in a challenging
economic environment. In this regard, the most recent acquisitions in Asset Management and in the payment transaction
business will start to contribute to commission income over the course of the year."
Commerz Globalpay GmbH, the joint venture between Commerzbank and Global Payments, received regulatory approval at the
end of April. Commerzbank's participation was completed at the beginning of May. Sales activities of the joint offering
of digital payment products are about to start soon. Commerz Globalpay GmbH will offer small-business customers, among
other services, the opportunity to accept mobile payments without an additional card reader using the smartphone-based
app "GP tom".
On its way to achieving its strategic goals, Commerzbank reached an important milestone regarding IT consolidation in
its Corporate Clients business in the first quarter. By completing the migration of its booking platform for currencies
and commodities, the Bank has significantly simplified its IT infrastructure. Since 2020, Commerzbank has reduced the
total number of IT applications for capital market trading by 40% leading to reduced complexity and improved usability.
The saved costs will be reinvested to improve price and product offerings for clients even more in the future.
As the bank for Germany, Commerzbank aims at offering every customer the right product for their individual financial
needs. This is underlined by the Bank's new Germany-wide brand campaign, which was launched today.
Performance in the first quarter: Strong customer business boosts revenues
In the first quarter of the year, Commerzbank increased its revenues by 3% to EUR2,747 million (Q1 2023: EUR2,668 million),
benefiting from a continued strong customer business and the ongoing favourable interest rate environment. This enabled
Commerzbank to more than compensate for the new provisions for legal risks from foreign currency (FX) loans at mBank
totalling EUR318 million (Q1 2023: EUR173 million). At EUR2,126 million, net interest income was 9% higher year-on-year
(Q1 2023: EUR1,947 million) and on the same level as in the previous quarter (Q4 2023: EUR2,126 million). Driven by the
seasonally strong securities business, Commerzbank increased its net commission income to EUR920 million year-on-year as
well as quarter-on-quarter (Q1 2023: EUR915 million, Q4 2023: EUR798 million).
The Bank is keeping costs on track despite ongoing inflationary pressure. Total costs declined by around 8% to
EUR1,588 million in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2023: EUR1,724 million). The main driver was the decrease in compulsory
contributions to EUR91 million (Q1 2023: EUR260 million). This is mainly due to the significantly lower European banking
levy, as the target volume of the European Single Resolution Fund was reached last year. At the same time, operating
expenses rose slightly to EUR1,496 million (Q1 2023: EUR1,464 million). However, this is largely attributable to higher
costs at mBank resulting from investments for future business growth and foreign currency effects. Operating expenses
excluding mBank were nearly on the same level as in the previous year's first quarter. General salary increases were
offset by active cost management. The cost-income-ratio decreased considerably to 58% in the first quarter (Q1 2023:
65%) being below the target of around 60% for the full year 2024.
The Bank's risk result once again remained at a moderate level at minus EUR76 million in the first quarter, despite the
challenging economic environment (Q1 2023: minus EUR68 million). It was driven by few single cases and releases, which
proves the high quality of the loan book. This is also reflected in the consistently low non-performing exposure ratio
(NPE ratio) of only 0.8%. The Bank's exposure in Russia was further reduced. The Top-Level Adjustment (TLA) slightly
decreased quarter-on-quarter due to recalculations in both customer segments. A total of EUR423 million (Q4 2023:
EUR453 million) continues to be available for secondary effects from supply chains, uncertainties from inflation, and the
impact of the current restrictive monetary policy.
In total, the Bank increased its operating result by around 24% to EUR1,084 million in the first three months of 2024
(Q1 2023: EUR875 million). Net profit after taxes and minority interests also rose significantly to EUR747 million
(Q1 2023: EUR580 million), marking the best quarter for the Bank in more than ten years. The last time net profit had
been higher was in the first quarter of the 2011 financial year.
The Bank's Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1 ratio) rose to 14.9% as of 31 March 2024 (31 December 2023: 14.7%,
31 March 2023: 14.2%). This gives Commerzbank a very comfortable buffer of 455 basis points to the regulatory minimum
requirement (MDA threshold), which is currently around 10.3%. The return on tangible equity (RoTE) improved to 10.5%
(Q1 2023: 8.3%) due to the seasonally strong quarter. This puts the Bank well on track to achieve its target of at
least 8% for the full year.
