Report of the Board of Directors
Preliminary annual accounts 2018
(Consolidated figures. Figures in parenthesis refer to the same period of 2017 unless otherwise stated)
Main points for 2018
- Post-tax profit was NOK 2,090m, NOK 262m better than in 2017. The improvement is mainly due to increased operating income and reduced loan losses. In addition, the Group recorded a gain of NOK 144m on the sale of the head office building
- Considerable increase in the customer base and high growth in all product areas
- Proposed dividend: NOK 5.10 (4.40) per equity certificate (EC) and an allocation of NOK 373m to non-profit causes (322m)
Post-tax profit of NOK 2,090m
- Pre-tax profit: NOK 2,450m (2,279m)
- Post-tax profit: NOK 2,090m (1,828m)
- Return on equity: 12.2 per cent (11.5 per cent)
- CET1 ratio: 14.6 per cent (14.6 per cent)
- Growth in lending: 7.8 per cent (8.2 per cent) and in deposits: 5.4 per cent (13.9 per cent)
- Share of lending to the retail market 67 per cent (66 per cent)
- Losses on loans and guarantees: NOK 263m (341m)
- Earnings per EC: NOK 9.97 (8.71). Book value per EC: NOK 83.87 (78.81), incl. dividend proposed for 2018
Fourth quarter 2018
- Pre-tax profit: NOK 513m (678m)
- Post-tax profit: NOK 401m (553m)
- Return on equity: 9.0 per cent (13.4 per cent)
- Losses on loans and guarantees: NOK 67m (78m)
- Earnings per EC: NOK 1.90 (2.63)
Profit growth of NOK 262m in 2018
In 2018 SpareBank 1 SMN achieved a pre-tax profit of NOK 2,450m (2,279m). The post-tax profit was NOK 2,090m (1,828m) and return on equity 12.2 per cent (11.5 per cent).
Overall operating income in 2018 came to NOK 4,580m (4,229m), an increase of NOK 349m from the previous year.
The profit share from SpareBank 1 Gruppen and other related companies was NOK 416m (437m). Dividend and return on financial instruments came to NOK 341m (322m), of which NOK 90m was accounted for by a gain resulting from the merger of Vipps, Bank-Axept and Bank ID.
Operating expenses came to NOK 2,624m (2,369m) in 2018. The growth in costs is largely ascribable to the focus on BN Bolig, capacity expansion at SpareBank 1 Markets and growth at SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN.
Losses on loans and guarantees totalled NOK 263m (341m), measuring 0.17 per cent (0.24 per cent) of overall lending. The losses are mainly in oil-related activities.
Good growth was posted in lending and deposits in 2018. Lending rose by 7.8 per cent (8.2 per cent) and deposits by 5.4 per cent (13.9 per cent).
As at 31 December 2018 the CET1 ratio was 14.6 per cent (14.6 per cent). The CET1 ratio target is 15.0 per cent.
The price of the bank’s equity certificate (MING) at year-end was NOK 84.20 (82.25). A cash dividend of NOK 4.40 per EC was paid in 2018 for the year 2017.
Earnings per EC were NOK 9.97 (8.71). The book value per EC was NOK 83.87 (78.81) including the proposed dividend of NOK 5.10. The proposed dividend represents a payout ratio of 50 per cent (50 per cent) of the Group profit.
Proposed distribution of profit
Distribution of the profit for the year is done on the basis of the parent bank’s accounts. The parent bank’s disposable profit includes dividends from subsidiaries, related companies and joint ventures, and is adjusted for interest expenses on hybrid capital after tax.
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated in the Group accounts, whereas profit shares from related companies and joint ventures are consolidated using the equity method. Dividends are accordingly not included in the Group results.
The annual profit for distribution reflects changes of NOK 29m in the unrealised gains reserve.
The total amount for distribution is accordingly NOK 1,857m.
| Difference between Group - Parent Bank | 2018 | 2017 |
| Profit for the year, Group | 2,090 | 1,828 |
| Interest hybrid capital (after tax) | -36 | - 33 |
| Profit for the year excl interest hybrid capital, group | 2,054 | 1,795 |
| Profit, subsidiaries | -165 | -196 |
| Dividend, subsidiaries | 151 | 364 |
| Profit, associates and joint ventures | -416 | -437 |
| Dividend, associates and joint ventures | 355 | 410 |
| Elimination Group | -93 | -119 |
| Profit for the year excl interest hybrid capital, Parent bank | 1,887 | 1,817 |
| Distribution of profit | 2018 | 2017 |
| Profit for the year, Parent bank | 1,887 | 1,817 |
| Transferred to/from revaluation reserve | -29 | 17 |
| Profit for distribution | 1,857 | 1,800 |
| Dividends | 661 | 572 |
| Equalisation fund | 526 | 580 |
| Ownerless capital | 297 | 327 |
| Gifts | 373 | 322 |
| Total distributed | 1,857 | 1,800 |
The profit is distributed between the ownerless capital and the equity certificate (EC) capital in proportion to their relative shares of the bank’s total equity, such that dividends and the allocation to the dividend equalisation fund constitute 64.0 per cent of the distributed profit.
