Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Half-Year Financial Report January-June 2025: Core business on a solid foundation – the improvement of operating models is progressing

Core Insights - Oma Savings Bank Plc's core business remains stable despite challenges from declining interest rates and economic uncertainty, with ongoing improvements in risk management and regulatory compliance [2][3][14] Financial Performance - For the first half of 2025, net interest income decreased by 17.2% year-on-year, totaling EUR 90.9 million, while the second quarter saw a 16.1% decline to EUR 44.0 million [6][12] - Comparable profit before taxes for the second quarter was EUR 19.0 million, a significant increase from EUR 5.5 million in the previous year, while the first half profit before taxes was EUR 21.7 million, down from EUR 29.2 million [4][17] - Total operating income for January-June 2025 decreased by 15.7% to EUR 119.4 million, with a 12.1% decline in the second quarter [12][13] - Operating expenses increased by 31.8% in the first half of 2025, reaching EUR 65.1 million, primarily due to personnel growth and branch network expansion [5][12] Risk Management and Compliance - The bank has initiated a new action plan to enhance risk management, with expenses of EUR 2.6 million recorded in the second quarter, continuing until the end of 2025 [3][15] - The controlled winding down of a non-compliance portfolio has reduced from approximately EUR 240 million to EUR 200 million [3][15] Customer and Market Position - The mortgage loan portfolio grew by 1.2% year-on-year, while the corporate loan portfolio decreased by 7.5% [7][12] - The deposit portfolio increased by 7.9% over the past year, indicating a stable customer base [7][12] - Customer satisfaction remains high, with a focus on enhancing customer service and experience [9][19] Capital and Equity - The total capital ratio strengthened to 18.7% at the end of June 2025, up from 15.6% a year earlier, with accumulated equity reaching EUR 591 million [10][13] Future Outlook - The bank has lowered its earnings guidance for 2025, estimating comparable profit before taxes to be between EUR 50-65 million, influenced by high costs and slower growth in fee and commission income [14][17]