September 13 (SeeNews) - North Macedonia's UNI Banka said that its net profit fell to 102.3 million denars ($1.8 million/1.7 million euro) in the first half of 2019 from 126.6 million denars in the same period of 2018, mainly due to a rise in personnel expenses.
UNI Banka booked personnel expenses of 171.9 million denars in the first six months of the year, sharply up from 130.1 million denars in the comparable period of 2018, figures from the company's interim financial statement showed.
The lender also saw a sizeable increase in its net financial asset impairments, to 80 million denars in the review period from 45 million denars the year before.
The rise in expenses was partially offset by higher revenue.
Net interest income grew to 380.1 million denars in January-June from 356.9 million denars a year earlier, while net interest income rose to 81.4 million denars from 77.1 million denars.
UNI Banka's assets increased to 21.07 billion denars at the end of June from 20.30 billion denars at the end of 2018, as loans and advances to customers other than banks rose to 14.99 billion denars from 14.04 billion denars.
Deposits from clients other than banks grew to 17.15 billion denars at the end of June from 16.58 billion denars six months earlier.
(1 euro = 61.55 denars)