Banks maintain NPL ratio amid virus risk

Ten SET-listed commercial banks restrained their non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in the first quarter of 2021 as they set aside a relatively high provision for loan loss amid uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.

Among the big players, Bangkok Bank (BBL) and Krungthai Bank (KTB) reported their NPL ratio marginally dropped to 3.7% and 3.66% as of March this year from 3.9% and 3.81% at the end of December last year.

Bank of Ayudhya (BAY) also saw the ratio drop to 1.99% from 2%, while Kasikornbank’s (KBank) NPL ratio remained unchanged at 3.93%.

Meanwhile, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) reported its NPL ratio rose to 3.79% as of March this year, up from 3.68% at the end of December last year.

Partly due to high reserves for loan-loss provisions, the 10 SET-listed commercial banks announced that their combined net profit for the first quarter of 2021 was 46.63…