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RAM Ratings affirms AA1 ratings of RHB Bank, RHB Islamic & RHB Investment

Published on 11 Oct 2023.

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RAM Ratings has affirmed the AA1/Stable/P1 financial institution ratings of RHB Bank Berhad (the Group), RHB Islamic Bank Berhad and RHB Investment Bank Berhad. The ratings of the entities’ debt facilities have likewise been affirmed (Table 1).

Our rating action considers the Group’s strong domestic banking franchise and sound credit metrics. Contributing close to 10% of the Malaysian banking system’s deposits and loans as at end-June 2023, RHB Bank is the fourth-largest banking group in Malaysia, with commendable market shares in the residential property financing and small and medium enterprise (SME) financing segments. Its investment banking and Islamic financing units are similarly positioned among the leaders in their respective arenas.

The Group has among the highest capital indicators in the local banking industry, its post-dividend common equity tier-1 capital ratio consistently above 15% in the last few years (end-June 2023: 16.7%). Robust capitalisation in addition to still-healthy loan loss reserves and pre-provision profit generation form strong loss absorption buffers against potential credit deterioration should downside risks linger on the asset quality front.

Still one of its key rating strengths, the Group’s asset quality is supported by sound risk management practices and a portfolio rebalancing strategy (in favour of household and SME loans) that has been in place since 2015. Although slightly weaker due to some corporate impairments and the residential property financing segment, RHB Bank’s asset quality continued to fare better than the industry’s, with its headline gross impaired loan ratio standing at 1.6% as at end-June 2023 (industry: 1.8%; end-December 2021: 1.5%). All the Group’s domestic retail segments outperformed the industry. We expect credit pressures to persist in the retail segments in view of higher interest rates and inflationary pressures, but slippages are likely to be manageable for RHB Bank.

Reduced provisioning needs and reversals of the Group’s management overlays led to an improved credit cost ratio of 15 bps in 2022 (2021: 30 bps) and a net writeback position in 1H 2023. This together with stronger treasury-related income and still-healthy loan growth helped the Group clock a higher pre-tax profit of RM2.1 bil in 1H FY Dec 2023 (+10% y-o-y; 1H FY Dec 2022: RM1.9 bil). This was in spite of a compressed net interest margin amid intense deposit competition in the earlier part of the year which affected most, if not all, local banks.

The Group’s funding and liquidity profile stayed sound, comfortably meeting minimum regulatory requirements. The financial institution ratings of the Group’s core subsidiaries, RHB Islamic and RHB Investment, are equated to RHB Bank’s, given their strategic importance to the Group.

 

Table 1: Ratings of entities under RHB Banking Group

 

Analytical contacts
Loh Kit Yoong
(603) 3385 2493
kityoong@ram.com.my

Sophia Lee
(603) 3385 2619
sophia@ram.com.my

Media contact
Sakinah Arifin
(603) 3385 2500
sakinah@ram.com.my

 

The credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment on the security’s market price or its suitability for a particular investor, nor does it involve any audit by RAM Ratings. The credit rating also does not reflect the legality and enforceability of financial obligations.

RAM Ratings receives compensation for its rating services, normally paid by the issuers of such securities or the rated entity, and sometimes third parties participating in marketing the securities, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, underwriters, etc. The receipt of this compensation has no influence on RAM Ratings’ credit opinions or other analytical processes. In all instances, RAM Ratings is committed to preserving the objectivity, integrity and independence of its ratings. Rating fees are communicated to clients prior to the issuance of rating opinions. While RAM Ratings reserves the right to disseminate the ratings, it receives no payment for doing so, except for subscriptions to its publications.

Similarly, the disclaimers above also apply to RAM Ratings’ credit-related analyses and commentaries, where relevant.

Published by RAM Rating Services Berhad
© Copyright 2023 by RAM Rating Services Berhad



Rating Rationale: RHB Bank Berhad

Rating Rationale: RHB Islamic Bank Berhad

Rating Rationale: RHB Investment Bank Berhad

Ratings on RHB Bank Berhad

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