Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Most of listed private commercial banks (PCBs) declared lower dividends in 2018 than that of the previous year mainly due to higher growth of their classified loans.
A total of 18 banks out 30 have recommended lower dividend in the last calendar year, compared to the previous year while only five banks have recommended higher dividends.
Five other banks declared similar dividends and two others recommended no dividends for 2018, according to statistics available with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
Financial health of the banks weak slightly in 2018 mainly due to higher growth of of their non-performing loans (NPLs), experts said.
The amount of default loans in the banking system jumped by more than 26 per cent or Tk 196.08 billion to Tk 939.11 billion as of December 31 in the last calendar year from Tk 743.03 billion on the same day in 2017.
The share of NPLs in the total outstanding loans came down to 10.30 per cent as of December 31 in 2018 from 11.45 per cent three months back. It was 9.31 per cent on December 31, 2017.
The classified loans cover substandard, doubtful and bad/loss portions of total outstanding credit, which stood at Tk 9,114.30 billion on December 31 last. The amount was Tk 7,981.96 billion a year ago.
However, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Eastern Bank, Premier Bank, Pubali Bank and Uttara Bank declared higher dividends in 2018, compared to the previous year.
The AB Bank and the ICB Islamic Bank declared 'no' dividend for 2018 as in the previous year.
The Dutch-Bangla Bank came up with the highest dividend -- 150 per cent stock dividend -- for its shareholders. The bank had disbursed 30 per cent cash dividend in 2017.
The Eastern Bank is the second highest in terms of dividend amount, as it recommended 30 per cent dividend (20 per cent cash and 10 per cent stock) for the year 2018. In 2017, the bank paid 20 per cent stock dividend.
The Uttara Bank recommended 20 per cent cash and 2.0 per cent stock dividend for 2018, the third highest among the listed banks. The bank disbursed 20 per cent cash dividend in 2017.
The Jamuna Bank declared 20 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018. In 2017, the bank disbursed 22 per cent stock dividend.
The Al-Arafah Islami Bank recommended 15 per cent cash and 2.0 per cent stock dividend for the year 2018. The bank paid 15 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividend in 2017.
The Premier Bank recommended 15.50 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018. In 2017, the bank disbursed 15 per cent stock dividend.
The Mercantile Bank declared 15 per cent stock dividend for the year 2018. The bank paid 17 per cent cash dividend in 2017.
The Brac Bank also declared 15 per cent stock dividend in 2018. In 2017, the bank paid 25 per cent stock dividend.
The Prime Bank recommended 12.50 per cent cash dividend in 2018. The bank paid 7.0 per cent cash and 10 per cent stock dividend in 2017.
Mutual Trust Bank recommended 11 per cent stock for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against 12.50 stock dividends in 2017.
The City Bank declared 6.0 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividends for the year ended on December 31, 2018. In 2017, the bank disbursed 19 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividend.
The Dhaka Bank declared 5.0 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividend in 2018. In 2017, the bank disbursed 12.50 per cent stock dividend.
The Exim Bank recommended 10 per cent cash dividend in 2018. In 2017, the bank paid 12.50 per cent cash dividend.
The First Security Islami Bank, IFIC Bank, National Bank, and Rupali Bank recommended 10 per cent stock dividends each for the year 2018 as against 10 per cent stock, 12 per cent stock and 24 per cent stock dividends respectively in 2017.
The Shahjalal Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Southeast Bank, Standard Bank, Trust Bank and UCB also recommended 10 per cent stock dividend each for the year 2018 as against 10 per cent stock, 10 per cent stock, 15 per cent stock, 10 per cent stock, 20 per cent cash and 10 per cent cash dividend respectively in 2017.
The ONE Bank recommended 10 per cent stock dividend in 2018. The bank paid 15 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividends in 2017.
Islami Bank recommended 10 per cent cash dividend in 2018. The bank also disbursed 10 per cent cash dividend in 2017.
BBN/SSR/AD