NPL ratio of thrift banks improves

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines). Wikipedia photo

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas yesterday reported that an improvement on non-performing loans (NPL) of thrift banks is seen as it went down to 4.94 percent of the total outstanding portfolio, first quarter this year.

NPLs are obligations that remain unpaid for at least 30 days after original due date.

This year’s figure is big leap from the 5.46 percent ratio during last year’s fourth quarter. It is also a marked improvement from the 6.13 percent recorded a year ago.

“Thrift banks’ bad loans remained low across economic activities as gleaned from manufacturing; real estate; other community, social and personal service act; private households with employed persons; loans to individuals for consumption purposes; and financial intermediation,” BSP said, as quoted in a Philippine Star report.

The total loan portfolio of thrift banks soared 25 percent last year from P547.79 billion from P439.24 billion.

Thrift bank soured loans also increased from P26.93 billion last year to P27.06 billion as of March, this year.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) monitors the NPL levels and loan loss provisioning of all types of banks as part of its efforts to promote high credit standards,” the central bank said.

“This is essential to the maintenance of financial stability, which is a key policy objective of the BSP,” it added.