Earnings per equity certificate were NOK 9.97. Of this, the board of directors recommend the bank’s supervisory board to set a cash dividend of NOK 5.10, altogether totalling NOK 661m. This gives the EC holders a payout ratio of 50.4 per cent of the earnings per EC. The board of directors further recommends the supervisory board to allocate NOK 373m as gifts to non-profit causes, also representing a payout ratio of 50.4 per cent. Of this amount it is proposed that NOK 293m be transferred to the foundation Stiftelsen SpareBank 1 SMN and NOK 80m as gifts to non-profit causes. NOK 526m and NOK 297m are transferred to the dividend equalisation fund and the ownerless capital respectively.
After distribution of the profit for 2018, the ratio of EC capital to total equity remains 64.0 per cent.
Increased net interest income
Net interest income rose by NOK 178m to NOK 2,403m (2,225m) in 2018. The increase is mainly down to increased lending to and deposits from both retail and corporate customers, with particularly high growth noted in residential mortgage lending.
The three-month NIBOR averaged 1.07 per cent in 2018 compared with 0.89 per cent in 2017. Despite rising money market rates, the margin on loans to corporates has remained stable, whereas the margin on residential mortgages has narrowed somewhat. Margins were strengthened somewhat by a general increase in residential lending rates in the fourth quarter of 2018. Deposit margins rose in 2018.
Net interest income on loans sold to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt (residential mortgage company) and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt (commercial mortgage company) is recognised as commission income. Commission on loans sold to these two companies totalled NOK 366m (370m) in 2018.
Risk pricing and attention to the use of regulatory capital have brought improved margins, and work in this respect continues in 2019. The bank’s strong growth shows that its prices are in tune with the market.
Increased other income
Commission income and other operating income rose by NOK 172m to NOK 2.177m (2,005m) in 2018.
Income from SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt fell by NOK 5m as a result of some decline in margins on residential mortgages.
Strong income growth at SpareBank 1 Markets and SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN are the main reason for the increase in other income.
A high number of multi-product customers is important for the bank. It signifies high customer satisfaction and provides the bank with a diversified income flow.
| Commission income (NOKm) | 2018 | 2017 | Change |
| Payment transfers | 207 | 207 | 0 |
| Creditcard | 60 | 59 | 0 |
| Saving products | 123 | 117 | 6 |
| Insurance | 174 | 172 | 2 |
| Guarantee commission | 61 | 69 | -8 |
| Real estate agency | 376 | 365 | 11 |
| Accountancy services | 421 | 357 | 64 |
| Markets | 335 | 214 | 121 |
| Other commissions | 54 | 75 | -21 |
| Commissions ex SB1 Boligkreditt and SB1 Næringskreditt | 1,811 | 1,635 | 177 |
| Commissions SB1 Boligkreditt | 350 | 353 | -4 |
| Commissions SB1 Næringskreditt | 16 | 17 | -1 |
| Total commissions | 2,177 | 2,005 | 172 |
Return on financial investments
Overall return on financial investments was NOK 341m (322m). This breaks down as follows:
- Gain of NOK 103m (67m) on shares of the bank and subsidiaries. Of this, NOK 90m refers to the gain resulting from the merger between Vipps, Bank Axept and Bank ID
- Financial derivatives have yielded gains of NOK 187m (124m). This essentially comprises gains on fixed income instruments. The rise in interest rates in 2018 has brought relatively large gains. This is partly neutralised by losses on fixed income bonds, showing an overall loss of NOK 77m (gain of NOK 58m)
- Other financial instruments measured at fair value include value changes on the bank’s portfolio of fixed interest loans and show a gain of NOK 10m (7m)
- Income of NOK 63m (45m) from forex transactions comprises income from currency trading at SpareBank 1 Markets and the result of exchange rate fluctuations on the bank’s funding in foreign currencies
- Gains on shares and share derivatives at SpareBank 1 Markets totalled NOK 58m (43m)
- The prices of financial instruments used by the bank for hedging purposes were lowered and the bank has recognised a net loss of NOK 4m (loss of NOK 22m) on hedging instruments
| Return on financial investments (NOKm) | 2018 | 2017 | Change |
| Capital gains shares (incl dividends) | 103 | 67 | 36 |
| Gain/(loss) on derivatives | 187 | 124 | 63 |
| Gain/(loss) on other financial instruments at fair value (FVO) | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Foreign exchange gain/(loss) | 63 | 45 | 18 |
| Gain/(loss) on sertificates and bonds | -77 | 58 | -135 |
| Gain/(loss) on shares and share derivatives at SpareBank 1 Markets | 58 | 43 | 15 |
| Gain/(loss) on financial instruments related to hedging | -4 | -22 | 18 |
| Net return on financial instruments | 341 | 322 | 19 |
Product companies and other related companies
The product companies give the bank’s customers access to a broad product range and thus provide the bank with commission income. The product companies also provide the banks with a good return on invested capital. The overall profit of the product companies and other related companies was NOK 416m (437m) in 2018.
SpareBank 1 Gruppen
SpareBank 1 Gruppen owns 100 per cent of the shares of SpareBank 1 Forsikring, SpareBank 1 Skadeforsikring, ODIN Forvaltning and SpareBank 1 Gruppen Finans. SpareBank 1 SMN’s stake in SpareBank 1 Gruppen is 19.5 per cent.
