Sampath Bank’s total asset base crossed the Rs. 2 trillion mark for the first time in the quarter ended 31 March 2026, with the lender reporting a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 6.2 billion, the Daily FT reported.
Total assets reached Rs. 2.1 trillion, up 6% from year-end 2025, supported by gross loan growth of Rs. 127.5 billion to Rs. 1.35 trillion. The Group recorded a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 9.4 billion and Group PAT of Rs. 6.8 billion. PAT was down 26% year-on-year, largely because of a sharp fall in one-off gains from Treasury bill and bond disposals — Rs. 0.7 billion in Q1 2026 versus Rs. 2.7 billion a year earlier.
Net interest income rose 5% to Rs. 20.1 billion, while net fee and commission income jumped 28% to Rs. 6.1 billion on higher trade volumes, card usage and credit expansion. Net interest margin narrowed marginally to 4.09% from 4.11%.
The bank booked a total impairment charge of Rs. 4.5 billion, against a reversal of Rs. 0.2 billion in Q1 2025, reflecting the loan book’s 10.4% expansion. An additional Rs. 1.5 billion overlay allowance was set aside as a prudential buffer “in response to heightened geopolitical uncertainties.” The cost-to-income ratio deteriorated 620 basis points to 45%.
Liquidity stayed comfortable, with the all-currency Liquidity Coverage Ratio at 187.87% and the Net Stable Funding Ratio at 161.30%, both well above the 100% regulatory minimum. Capital ratios eased on risk-weighted asset growth, with CET 1 and Tier 1 at 13.17% and Total Capital at 15.79%. The bank flagged a forthcoming Tier II debenture issue to rebuild capital.
Return on average shareholders’ equity stood at 14.05% versus 17.93% at end-December 2025. The Q1 result joins HNB’s Rs. 2.5 trillion asset milestone and Seylan Bank’s 5.25% PAT lift in confirming that the largest private banks have continued to expand loan books even as impairments rebuild and geopolitical buffers thicken.
