October 25 (SeeNews) - Croatia's state-controlled Hrvatska Postanska Banka [ZSE:HPB-R-A] said on Tuesday its non-consolidated net profit for January-September jumped 38.1% on the year to 147.5 million kuna ($21.4 million/19.7 million euro).
Net interest income decreased 2.5% to 376.9 million kuna in the first nine months of the year, while net income from fees and commissions rose 3% to 141.99 million kuna, the bank said in a filing with the Zagreb bourse.
HPB's gross loan portfolio widened by 8.8% from end-2015, reaching 13.5 billion kuna at end-September, mostly on the back of growing loans to individuals. Deposits rose 9.4% during the period to 16 billion kuna.
The bank's assets expanded 7.6% to 19.1 billion kuna at end-September, the highest monthly value since June 2014.
The previously state-owned lender ended 2014 with a net loss of 635 million kuna and insufficient capital adequacy. Last year, it was recapitalised through a public offer amounting to 550 mln kuna.
Currently, the government controls 72% of HPB through various government owned funds, agencies and Hrvatske Poste, while the remainder is in the hands of local and international banks.
($=7.50548 euro)