SpareBank 1 Gruppen’s post-tax profit in 2018 was NOK 1,480m (1,811m). SpareBank 1 Gruppen’s pre-tax profit was impaired by lower financial income of the insurers as a whole and weaker operating profit of the non-life insurance business as a result of higher claims payments. The post-tax profit is heavily affected by changes in the tax rules governing life and non-life insurers. The rule change was adopted in in December with effect for 2018 and resulted in a write-back of deferred tax worth NOK 330m for SpareBank 1 Gruppen in the fourth quarter.
SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of the profit for 2018 was NOK 289m (349m).
SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt
SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt was established by the banks making up the SpareBank 1 Alliance to draw benefit from the market for covered bonds. The banks sell well-secured residential mortgages to the company and achieve reduced funding costs.
As at 31 December 2018 the bank had sold loans totalling NOK 38.1bn (34.9bn) to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt, corresponding to 35.2 per cent (35.3 per cent) of the Group’s overall lending to retail borrowers.
The bank’s stake in SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt in 2018 was 19.9 per cent, and the bank’s share of that company’s profit in 2018 was minus NOK 7m (minus 41m).
The new stake as at 31 December 2018 is NOK 20.7 per cent.
SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt
SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt was established along the same lines and with the same administration as SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt. As at 31 December 2018, loans worth NOK 1.8bn (1.8bn) had been sold to SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt.
SpareBank 1 SMN’s stake in the company in 2018 was 33.5 per cent, and the bank’s share of the company’s profit for 2018 was NOK 15m (19m). The bank’s holding reflects the bank’s relative share of commercial property loans sold and the bank’s stake in BN Bank. Of aggregate loans residing in SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt, 41 per cent have been sold from BN Bank. The new stake as of 31 December 2018 is 33.0 per cent.
SpareBank 1 Kredittkort
The profit for 2018 was NOK 131m (84m). SpareBank 1 Kredittkort is owned by the SpareBank 1 banks, and SpareBank 1 SMN has a stake of 17.4 per cent. SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of the profit for 2018 was NOK 23m (15m), and the bank’s share of the portfolio is NOK 923m (845m).
SpareBank 1 SMN Kredittkort has managed the LOfavør credit card programme since 1 January 2017, thereby expanding the business relationship between the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the SpareBank 1 Alliance.
SpareBank 1 Kredittkort was commissioned in 2017 to deliver credit products to an expanded Vipps.
BN Bank
SpareBank 1 SMN owns 33.0 per cent of BN Bank as at 31 December 2018.
BN Bank recorded a profit of NOK 278m (298m) in 2018, providing a return on equity of 7.5 per cent (8.3 per cent). SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of BN Bank’s profit for 2018 was NOK 97m (98m), adjusted for its share of BN Bolig’s profit.
Since the decision was made to wind down the focus on financing of commercial property, the corporate portfolio has been reduced by NOK 17.6bn, or 56 per cent, since 30 September 2015. This has helped to improve SpareBank 1 SMN’s financial solidity and to enhance the profitability of the remaining corporate portfolio of BN Bank.
BN Bank will cater primarily to the retail market in Oslo and south-eastern Norway.
BN Bank has resolved to strengthen its product platform through a cautious focus on consumer lending. In addition the company has, in collaboration with Eiendomsmegler 1 Midt Norge, established the company BN Bolig in which BN Bank holds a 50 per cent stake. The focus on estate agency in the Oslo market is intended to strengthen BN Bank’s residential mortgage lending. To support the focus on estate agency, the bank’s board of directors has also adopted a new programme for funding mainly housing projects. This will involve a controlled, gradual build-up of the portfolio.
SpareBank 1 Betaling (Vipps)
SpareBank 1 Betaling is the SpareBank 1 banks’ parent company for payments solutions, including Vipps. A decision to merge Bank ID and Bank Axept with Vipps was adopted in order to compete in the arena for payment solutions for the future, and the merger was carried out in the third quarter of 2018. Vipps aims to take its place as the Nordic region’s leading financial technology company, and SpareBank 1 SMN’s stake in, and close collaboration with, Vipps will be important with a view to retaining customer relationships after the introduction of PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive). Vipps launched a number of new products in 2018 designed to simplify bank customers’ everyday life, and has high ambitions to develop this solution further.
SpareBank 1 Betaling posted in 2018 a deficit of NOK 56m which constitutes the company’s share of Vipps’ financial result. SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of this deficit is NOK 12m. In addition SpareBank 1 SMN pays Vipps, annually and under the same principal as the other parent banks, NOK 9.5m in distribution costs.
SpareBank 1 SMN took to income a gain of NOK 90m in the second quarter related to the adopted merger.
Operating expenses
Overall Group operating expenses rose by NOK 255m in 2018 to total NOK 2,624m (2,369m).
Parent bank costs rose by NOK 53m to NOK 1,262m in 2018, of which NOK 11m relates to the sale of the bank’s head office building in Trondheim. Excluding this one-time cost, parent bank costs have risen by 3.5 per cent.
Continuous efficiency gains by the bank have enabled lower staffing and reduced costs. Since 31 December 2014 the number of FTEs at the parent bank has been reduced by 178 to 575. Changing customer behaviour and new technology will contribute to further efficiency gains.
