Addis International Bank (AdIB) has demonstrated considerable growth in assets, high-interest margins, and deposit growth during its operation in the fiscal year 2021/22. However, it lagged behind its competitors in profitability ratios, loan diversification, and digital transformation.

To maintain a competitive edge, experts urged AdIB's management to prioritize cost management, portfolio diversification, asset quality improvement, and digital innovation. The Bank faced challenges in achieving an industry-average return on equity, with experts highlighting the need for its executives to focus on several key areas to stay competitive in a challenging industry.

AdIB's total assets reached 10.7 billion Br, a year-on-year (YoY) growth rate of 21.6pc. Loans and advances grew by 34.3pc (YoY) to hit 6 billion Br, while deposits increased by 23.4pc (YoY) to 7.9 billion Br. The Bank generated a net interest income of 400.9 million Br and other income of 699 million Br.

Its profitability ratios, including earnings per share and return on assets and equity, were relatively low compared to other banks. This suggests that the Bank may have faced challenges in generating sufficient returns for its shareholders.

Although AdIB's financial performance was on par with the industry average, there is room for improvement in credit risk management for profitability and asset quality. Industry experts have urged AdIB's executives to concentrate on reducing operating expenses through better cost management, diversifying the loans portfolio, enhancing asset quality, increasing interest income through better management of interest-bearing liabilities, raising additional capital to support growth plans, and improving the capital adequacy ratio.

AdIB's return on assets (RoA) and return on equity (RoE) were 3.5pc and 18.2pc, respectively, higher than the industry averages of 2.9pc and 18.5pc. The Bank's three-year RoA of 2.31pc was lower than Abay Bank's 3.18pc and Zemen Bank's 2.77pc. However, its RoE of 17.4pc surpassed the industry average of 15.5pc and its peers, except for Berhan Bank's RoE of 20.1pc.

AdIB outperformed its peers, such as Enat and Debub Global banks, posting a net profit of 344.86 million Br, a 27.1pc increase from the previous year. However, the profit stands over two times lower than Abay Bank's 933.3 million Br.

The Bank's earnings per share (EPS) grew by three percentage points to 28.24pc, lower than the industry's average of 32.7pc. Awash Bank had the highest EPS of 57pc reported last year, followed by the Bank of Abyssinia with 56.8pc. Dashen Bank has the highest EPS of 58.3pc for the decade.

AdIB's quick ratio of 0.43 is lower than the industry average of 0.56, indicating potential difficulties in meeting short-term obligations. With a total asset increase of 21.6pc to 10.79 billion Br, AdIB falls short among its peers, such as Abay Bank (40.7 billion Br), Enat Bank (17.21 billion Br), and Debub Global Bank (14.08 billion Br).

Although AdIB's efficiency ratio was higher than the industry average, suggesting less efficiency in managing expenses, its cost-to-income ratio of 57.4pc was lower than the industry average of 63.9pc, indicating more efficient in generating revenue from its operations.

"Income growth was remarkable," said Abdulmenan Mohammed, a financial statement analyst from London Portobello Ltd. "The expenses require the attention of the management."

Hailu Alemu, AdIB's president, attributed the rising costs to increased rental fees, wage adjustments aimed at employee retention, and the upsurge in provisions due to non-performing loans disbursed in the Tigray Regional State.

Provisions for impairment of loan and other assets increased to 62.25 million Br, up from 17.35 million Br, accounting for 7.6pc of the total interest income. Expenses accompanying income growth included a 17.6pc increase in interest paid on deposits to 421.8 million Br, and personnel and general administration expenses increasing by 36.5pc to 313 million Br and 40.2pc to 245.5 million Br, respectively. AdIB has 1,060 employees, with an average monthly salary of 33,658 Br. Personnel expenses accounted for 43pc of total expenses, slightly below the industry average of 44.5pc.

Hailu, an accounting and economics graduate from Addis Abeba University, has been the founding president of AdIB since its incorporation in 2012. He joined the Bank after promoters successfully raised 109.4 million Br in equity from 5,309 shareholders, with savings and credit associations, Edir, and framer unions remaining the major shareholders.