Zurich – Cembra’s net income increased by 15% to CHF 90.6 million, or CHF 3.09 per share, compared to the first six months of 2021. Net revenues increased by 6%, and commission and fee income was up by 27%. The loss performance was very strong at 0.5%. As a result, return on equity came in at 15.3%, and the Tier 1 capital ratio stood at 18.8%.

Holger Laubenthal, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “In the first half of the year, we turned in an excellent result and also successfully embarked on our transformation. We grew profitably in all areas, benefiting from the rebound effect after the lifting of restrictions and also from our commercial efforts. We made significant progress in implementing our strategy and reached an important milestone with the launch of our proprietary credit card Certo!. We will continue to focus on our transformation programme aimed at boosting operational excellence and accelerating growth.”

Strong business performance
The Group’s total net financing receivables at 30 June 2022 amounted to CHF 6.4 billion, an increase of 4% compared with 31 December 2021. In the personal loans business, receivables increased by 2% to CHF 2.3 billion in the first six months of 2022. As a result of the lower asset base compared to the first half of last year and the continued competitive environment, interest income in the personal loans business decreased by 6% to CHF 80.7 million, with a yield of 6.8%.

Net financing receivables in auto leases and loans increased by 4% to CHF 2.9 billion in the reporting period. Interest income was stable at CHF 64.9 million, with a yield of 4.5%.

In the credit cards business, net financing receivables rose by 8% to CHF 1.1 billion. Interest income was up 6% to CHF 43.7 million, with a yield of 8.1%. Transaction volumes in the first six months increased by 18% year on year. The number of cards issued was up 4% year on year to 1,090,000 at 30 June 2022.

Swissbilling grew significantly in the buy now pay later (BNPL) business with an increase of billing volumes by 62% to CHF 191 million and fee income of CHF 6.5 million (+35%).

Commercial efforts and end of restrictions drive up revenues
Total net revenues increased by 6% to CHF 250.0 million. Interest income declined slightly by 1% to CHF 188.9 million as a result of the lower asset base in personal loans. Interest expense was 7% lower, coming in at CHF 12.3 million in the first half of 2022.

Commission and fee income increased by 27% to CHF 73.3 million, as Covid-19-related restrictions were lifted. Income from credit card fees increased by 42% year on year. The share of net revenues generated from commissions and fees increased to 29%, up from 25% at 30 June 2021.

Total operating expenses decreased by 2% to CHF 122.0 million. Personnel expenses were down 2% to CHF 67.1 million mainly reflecting the lower number of employees. General and administrative expenses declined by 1% to CHF 54.9 million. This resulted in a cost/income ratio of 48.8%, compared with 52.6% for the year-earlier period.

Excellent loss performance
Cembra once again recorded an excellent loss performance. Provisions for losses in the first half of 2022 significantly benefited from prudent and cautious credit risk policies applied during the pandemic, especially in the area of personal loans and auto leases and loans. Provisions for losses slightly increased by CHF 0.6 million or 4% to CHF 15.0 million, resulting in a loss rate of 0.5% for the first six months of 2022 (H1 2021: 0.5%, and 0.7% adjusted for a loan sale). The non-performing-loans (NPL) ratio amounted to 0.6% (H1 2021: 0.7%). The rate of over-30-days past due financing receivables stood at 1.6% (H1 2021: 1.8%). Cembra expects the loss rate to gradually normalise over the coming years.

Stable funding
In the first six months of 2022, the Group’s diversified funding portfolio increased by 3% to CHF 5.9 billion, with a funding mix of 56% deposits and 44% non-deposits. The weighted average duration decreased slightly to 2.3 years and the period-end funding cost amounted to 46 basis points (31 December 2021: 44 basis points).

Strong capital position
Cembra remains very well capitalised, with a strong Tier 1 capital ratio of 18.8% (31 December 2021: 18.9%). Shareholders’ equity decreased by 2% to CHF 1.176 billion after Cembra paid out the dividend of CHF 113 million for the financial year 2021 in April 2022.

Strategy execution progressing well
Implementation of Cembra’s key strategic initiatives – aimed at achieving operational excellence, business acceleration, growth and cultural transformation – were progressing well in the first six months of the year. New partnerships were signed with the retail chain SPAR and Zurich Insurance Switzerland, and the existing partnerships with Conforama and FNAC were strengthened. In April 2022, Cembra launched a new credit card app to strengthen its customer relationships and increase efficiency. The recent successful launch of the new credit card range Certo! was another key step in the implementation of the bank’s strategy.

Further progress on sustainability confirmed
In recognition of the bank’s progress in enhancing its governance, its socially responsible approach and its environmental stewardship, MSCI ESG upgraded Cembra’s rating to AAA, and Sustainalytics reaffirmed Cembra’s “Low ESG Risk” rating in May 2022.

Outlook
Cembra currently expects to deliver a resilient business performance in 2022, reiterating its ROE target of 13–14%. As previously announced, the credit card transition and the investments into the IT transformation will have an impact on revenues and costs. Cembra expects a continued solid loss performance for 2022 and confirms its mid-term targets.¹

All documents (investor presentation, interim report and this media release) are available at www.cembra.ch/investors.

¹ Cembra aims to achieve an ROE of 13–14% in 2022-2023 and above 15% starting in 2024 and to pay a dividend of at least CHF 3.85 for 2022, which will increase thereafter based on sustainable earnings growth. The bank is also targeting a Tier 1 capital ratio target of above 17%.

Please dial in before the start of the presentation and ask for “Cembra’s half-year 2022 results”.

About Cembra Money Bank
Cembra is a leading Swiss provider of financing solutions and services. Our product range includes consumer credit products such as personal loans and auto leases and loans, credit cards, the insurance sold in this context, invoice financing, and deposits and savings products.

We have over 1 million customers in Switzerland and employ about 1,000 people from 42 different countries. We have our headquarters in Zurich and operate across Switzerland through our network of branches and our online distribution channels, as well as through our credit card partners, independent intermediaries and car dealers.

We have been listed as an independent Swiss bank on the SIX Swiss Exchange since October 2013. Cembra is rated A– by Standard & Poor’s and is included in the SXI Switzerland Sustainability 25 Index and in the 2021 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index.