Extensive digitalisation creates new opportunities, but also poses threats to the banking industry. The bank has invested heavily in new self-service solutions and a customer-relationship management (CRM) system. Concurrently, increased regulatory requirements bring a need for increased capacity and expertise. The bank devoted substantial resources in 2018 to combating money laundering, and this work will continue.
In 2018 staffing was reduced by 20 FTEs at the same time as the bank has recruited new staff in the areas of data warehousing, digital marketing, technology and compliance. Replacing expertise has brought increased wage growth.
Costs among the subsidiaries came to NOK 1,362m (1,160m), having risen by NOK 202m in 2018. Of this increase, NOK 58m refers to SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN’s company acquisitions, NOK 93m to the build-up of SpareBank 1 Markets and NOK 42m to the BN Bolig undertaking. The subsidiaries maintain a continuous focus on cost control.
SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN’s increased activity provides income growth and profit growth for the company. Capacity expansion has enabled strong income growth and profit improvement at SpareBank 1 Markets, and the potential for further growth is high.
The cost-income ratio was 49 per cent (47 per cent) for the Group, 33 per cent (32 per cent) for the parent bank.
Reduced losses and low defaults
IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement was replaced by IFRS 9: Financial Instruments on 1 January 2018. The implementation effect is reflected directly in equity as of 1 January 2018. See notes 2 and 45 in the annual report for 2017, and note 1 in this report, for further details.
Loan losses of NOK 263m (341m) were recorded in 2018. Loan losses measure 0.17 per cent of total outstanding loans (0.24 per cent). Loan losses in the fourth quarter came to NOK 67m (78m).
A loss of NOK 223m (324m) was recorded on loans to corporates in 2018, in all essentials related to loans to oil-related activity.
A loss of NOK 40m (17m) was recorded on loans to retail borrowers in 2018. Of the losses on retail customers, NOK 17m relate to residential mortgages and NOK 23m to car loans and consumer loans at SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge.
Write-downs on loans and guarantees totalled NOK 909m (1,155m) as at 31 December 2018. The net decrease of NOK 246m consists of actual losses of NOK 417m reducing the write-downs, and an increase in the provision for expected credit losses of NOK 171m.
Overall problem loans (defaulted and doubtful) come to NOK 1,682m (1,468m), or 1.0 per cent (0.99 per cent) of gross outstanding loans, including loans sold to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt.
Defaults in excess of 90 days totalled NOK 310m (284m). Defaults measure 0.19 per cent (0.19 per cent) of gross outstanding loans including loans sold to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt. Of the overall default volume, NOK 30m is loss provisioned (55m), corresponding to 14 per cent (20 per cent).
Defaults break down to NOK 69m on corporates (75m) and NOK 242m on retail borrowers (209m).
Other doubtful exposures total NOK 1,372m (1,184m). Other doubtful exposures measure 0.86 per cent (0.80 per cent) of gross outstanding loans, including loans sold to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt. NOK 527m (714m), or 52 per cent (60 per cent), has been written down.
Other doubtful exposures break down to NOK 1,018m (1,164m) on corporate borrowers and NOK 40m (21m) on retail borrowers.
Credit quality in the loan portfolio is good. A very large share of the year’s loan losses refers to oil-related activities, but the trend is positive in that part of the portfolio too.
Total assets of NOK 161bn
The bank's assets totalled NOK 161bn (153bn) as at 31 December 2018, having grown by NOK 8bn or 4.9 per cent in the past year. The increase in total assets is mainly a consequence of a higher lending volume.
As at 31 December 2018 loans worth a total of NOK 40bn (37bn) had been sold from SpareBank 1 SMN to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt. These loans do not figure as loans in the bank’s balance sheet. The comments covering lending growth do however take into account loans sold to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt.
High growth in residential mortgage lending
Total outstanding loans rose by NOK 11.5bn (11.2bn) or 7.8 per cent (8.2 per cent) in 2018 to reach NOK 160.3bn (148.8bn) as at 31 December 2018.
- Lending to personal borrowers rose in 2018 by NOK 9.4bn (9.3bn) to NOK 108.1bn (98.7bn). Growth of 9.6 per cent (10.4 per cent)
- Lending to corporates rose in 2018 by NOK 2.1bn (1.5bn) to NOK 52.2bn (50.1bn). Growth of 4.2 per cent (4.1 per cent)
Growth in residential mortgage lending is high and the bank’s market shares are rising. There are no indications of higher loss and default levels in the bank’s residential mortgage portfolio, and the quality of this portfolio is good.
New loans to corporate borrowers are mainly to farm enterprises and small businesses and are prioritised with a basis in capital limitations and profitability requirements.
SpareBank 1 SMN has in recent years increased the share of its loans going to personal customers, and personal loans accounted for 67 per cent (66 per cent) of total outstanding loans as at 31 December 2018.
(For distribution by sector, see note 5).
Deposits
Customer deposits rose by NOK 4.1bn (9.3bn) in 2018 to reach NOK 80.6bn (76.5bn). This represents a growth of 5.4 per cent (13.9 per cent).
- Personal deposits rose by NOK 1.3bn (2.0bn) or 4.0 per cent (6.8 per cent) to reach NOK 33.1bn
- Corporate deposits rose by NOK 2.9bn (7.3bn) or 6.5 per cent (19.5 per cent) to NOK 47.6bn
- The deposit-to-loan ratio at SpareBank 1 SMN was 67 per cent (68 per cent) as at 31 December 2018. The deposit-to-loan ratio including SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt was 50 per cent (51 per cent)
Deposit growth at the bank was satisfactory in 2018, both as regards personal and corporate customers.
