Several big banks have earned hefty profits in 2011, marking a year of successful operation among large players in the banking industry despite the negative economic downturn at home.

Major lenders like Vietcombank, VietinBank, Sacombank and Eximbank also have reaped impressive results from their business performance in 2011.

Vietcombank said its consolidated profits last year reached VND5.7 trillion, up 4% year-on-year. The bank also achieved positive growth rates with other important operation indicators, including returns on equity (ROE) amounting to nearly 17.5% and return on assets (ROA) reaching some 1.3%.

Nguyen Thu Ha, deputy general director of Vietcombank, said despite economic hardship, the mobilization growth rate at the lender remained high at over 17% against the previous year, at roughly VND242.3 trillion. The lofty number consists of deposits from the public of approximately VND122 trillion, a sharp rise of more than 23% compared to a year earlier.

Total outstanding loans at the bank last year climbed to about VND210 trillion but annual credit growth rate was still under control at 18.5%, and bad debts at 2.1%. As of the end of 2011, Vietcombank’s total assets were over VND369.2 trillion, a yearly increase of 20.3%, while its equity capital stood at around VND29.2 trillion, surging more than VND8.5 trillion from a year earlier.

Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade, or VietinBank, stood out for business excellence, earning pre-tax profits of up to VND8.105 trillion, up 76% year-on-year, with ROE and ROA recorded at 25.4% and 1.96% respectively.

Similarly, the Vietnam Export Import Commercial Joint-Stock Bank, or Eximbank, had one year of successful business in 2011.

Truong Van Phuoc, general director of the bank, unveiled the bank obtained VND4.065 trillion in pre-tax profits, a year-on-year surge of 71%. The lender’s total assets as of late last year were VND183 trillion and its equity capital was VND13.5 trillion.

Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Bank (Sacombank) is estimated to enjoy nearly VND2.73 trillion in pre-tax profits for the whole year of 2011, with equity capital worth VND15.1 trillion, total assets some VND144 trillion and bad debts at 0.6%.

Meanwhile, most medium and small-sized lenders have yet to release to the public their business results last year, apart from some lenders reporting pretty modest results compared to that of larger ones.

A representative from Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VP Bank) told the Daily that his bank’s pre-tax profits were about VND1.06 trillion for the whole year of 2011. Besides, Ocean Commercial Bank (OceanBank) got VND640 billion in consolidated pre-tax profits last year.

SGT