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BAWAG P.S.K. Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft und Österreichische Postsparkasse Aktiengesellschaft

EANS-News: BAWAG P.S.K. Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft und Österreichische Postsparkasse Aktiengesellschaft
Consolidated Interim Report Q1 2015 (with document)

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  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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6-month report

BAWAG P.S.K. reports record net profit of EUR 226 million for H1 2015 

o  Net profit EUR 226 million, +29% versus prior year
o  Annualized return on equity of 18.1%, +1.9pts
o  Core revenues EUR 465 million, +9%
o  Operating expenses down 8% to EUR 225 million
o  Cost-income ratio improved to 45.8%, down 5.3pts
o  Net interest margin improved by 33bps to 2.12%
o  CET1 ratio (fully loaded) at 14.2%, up 2.1pts versus year-end 2014
o  BAWAG P.S.K. well on track to outperform 2015 targets

VIENNA, Austria - August 11, 2015 - BAWAG P.S.K. today reported a net profit of
EUR 226 million for the first half 2015, up 29% versus prior year. The increase
was driven by higher net interest income, reduced operating expenses and lower
risk costs. Annualized return on equity was 18.1%, up 1.9pts. Net interest
margin improved 33bps to 2.12% with business net interest margin up 17bps to
2.37%. Operating expenses were down 7.6% and cost-income ratio also down 5.3pts
to 45.8%. Risk costs decreased by 39% with no impairments in the first half
2015.

"These first half results reiterate the strength of BAWAG P.S.K. We continue to
focus on growing our core franchises, maintaining disciplined pricing and credit
quality and running an efficient balance sheet," Chief Executive Officer Byron
Haynes said. "We are confident the strong performance will continue for the
remainder of the year and BAWAG P.S.K. will outperform its 2015 targets."

"On the back of our record first half results, we will continue to execute on a
variety of operational and strategic initiatives during the second half 2015
that will further drive efficiency, operational excellence and lead to continued
profitable growth well into the future," said Chief Financial Officer Anas
Abuzaakouk.

Strong capital ratios on a fully loaded basis

The management team continues to run the Bank on a fully loaded basis from a
capital standpoint. After having already eliminated most of the non-sustainable
capital instruments in 2014, the final clean-up was completed by redeeming the
last non-sustainable Tier 1 capital of EUR 83 million in June 2015.

The Bank's fully loaded CET1 ratio further improved to 14.2% (Dec 2014: 12.1%)
and the total capital ratio to 17.3% (Dec 2014: 15.8%) as of 30 June 2015.

BAWAG P.S.K. upgraded by Moody's

In early July, Moody's Investors Service raised the Bank's long-term deposit,
senior unsecured and issuer ratings by one notch to Baa1. The outlook was
changed to "positive". The Bank's stand-alone rating (baseline credit
assessment) was upgraded to baa3 (investment grade for the first time) and its
senior subordinate rating to Ba1. According to Moody's, the rating upgrades
reflect "the stronger and higher-quality capital adequacy ratios and the Bank's
underlying recovery in profitability that have allowed the Bank to reduce
on-balance sheet risks, as well as its significantly strengthened
loss-absorption capacity." The rating agency indicated further upside potential
over a 12-18 month outlook horizon.

Key business highlights H1 2015

BAWAG P.S.K. continued to successfully execute on its business plans in the
first half 2015, recording once again strong results. 

Core revenues of EUR 465 million increased by 9% due to strength in net interest
income. Despite the continued low-interest rate environment, net interest income
increased by 14% in H1 2015 versus the same period in 2014, driven primarily by
lower funding costs and higher demand for core lending products. Net interest
margin improved by 33bps to 2.12%, reflecting the Bank's dedicated focus on
asset and liability re-pricing. 

Operating expenses decreased by 7.6% to EUR 225 million, driven by sustainable
long-term measures in personnel and other administrative expenses. The
cost-income ratio improved by 5.3 points to 45.8%.

Total risk costs decreased by 39% to EUR 23 million in H1, resulting from the
improved overall credit quality of the core businesses. The Bank maintained a
conservative risk profile with disciplined risk-adjusted underwriting standards
and a focus on stable and economically sound geographies. The risk cost ratio
improved to 18bps (down 10bps) and the NPL ratio to 2.3% (down 1.1pts). There
were no impairments in H1 2015.

Net profit increased by EUR 51 million, or 29%, to EUR 226 million in H1 2015.
The increase was driven by improvements in Corporate Lending and Investments
with net profit up 72%. Net profit in Retail Banking and Small Business was up
15%, driven by greater operating efficiency. Overall, the net profit of the Bank
was influenced by higher net interest income, reduced operating expenses and
lower risk costs, reflecting the continued high quality of earnings.

Loans and receivables to customers increased by EUR 139 million, or 1%, to EUR
22 billion at the end of June 2015, primarily driven by growth in the Retail
Banking and Small Business segment. The total new origination volume in the H1
2015 was over EUR 2 billion, reflecting positive growth in both our Retail and
International businesses. At the same time, BAWAG P.S.K. has further managed
down non-core legacy loan assets from CEE countries. The remaining loan exposure
to CEE countries is below 0.6% of balance sheet total.