(For distribution by sector, see note 9).
Investment products
The customer portfolio of off-balance sheet investment products totalled NOK 9.8bn (10.0bn) at the end of 2018. The overall decline of NOK 0.3bn on equity funds was driven by the stock exchange decline in the second half of 2018.
| Saving products, customer portfolio (NOKm) | 2018 | 2017 | Change |
| Equity funds | 5,932 | 6,235 | -303 |
| Pension products | 755 | 840 | -85 |
| Active management | 3,147 | 2,989 | 158 |
| Total | 9,834 | 10,064 | -230 |
Insurance
The bank’s insurance portfolio grew by 9.3 per cent in 2018. Good growth was recorded across the various products, and was largest in the case of occupational pensions at 25 per cent.
| Insurance, premium volume (NOKm) | 2018 | 2017 | Change |
| Non-life insurance | 812 | 769 | 43 |
| Personal insurance | 351 | 327 | 24 |
| Occupational pensions | 289 | 232 | 57 |
| Total | 1,452 | 1,328 | 124 |
Retail Banking
Outstanding loans to retail borrowers totalled NOK 113bn (103bn) and deposits totalled NOK 40bn (37bn) as at 31 December. These are loans to and deposits from wage earners, agricultural customers and sole proprietorships.
Operating income totalled NOK 2,027m (1,926m) in 2018. Net interest income accounted for NOK 1,234m (1,137m) and commission income for NOK 793m (789m). The income growth is mainly due to increased lending and deposit volumes. Overall income rose by NOK 101m. Return on capital employed in the retail banking segment was 13.2 per cent (16.6 per cent). Capital employed is based on regulatory risk weights and a 15 per cent capital requirement, corresponding to the Group’s targeted CET1 ratio.
The lending margin in 2018 was 1.69 per cent (1.93 per cent), while the deposit margin was 0.27 per cent (0.11 per cent) measured against three-month NIBOR. The average of average three-month NIBOR was 0.18 percentage points higher in 2018 than in 2017.
Retail lending and retail deposits grew by 9.3 per cent (10.0 per cent) and 7.7 per cent (6.7 per cent) respectively in 2018.
Costs in the retail segment increased by NOK 10m to NOK 804m in 2018, and staffing was reduced by 34 FTEs to 316 FTEs over the year. Retail Banking introduced a new CRM system, ‘Iver’. Iver has improved, and enhanced the efficiency of, customer treatment and strengthened the interplay between analogue and digital services.
Lending to retail borrowers carries low risk, as reflected in low losses. There are no indications of increased loss and non-performance levels in the bank’s residential mortgage portfolio. The mortgages are secured by residential property.
Retail Banking’s executive director, Svein Tore Samdal, took over as CEO of BN Bank as from 1 December 2018. Nelly Maske is the new executive director of the retail banking business. She comes from the position of executive director of Organisation and Development.
Corporate Banking
Outstanding loans to corporates totalled NOK 41bn (39bn) and deposits totalled NOK 39bn (39bn) as at 31 December 2018. This is a diversified portfolio of loans to and deposits from corporate clients in the counties of Trøndelag and Møre and Romsdal.
Operating income totalled NOK 1,329m (1,315m) in 2018. Net interest income was NOK 1,110m (1,108m), and commission income came to NOK 219m (207m).
Expenses rose by NOK 8m to NOK 373m in 2018 while staffing was unchanged over the year, standing at 148 FTEs at year-end.
Overall net losses in the corporate banking segment have declined and were NOK 212m (318m) in 2018. The losses are in all essentials related to the challenges faced in oil-related activities.
Return on capital employed for the corporate banking segment was 11.3 per cent in 2018 (10.5 per cent). Capital employed is based on regulatory risk weights and a 15 per cent capital requirement, corresponding to the Group’s targeted CET1 ratio.
The lending margin was 2.73 per cent (2.80 per cent) and the deposit margin was minus 0.04 per cent (minus 0.11 per cent) as per the fourth quarter of 2018.
Lending rose by 2.2 per cent (1.5 per cent) and deposits rose by 1.3 per cent (19.5 per cent) in 2018.
Subsidiaries
The bank’s subsidiaries posted an overall pre-tax profit of NOK 225.1m in 2018 (258.1m). The figures below are taken from the respective company accounts.
| Pre-tax profit (NOKm) | 2018 | 2017 | Change |
| EiendomsMegler 1 Midt-Norge | -22.9 | 2.6 | -25.5 |
| SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge | 148.5 | 128.3 | 20.2 |
| SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN | 70.4 | 60.3 | 10.0 |
| Sparebank 1 Markets | 15.1 | 1.9 | 13.3 |
| SpareBank 1 SMN Invest | 8.0 | 43.3 | -35.3 |
| Other companies | 6.0 | 21.6 | -15.7 |
| Total | 225.1 | 258.1 | -33,1 |
Eiendomsmegler 1 Midt-Norge leads the field in Trøndelag and in Møre and Romsdal with a very strong market position, in Trondheim in particular. The company intends to continue to strengthen its market share in the region. In collaboration with BN Bank, the company has established BN Bolig in which EiendomsMegler 1 and BN Bank each hold a 50 per cent stake. The focus on estate agency in the Oslo market will, in addition to enhancing estate agency earnings, contribute to stronger residential mortgage lending growth for BN Bank.