"The significantly improved earnings power and the high CET1 ratio underpin our plan to further increase the pay-out
ratio," said CFO Bettina Orlopp. "We will continue to focus on a combination of dividend payments and share buybacks.
If the second quarter develops as expected, we plan to apply to the ECB and the German Finance Agency for the next
share buyback on the basis of the first half-year results."
Segment development: Continued strong performance in both customer segments
The Corporate Clients segment once again performed very well across all client groups in the first quarter. It boosted
its revenues by around 13% to a record of EUR1,224 million (Q1 2023: EUR1,079 million). Net commission income increased by
around 8% to EUR361 million. (Q1 2023: EUR334 million). At EUR713 million, net interest income was around 14% higher
year-on-year (Q1 2023: EUR627 million). However, due to the ongoing shift from sight to term and call deposits, it was
below the previous quarter (Q4 2023: EUR741 million) while the deposit volume remained stable. The segment's operating
result reached a record of EUR661 million (Q1 2023: EUR541 million, Q4 2023: EUR508 million), benefiting from the continued
low risk result and a decrease in costs.
The Private and Small-Business Customers segment increased its revenues in Germany to EUR1,166 million in the first
quarter (Q1 2023: EUR1,146 million), benefiting from the seasonally strong securities business, continued deposit growth,
and the positive effect from, at Group level neutral, adjustment of deposit models in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net
interest income rose by around 10% to EUR661 million (Q1 2023: EUR603 million). At EUR489 million, net commission income was
around 12% higher than in the previous quarter (Q4 2023: EUR438 million) but remained slightly below that of the first
quarter of 2023 (Q1 2023: EUR511 million). This was due to one-off effects at the real asset subsidiary Commerz Real in
the first quarter of 2023. Excluding these one-off effects, Commerz Real's earnings remained almost stable at
EUR47 million in the first quarter of this year. Overall, the segment's operating result in Germany improved
significantly by 46% to EUR423 million (Q1 2023: EUR289 million).
Customer deposits in the segment in Germany rose to EUR166 billion on a quarterly average (Q1 2023: EUR150 billion)
totalling growth of around EUR9 billion in the first three months of the year (Q4 2023: EUR157 billion). The shift of funds
into interest-bearing products continued. The lending volume was stable year-on-year at EUR125 billion and the average
mortgage volume also remained almost unchanged at EUR95 billion in the first quarter. New business showed a positive
trend compared to the end of 2023: New contracts picked up significantly in the first three months of the year. The
securities portfolio rose to a volume of EUR230 billion at the end of the quarter (Q1 2023: EUR202 billion) due to the
strong stock market performance.
The Polish subsidiary mBank again showed a strong operating performance in the first quarter. Despite provisions for
legal risks from FX loans of EUR318 million (Q1 2023: EUR173 million), mBank generated revenues of EUR341 million (Q1 2023:
EUR356 million). In total, mBank contributed EUR82 million to the operating result of the Group (Q1 2023: EUR100 million).
The main driver was the strong net interest income, which was up by around 19% to EUR583 million (Q1 2023: EUR488 million).
Excluding the burdens from the provisions for legal risks from FX loans, mBank would have further increased its
operating result to EUR400 million in the first quarter (Q1 2023: EUR273 million). This would have been the best result in
its history.
Outlook: Annual targets for 2024 confirmed
Commerzbank maintains its outlook for the 2024 financial year. The Bank's target is to have a net profit above the
previous year, which is, however, subject to the future development of Swiss franc loan burdens at mBank. Regarding net
interest income, the Bank now targets around EUR8.1 billion for the full year. The aim for net commission is 4% growth.
Commerzbank targets a cost-income-ratio of around 60% for the current year. The Bank aims for a risk result below minus
EUR800 million for the full year assuming usage of TLA. The CET 1 ratio will be higher than 14%.
The Bank intends to further increase the pay-out ratio. Having used a total of 50% of the net profit for the 2023
financial year for dividend payments and share buybacks, Commerzbank's target is to return at least 70% of the profit
to its shareholders for the current financial year but no more than the net profit after deduction of AT1 coupon
payments in accordance with its capital return policy.
