Ahlibank has earned a net profit of QR332.7mn during the first half of this year, “maintaining its underlying performance” against H1, 2015.
The bank’s balance sheet has grown 6.2% to QR34.3bn, with its loans and advances growing by 4.2%, reflecting an “improved” market share.
In funding the business growth, Ahlibank said it has “embarked on several strategic initiatives that would support its liquidity requirements with prudence and also in compliance with the regulations” 
The bank said it has “succeeded” in increasing customer deposits, including certificates of deposits by 3.8% to QR22.8bn over the past six months, and at the same time continued to “improve” its deposits structure in order to provide funding stability in the balance sheet and diversification of investors. 
The bank’s stable funding ratio, which consists of medium term liabilities, stood at 13.4% as of June as against 8.1% in December 2015.
In reflection of sound management, balance sheet growth has been supplemented by the growth of its net fee and commission income, which increased by 13% over H1, 2015, dominated by what Ahlibank described as “trade finance activities from our customers, representing 6.4% of total operating income.” 
Furthermore, the bank’s cost to income ratio was contained at 31.2% for the first half of this year.
Ahlibank’s non-performing loans ratio (NPL) stood at 1.04% as of June as against 1.24% in December 2015 and provisions coverage of 138%, reflecting “strong” asset quality.
The mid-year key financial performance indicator, return on average equity (ROAE), stood at an “impressive” 14.8%, notwithstanding the bank’s capital adequacy ratio of 15.1%. 
Return on average assets (ROAA) was at 2.0%, with an “emphasis” on shareholder value over size.
“There are two highlights to celebrate in the first half of this year,” Ahlibank noted.
The first is the completion of a successful $500mn debut fundraising in the international debt capital markets with a five-year bond, which was 2.4 times oversubscribed by more than 100 leading institutions, against the backdrop of challenging and turbulent financial markets and volatile oil prices. Middle East investors took up (55%), followed by Asia (20%), UK (15%), Europe (6%) and others (4%).
The second highlight is winning the “two prestigious leadership achievement awards” from the Asian Banker for ‘Best Managed Bank in Qatar in 2016’ and ‘Best CEO of the year 2016’, in recognition of the “good financial and business performance” achieved by the entire bank’s management team.
Ahlibank has also received the “coveted” straight through processing (STP) award presented by Commerzbank. The award underlines the “bank’s outstanding STP performance” of 99.77% in 2015 for the execution of commercial payments in euros. 
In addition, during the year, Moody’s has assigned a credit rating of A2/Prime-1 deposit ratings with a “stable” outlook in recognition of Ahlibank’s “strong” asset quality metrics, sound capital and improved funding mix. 
On the results, Ahlibank chairman and managing director Sheikh Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Jassem al-Thani said, “We continue our path of achieving solid results, despite margins pressure. Our emphasis is earnings quality generated from our core operations, and through ensuring consistent delivery of excellent customer service experience. 
“We will continue to invest in the future so that we position the bank for the next generation of banking, which will require a modernisation of our IT infrastructure to support our ambitious plans for business expansion. We are grateful to the Government for its visionary leadership and to the Qatar Central Bank for its continued support and guidance”.