EiendomsMegler 1 recorded a deficit of NOK 22.9m in 2018 (plus 2.6m). The profit performance is weakened mainly by:
- A profit of NOK 20.2m for EiendomsMegler 1 (37.4m) due to cost growth, and reduced incomes. Incomes fell as a result of fewer dwelling units sold and lower income per unit. 6,633 dwelling units were sold in 2018 compared with 6,712 in 2017
- A negative pre-tax profit of NOK 40.7m (negative profit of NOK 32.3m) at BN Bank. EiendomsMegler 1 Midt-Norge consolidates BN Bolig’s results as a subsidiary. BN Bolig has built capacity to take a position in the real estate brokerage market in Oslo
SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge delivered a profit of NOK 148.5m in 2018 (128.3m). The good profit growth is due to high growth in income and limited growth in costs. The company’s business areas are mainly leasing to the SMB market and car loans to retail customers. The portfolio of leasing and car loan agreements is worth a total of NOK 7.5bn, of which leasing agreements account for NOK 2.9bn (2.8bn) and car loans for NOK 4.6bn (3.7bn). The company also offers consumer loans, and at year-end that portfolio was worth NOK 0.3bn (0.2bn).
The Samspar banks in SpareBank 1 held a 27.9 per cent stake in SpareBank 1 Finans Midt-Norge at 31 December 2018 while Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane held a stake of 7.5 per cent. The remaining shares are held by SpareBank 1 SMN.
SpareBank 1 Regnskapshuset SMN posted a pre-tax profit of NOK 70.4m (60.3m) in 2018. The profit growth is ascribable to sound operations and to the fact that the company has undergone substantial expansion, mainly through the acquisition of accounting firms in Trøndelag and in Møre and Romsdal. The company has 450 employees and an annual turnover of NOK 445m. 10,000 businesses avail themselves of Regnskapshuset, which has offices in 40 locations and a market share of 26 per cent.
The company caters to the SMB segment with its technologically modern platform and broad range of services.
Sparebanken SMN Invest invests in shares, mainly in regional businesses. The company posted a net profit of NOK 8.0m in 2018 (43.3m).
Value changes and realisation of losses or gains on the company’s overall holding of shares account for minus NOK 0.9m of the company’s total income. The company has in addition ownership interests in the property company Grilstad Marina, and its share of the latter’s profit in 2018 was NOK 13.4m.
SpareBank 1 Markets is a subsidiary of SpareBank 1 SMN with a stake of 66.7 per cent. Other owners are SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, SpareBank 1 SR Bank, SpareBank 1 Østlandet and the SamSpar banks. SpareBank 1 Markets is headquartered in Oslo and has offices in Trondheim, Ålesund and Stavanger. It has a staff of 143.
SpareBank 1 Markets wholly owns SpareBank 1 Kapitalforvaltning (formerly Allegro Kapitalforvaltning and SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge Forvaltning). The company is at centre-stage of SpareBank 1 Markets’ focus on asset management with aggregate total assets of NOK 16bn. The company has a staff of 17.
SpareBank 1 Markets’ consolidated pre-tax profit as per 31 December 2018 was NOK 15.1m (1.9m). A strong income trend is noted, particularly in income from equity and bond issues, share trading and forex/interest rate derivatives compared with the previous year.
DeBank AS
SpareBank 1 SMN has, with effect from first January 2019, acquired the shares in DeBank, which is head quartered in Trondheim and has 18 employees. As at first half year 2018 the company had lending capital of NOK 90 million, revenues of NOK 6,0 million and pretax profit of minus 13,2 million. No employees will be laid off as a consequence of the acquisition. DeBank will until further continue its operations as a subsidiary of SpareBank 1 SMN. SpareBank 1 SMN has increased focus on small and medium sized businesses and will by this acquisition strengthen its offering in the area of financing receivables, a rapidly growing market.
Søndre gate 4-10 AS
SpareBank 1 SMN accepted a bid at Søndre gate no. 4-10 in Trondheim city centre at November 9, 2017. SpareBank 1 SMN and its subsidiaries will lease back about 70 per cent of the overall area on a 15 year lease with the option of a lease extension. Estimated gross annual rental in 2018 amounts to NOK 36.4 million. The gross property value underlying the bid is NOK 755 million and provided SpareBank 1 SMN with a net gain after an estimated tax rebate and transaction costs of NOK 144 million. The transaction was completed in 2Q 2018.
Satisfactory funding and good liquidity
The bank has a conservative liquidity strategy which attaches importance to maintaining liquidity reserves that ensure the bank’s ability to survive 12 months of ordinary operation without need of fresh external funding.
The bank has liquidity reserves of NOK 26bn and has the funding needed for 25 months of ordinary operation without fresh external finance.
The government authorities require all credit institutions to maintain sufficient liquidity buffers to withstand periods of limited access to market funding. The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) measures the size of banks’ liquid assets relative to net liquidity outflow 30 days ahead given a stressed situation. The LCR is calculated at 183 per cent as at 31 December 2018 (164 per cent). The requirement is 100 per cent.
