April 20 (SeeNews) - The combined net profit of Albanian banks increased to 2.57 billion leks ($20.4 million/19 million euro) in the first two months of the year, compared to a net profit of 2.17 billion leks in the like period of 2016, according to data from the national association of banks, AAB.
The bank's total outstanding loan portfolio grew 2% year-on-year to 598 billion leks, figures published on AAB's website show.
Retail loans grew by 8% to 169.1 billion leks, whereas corporate loans edged down 0.5% to 428.9 billion leks.
The ratio of non-performing loans dropped to 18.0% of Albanian banks aggregate loan portfolio as of end-February, from 18.9% a year earlier.
Total deposits with Albanian banks reached 1.15 trillion leks at the end of February, up 3.9% year-on-year.
Retail deposits grew 1.9% year-on-year to 961.7 billion leks at end-February, while corporate deposits increased 15.1% to 187 billion leks.
The total assets of Albania's banking system grew 5.7% to 1.4 trillion leks.
The sector's key profitability indicators improved: return on equity (ROE) rose to 11.1% at end-February from 10.3% a year earlier, whereas return on assets (ROA) ticked up to 1.1% from 1.0%.
The combined net profit of Albanian banks plunged 70% to 9.3 billion leks in 2016.
(1 euro = 135.093 leks)