– From 2015, ratio of Non Performing Loans (NPL) has climbed from 6.2% to 10.4% in Q1 of 2019
– High default rate means banks will be tougher on extending loans to clients with SMEs being badly hit
– Bad credit score has led to over 500,000 Kenyans to be blacklisted on CRB and thus cant easily access loans
– National Bank, HF Group , SCBK, NIC and I&M Holdings are among banks with high rate of NPL
– DTBK, KCB Group, Barclays, Equity, Coop Bank and Stanbic Bank have fairer gross NPL ratios
Banks in Kenya may be forced to tighten the noose on customers seeking to secure loans. This is if the current default rate in the borrowing sector is anything to go by.
A freshly released review on listed commercial banks has revealed the rate of Non Performing Loans (NPL) has since 2015 increased by 4.2% and currently stands at 10.4%.
READ ALSO: Filing Tax Returns: Good news for taxpayers as KRA extends working hours
From 2015, ratio of Non Performing Loans (NPL) has climbed from 6.2% to 10.4% in Q1 of 2019. Photo: Cytonn
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Safaricom introduces reverse call service
The report, covering the first quarter of 2019, expressed fear that SMEs may be among the hardest hit if banks decide to strictly lend to clients with proven abilities to service their loans.
“The increased NPLs and adoption of IFRS 9 has forced banks to adopt a more stringent risk assessment framework, to effectively reduce financial impairments and consequently the provisioning requirements required under the new reporting standard, leading to reduced credit extension,” read the study released on Monday, June 17 by Investment Company Cytonn.
In 2018, the rate stood at 9.8% but by close of Q1 of 2019 it has climbed by 0.6% to hit 10.4%. In 2015, the reports said NPL stood at 6.2%, in 2016 (7.3%) and 2017 (8.5%).
READ ALSO: Kiambu: Seven AP officers in trouble for assaulting deputy county commissioner
High default rate in 2018 was attributed to delays in government payments and spilled over effects of 2017.
” Banks cite delays in government payments and spilled over effects of 2017 as the major reasons for the rise in NPLs, in real estate, personal and household, and real estate segments.
We expect the level of provisioning to increase going forward as banks continue to adopt IFRS 9 that requires a forward looking approach to estimate credit losses, coupled with increased provisioning for the deteriorating financial assets,” a review report released in 2018 read.
High default rate means banks will be tougher on extending loans to clients with SMEs being badly hit. Photo: UGC
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Nandi police boss who watched as Governor Sang cleared tea farms moved
This comes hardly a week after Treasury Henry CS Henry Rotich reveled the proposed 2019/20 budget had earmarked about KSh 10 billion to pay off business entities.
The pending bills are estimated to be about KSh 300 billion.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had ealier directed all the bills be settled by county accounting officers as long the did not attract any audit queries.
Among the banks badly hit by NPL crisis is National Bank whose rate stands at 48.5%, HF Group (27.5%), SCBK (15.9%), NIC Bank 13.9% and I&M Holdings 13.0%.
Banks with the least Gross NPL ratio are DTBK 7.3%, KCB 7.7%, Barclays 8.1%, Equity Bank 9.2% and Coop Bank 9.2%.
READ ALSO: Mwanamke, 22, ahukumiwa kifungo cha maisha baada ya kumnajisi mvulana wa miaka 6
National Bank, HF Group , SCBK, NIC and I&M Holdings are among banks with high rate of NPL. Photo: Cytonn
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Je, hawa ndio marafiki wa DP Ruto wanaompa Rais Uhuru Kenyatta kichefuchefu?
At least 500,000 Kenyans have been blacklisted by CRB after defaulting on different loans.
Quick mobile loans have been attributed to the high number of borrowers, most of whom are the youth, ending up with a stained credit score.
Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through [email protected] or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.
Kenya’s First Lesbian Pastor
Source: Tuko