The Group’s deposit-to-loan ratio at 31 December 2018, including SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt, was 50 per cent (51 per cent).
The bank’s funding sources and products are amply diversified. At end-December 2018 the proportion of the bank’s overall money market funding in excess of 1 year was 89 per cent (80 per cent).
SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt is an important funding source, and residential mortgages totalling NOK 38bn had been sold as at 31 December 2018.
Rating
The bank has a rating of A1 (outlook negative) with Moody’s and a rating of A- (outlook stable) with Fitch Ratings. Moody’s revised in July 2017 its outlook for SpareBank 1 SMN and other Norwegian banks from a stable to a negative outlook. The change was triggered by the implementation of the EU’s bank recovery and resolution directive (BRRD) in Norwegian legislation.
Financial soundness
The CET1 ratio at 31 December 2018 was 14.6 per cent (14.6 per cent). The Group’s CET1 ratio target is 15.0 per cent. The government’s CET1 ratio requirement is 14.1 per cent.
Risk weighted assets increased by 6.7 per cent in 2018 in all essentials due to high growth in residential mortgage lending and an increased capital requirement related to the transitional arrangement under the capital requirements framework. CET1 capital rose by 7.0 per cent due to a good profit performance again in 2018.
The leverage ratio is 7.4 per cent (7.2 per cent at the turn of the year).
The CET1 requirement including combined buffer requirements is 12 per cent. When a Pillar 2 requirement of 2.1 per cent is added, the government authorities’ overall CET1 requirement comes to 14.1 per cent.
Finanstilsynet’s (Norway’s FSA) final assessment of the add-on for risks not adequately covered by Pillar 1 was set at 2.1 per cent in 2015. The add-on relates mainly to owner risk, market risk and concentration risk with regard to credit. SpareBank 1 SMN aims for a management buffer of about 1 per cent above overall Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 requirements in order to absorb fluctuations in risk-weighted assets and fluctuations in Group profit. In light of this, the Group’s capital target at the end of 2018 is 15 per cent. In the fourth quarter of 2018 Finanstilsynet reduced the Pillar 2 add-on to 1.9 per cent, however not below NOK 1,794m, with effect from 2019.
Finanstilsynet recommended on 18 October 2018 by letter to the Ministry of Finance that SpareBank 1 SMN, as one of several regional banks, should be defined as systemically important (SIFI). If Finanstilsynet’s view is upheld, SpareBank 1 SMN will need to meet a SIFI buffer requirement of 2 percentage points. This will bring the overall CET1 requirement to 16.1 per cent, given the present level of the countercyclical buffer and the current Pillar 2 add-on.
The CET1 capital ratio without transitional rules is 16.9 per cent as of 31 December 2018. The increased buffer requirement is offset by the effect SpareBank 1 SMN will achieve once the specifically Norwegian capital requirement connected to the transitional measures no longer applies.
The bank’s equity certificate (MING)
The book value of the equity certificate (EC) at 31 December 2018 (including a recommended dividend of NOK 5.10) was NOK 83.87 (78.81) and earnings per EC were NOK 9.97 (8.71).
The Price / Income ratio was 8.44 (9.44) and the Price / Book ratio was 1.00 (1.04).
At quarter-end the EC was priced at NOK 84.20, and dividend of NOK 4.40 per EC was paid in 2018 for the year 2017.
Risk factors
The Group’s problem loans reflect the challenges related to the offshore industry. As at 31 December 2018, loans to oil-related activity accounted for 2.6 per cent of the Group’s overall lending. The credit quality of the bank’s wider loan portfolio is satisfactory. There have been no contagion effects from oil-related activity to other sectors and no other concentrations in non-performing and problem exposures are in evidence.
Positive growth signals are noted both internationally and in Norway, but there is increased uncertainty related to trade conflicts. The Norwegian krone has appreciated somewhat during 2018, but was weakening towards the end of the year. It remains at a relatively weak level, which is favourable for Norwegian export industries. Some strengthening of the krone is expected ahead. Real wage growth is expected to increase somewhat. Combined with a continued low interest rate level, the bank considers loss risk in the bank’s retail market portfolio to be low. Unemployment has declined in the bank’s market area, and the bank expects the level of unemployment to remain relatively low ahead.
Credit growth among Norwegian households continues to outstrip household wage growth, but the rate of growth has declined through 2018. Interest rate increases could impact negatively on house prices, which will probably dampen credit demand. Falling house prices and expectations of higher interest rates are likely to prompt a higher savings rate among Norwegian households, potentially resulting in reduced turnover for parts of Norwegian business and industry.
The bank’s profits are affected directly and indirectly by fluctuations in securities markets, and the valuation of basis swaps in particular contributes to volatility. The indirect effect relates very largely to the bank’s ownership interest in SpareBank 1 Gruppen whose insurance business and fund management activities are both affected by such fluctuations.
The bank is also exposed to risk related to access to external funding. This is reflected in the bank’s conservative liquidity strategy (see the above section on funding and liquidity).