Financial figures at a glance
in EURm Q1 Q1 Q1 24 vs. Q4 Q1 24 vs. FY
2024 2023 Q1 23 2023 Q4 23 2023
in % in %
Net interest income 2,126 1,947 + 9.2 2,126 + 0.0 8,368
Net commission income 920 915 + 0.5 798 + 15.3 3,386
Net fair value^1 - 53 - 72 + 26.2 - 202 + 73.6 - 359
Other income - 246 - 122 - 313 + 21.3 - 933
Total revenues 2,747 2,668 + 3.0 2,409 + 14.0 10,461
Revenues excl. exceptional items 2,719 2,655 + 2.4 2,434 + 11.7 10,438
Risk result - 76 - 68 - 10.8 - 252 + 70.0 - 618
Operating expenses 1,496 1,464 + 2.2 1,557 - 3.9 6,006
Compulsory contributions 91 260 - 64.9 59 + 55.2 415
Operating profit or loss 1,084 875 + 23.8 542 + 100.0 3,421
Restructuring costs 1 4 - 86.2 4 - 86.9 18
Pre-tax profit or loss 1,083 871 + 24.4 537 3,403
Taxes 322 279 + 15.5 166 + 94.1 1,188
Minorities 14 12 + 16.9 - 24 - 10
Consolidated profit or loss^2 747 580 + 28.8 395 + 89.0 2,224
Cost-income-ratio in operating business excl. compulsory contributions (%) 54.5 54.9 64.6 57.4
Cost-income-ratio in operating business incl. compulsory contributions (%) 57.8 64.6 67.1 61.4
Operating RoTE (%) 14.1 11.8 7.0 11.3
Net RoTE (%)^3 10.5 8.3 5.2 7.7
Net RoE (%) 10.1 8.0 5.0 7.4
CET1 ratio (%)^3 14.9 14.2 14.7 14.7
Leverage ratio 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.9
Total assets (EURbn) 552 497 517 517
^1 Net income from financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value through profit and loss. ^2 Net profit attributable to Commerzbank shareholders and investors in additional equity components. ^3 2023 reduced by pay-out accrual and potential (fully discretionary) AT1 coupons - Q1 2024 excluding net profit.
Press contact Kathrin Jones +49 69 9353-45687 Svea Junge +49 69 9353-45691 Sina Weiß +49 69 9353-45738
Investors' contact Jutta Madjlessi +49 69 9353-47707 Michael Klein +49 69 9353-47703
About Commerzbank Commerzbank is the leading bank for the German Mittelstand. In addition, the Bank is a strong partner for around 25,500 corporate client groups and almost 11 million private and small-business customers in Germany. The Bank's two Business Segments - Private and Small-Business Customers and Corporate Clients - offer a comprehensive portfolio of financial services. Commerzbank transacts approximately 30% of Germany's foreign trade and is present internationally in more than 40 countries in the corporate clients' business. The Bank focusses on the German Mittelstand, large corporates, and institutional clients. As part of its international business, Commerzbank supports clients with a business relationship to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland and companies operating in selected future-oriented industries. In the Private and Small-Business Customers segment, the Bank is at the side of its customers with its brands Commerzbank and comdirect: online and mobile, in the advisory centre, and personally in its branches. Its Polish subsidiary mBank S.A. is an innovative digital bank that serves approximately 5.7 million private and corporate customers, predominantly in Poland, as well as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Disclaimer This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. In this release, these statements concern inter alia the expected future business of Commerzbank, efficiency gains and expected synergies, expected growth prospects and other opportunities for an increase in value of Commerzbank as well as expected future financial results, restructuring costs and other financial developments and information. These forward-looking statements are based on the management's current plans, expectations, estimates and projections. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the conditions in the financial markets in Germany, in Europe, in the USA and other regions from which Commerzbank derives a substantial portion of its revenues and in which Commerzbank holds a substantial portion of its assets, the development of asset prices and market volatility, especially due to the ongoing European debt crisis, potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties, the implementation of its strategic initiatives to improve its business model, the reliability of its risk management policies, procedures and methods, risks arising as a result of regulatory change and other risks. Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made. Commerzbank has no obligation to update or release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
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ISIN: DE000CBK1001 Category Code: QRF TIDM: CZB LEI Code: 851WYGNLUQLFZBSYGB56 Sequence No.: 321504 EQS News ID: 1903299 End of Announcement EQS News Service =------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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May 15, 2024 01:02 ET (05:02 GMT)