Segment reporting

Retail Banking and Small Business showed strong results in H1 2015 by continuing
to grow its consumer loan franchise in absolute terms while also capturing
market share. Overall, the segment achieved a EUR 99 million net profit, a 15%
increase compared to H1 2014 driven by reduced operating expenses and risk
costs. The continued efficiency improvements resulted in an 11% decrease in
operating expenses versus prior year. The segment's cost-income ratio further
improved to 58%, representing a 5pts decrease from the previous year. Despite a
slow growth market, BAWAG P.S.K. was able to increase its consumer lending
market share to 9.7% at the end of June, up 70bps since year-end 2014 and 100bps
since June 2014. Total new business loan origination during the first half 2015
was EUR 550 million, driven primarily by consumer loans (up +7.1%), with total
Retail Banking and Small Business net asset growth of 2%. We continued
disciplined underwriting and pricing standards, which were reflected in our
stable margins and low risk costs. Overall funding costs also continued to
decrease as we optimized product mix, volume and pricing. At the end of H1 2015
we reported a blended interest rate on our retail deposits of 0.39%, down 11bps
since the beginning of the year.

The direct banking subsidiary easybank's client base grew to 533,000 accounts in
H1 2015, up 5% since year-end 2014. Deposits grew by 7% to EUR 3.1 billion. For
the fifth year in a row, easybank was awarded the Recommender Award of
"Finanz-Marketing Verband Österreich" for Austrian direct, special and private
banks in 2015, reaching the highest score in its peer group.

Corporate Lending and Investments was able to increase its net profit from EUR
57 million to EUR 98 million, up 72% versus H1 2014. Core revenues were up 24%
driven by a 31% higher net interest income due to continued deleveraging of
non-core assets and reallocation of capital into more profitable and
capital-efficient assets. Core business assets continued to see strength with
EUR 600 million net assets growth versus H1 2014. The Austrian corporate
business continued to be restrained with new business volume unchanged compared
to H1 2014. This was mainly due to flat domestic output, lower corporate
investment and continued concerns rising from CEE, Ukraine and Russia as well as
other macro risks across Europe. The international business continued to see
strength with new investment volume of EUR 1.4 billion in the first six months.
The focus remained on stronger Western European countries (Germany, UK and
France) and the United States. Low risk costs and an NPL ratio of 0.65% reflect
positive impacts from de-risking actions and pro-active risk management of the
overall Corporate Lending and Investments portfolio.

Treasury Services and Markets reported core revenues up 9% and operating
expenses down 15% due to increased operating efficiency. Selective new
investments and strategic sales supported a decrease of risk-weighted assets by
22% in H1 2015. The investment strategy continues to focus on investment grade
securities predominantly representing unsecured and secured bonds of financial
institutions in core Europe and the United States as well as select sovereign
bond exposures and high-quality CLOs (100% AAA-rated) in order to maintain solid
diversification. The total investment portfolio amounted to EUR 5.2 billion with
an average duration of 3.9 years, comprising of 99% of investment grade-rated
securities, 83% rated single "A" or higher. Exposure to CEE in this segment
represented less than 5% of the portfolio and was limited to select bonds (90%
rate single "A" equivalent category or better). The portfolio had no exposure to
HETA and no direct exposure to Russia, Hungary or South-Eastern Europe as of 30
June 2015.

About BAWAG P.S.K. 

BAWAG P.S.K. is one of Austria's largest banking institutions with 1.6 million
customers and a well-recognized national brand. The Bank focuses on three
business segments: Retail Banking and Small Business offers simple, fair and
transparent products and services which include lending, savings, payment, card,
investment and insurance services for private and small business customers.
Based on a long-term and traditional cooperation with Österreichische Post AG
(Austrian Post) these products and services are available through our branches
all over Austria which are complemented by our digital sales channels. Austrian
corporate businesses as well as international activities are managed within the
Corporate Lending and Investments segment. The majority of the Bank's lending
activities are within Austria. The international business is focused on
corporate, commercial real estate and portfolio financing transactions primarily
in Western Europe and the United States of America. Treasury Services and
Markets includes all activities associated with providing trading and investment
services for the Group's treasury activities and the management of the Bank's
portfolio of financial securities. BAWAG P.S.K. focuses on a capital efficient,
low risk and low leverage business model while targeting to be one of the most
efficient, centrally managed banks across Europe. Delivering simple, transparent
and best-in-class products and services to our customers is the core of our
strategy.

BAWAG P.S.K.'s Investor Relations website
https://www.bawagpsk.com/BAWAGPSK/IR/EN contains further information about the
Bank, including financial and other information for investors. 

For charts please refer to attached PDF.

BAWAG P.S.K. contacts:
Financial Community:
Benjamin del Fabro (Investor Relations)
Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-22456
E-mail:  investor.relations@bawagpsk.com 

Media:
Georgia Schütz-Spörl (Press Office)
Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-31210
E-mail:  presse@bawagpsk.com
Attachments with Announcement:
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http://resources.euroadhoc.com/us/btDRLFcA

Further inquiry note:
Pressestelle 
T: 43 (0)59905 - 31210
F: 43 (0)59905 - 22007
e-mail:  presse@bawagpsk.com

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
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Attachments with Announcement:
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http://resources.euroadhoc.com/us/btDRLFcA


company:     BAWAG P.S.K. Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft und Österreichische Postsparkasse Aktiengesellschaft
             Georg-Coch-Platz  2
             A-1018 Wien
phone:       +43 (0) 59905
mail:         bawagpsk@bawagpsk.com
WWW:      www.bawagpsk.com
sector:      Banking
ISIN:        -
indexes:     
stockmarkets: stock market: Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam,
             Frankfurt, Wien, SIX Swiss Exchange 
language:   English

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