Insurance merger
SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS and DNB ASA signed on 24 September 2018 an agreement to amalgamate their insurance businesses. The merger was approved by Finanstilsynet on 21 December and entered into force with effect from 1 January 2019. The merged entity’s name is Fremtind Forsikring AS. As part of the transaction, the plan is to demerge the individual personal risk insurances from SpareBank 1 Forsikring AS (life company) and DNB Life Insurance, and the company-paid personal risk insurances from SpareBank 1 Forsikring AS, to the merged company. This part of the transaction is planned to be carried out in the course of the first quarter of 2019.
The transaction agreement incorporates a swap ratio of 80 per cent for SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS and 20 per cent for DNB ASA. This swap ratio is based on the negotiated market value of the two non-life-insurers, including the value of the personal risk products in the planned demerger. DNB ASA will thereafter acquire a 35 per cent stake in the company. DNB has in addition secured an option to purchase a stake of up to 40 per cent.
In the transaction the new non-life company is valued at NOK 19.75bn, including the value of personal risk products. Fremtind, without the personal risk products, is valued at NOK 13.5bn. Based on figures as at 31 December 2017 and pro forma consolidated accounts, the merger and DNB’s acquisition from a 20 to a 35 per cent stake, will in aggregate entail an increase of about NOK 4.7bn in SpareBank 1 Gruppen’s equity at group level. The majority’s (the SpareBank 1 banks and the Trade Union Confederation) share of this increase is about NOK 2.5bn. SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of this increase (19.5 per cent) is about NOK 488m. However, this brings virtually no change in the Group’s CET1 ratio, the reason being that the increased book value of the stake in SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS increases the deduction from CET1 capital and increases risk weighted assets. Overall this virtually neutralises the effect of increased book values.
SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS (parent company) will, before the effect of any transfer of personal risk products is taken into account, receive a tax-free gain of about NOK 1.71bn as a result of the disinvestment to DNB ASA. SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS’s basis for dividend payment increases by the same amount. SpareBank 1 SMN’s share of any dividend comes to NOK 334m. The dividend payment will reduce the value of the Group’s investment in SpareBank 1 Gruppen, thereby also reducing both the deduction from CET1 capital and the size of risk-weighted assets (see preceding paragraph). The Group’s capital adequacy ratio will accordingly rise. Based on the Group’s accounting figures as at 31 December 2018, the increase in the Group’s CET1 ratio will be an estimated 0.3-0.4 percentage points. Any dividend from SpareBank 1 Gruppen AS will be conditional upon the capital situation and decisions of the company’s governing bodies and cannot be implemented until the second quarter of 2019 at the earliest.
Outlook
The economic prospects for Trøndelag and Møre and Romsdal are good. The bank’s expectations barometer shows increased optimism in business and industry.
The board of directors is pleased with the bank’s continued strengthening of its position in the retail market, as reflected in the expanded customer base and strong growth in residential mortgage lending. This confirms that the strategy of being a digital bank with a personal and local signature is a strategy that works. The bank expects a lending growth in excess of market growth again in 2019.
The bank is strengthening its position as the leading bank for small businesses through its broad product range, good digital solutions and skilled advisers. The acquisition of DeBank expands the range of products available to corporate clients. The growth in lending to corporate clients is primarily in the area of small and medium-sized businesses. This is expected to continue.
Losses in 2018 are lower than in 2017, and are in all essentials within oil-related activities. A positive trend is noted in the bank’s exposure within this portfolio. Losses in the bank’s portfolio of other loans remain very small. Loan losses are at a low level, and the bank expects that losses in 2019 will not be higher than in 2018.
The financial industry faces major changes. The Revised Payment Services Directive, PSD2, provides large potentials for improving the customer experience. The bank and the SpareBank 1 Alliance have set themselves the ambitious goal of offering better services and adding more value for existing and new customers.The investments will increase as a result of this, but the ambition of zero growth in the the parent bank expenses has not changed.
SpareBank 1 Gruppen and DNB’s merger of their non-life insurance businesses confirms the value of the banks’ distribution model, brings greater effectiveness and efficiency and a further strengthening of competitive power in the insurance market. The bank will post a substantial gain in 2019 as a result of the transaction.
The CET1 ratio stands at 14.6 per cent and is slightly below the Group’s objective. The leverage ratio of 7.4 per cent shows that the bank is financially very solid. The bank will continue to focus on capital efficiency and effectiveness with a view to strengthening its profitability and safeguarding its financial soundness. The board of directors expect the Group’s capital target to be met through management of capital-intensive activities. In the fourth quarter of 2018 Finanstilsynet lowered the bank’s Pillar 2 requirement by 0.2 percentage points to 1.9 per cent, with effect from 2019.
CEO Finn Haugan will step down from his position in spring 2019, after 28 years. Jan Frode Jansson takes over as CEO from the same point in time.
The board of directors is well satisfied with the Group’s achievements and financial results in 2018 and expects 2019 to be another good year featuring strengthened banking operations, sound growth and improved solidity.
| Trondheim, 6. february 2019 | ||
| The Board of Directors of SpareBank 1 SMN | ||
| Kjell Bjordal | Bård Benum | Paul E. Hjelm-Hansen |
| (chair) | (deputy chair) | |
| Mette Kamsvåg | Tonje Eskeland Foss | Morten Loktu |
| Janne T. Thomsen | Erik Gunnes | Venche Johnsen |
| (employee rep.) | (employee rep.) | |
| Finn Haugan | ||
| (Group CEO) | ||
