Bangkok Bank PCL reported a 7.6% year-over-year increase in net profit for the 2016 fourth quarter, helped by a rise in net interest income and noninterest income.

The bank on Jan. 19 posted fourth-quarter consolidated net profit attributable to the owners of 8.27 billion Thai baht, or 4.33 baht per basic share, up from 7.68 billion baht, or 4.02 baht per basic share, in the prior-year period.

Net interest income for the quarter grew year over year to 16.30 billion baht from 15.62 billion baht, while net fees and service income rose to 6.26 billion baht from 6.24 billion baht. Noninterest income grew to 11.06 billion baht from 10.79 billion baht.

Net interest margin for the quarter increased to 2.36% from 2.33%.

Total operating income increased to 27.37 billion baht from 26.41 billion baht. Profit from operations before income tax expenses rose to 10.80 billion baht from 10.38 billion baht.

Impairment losses of loans and debt securities fell to 3.60 billion baht from 3.88 billion baht.

For the 2016 full year, the bank posted a 6.9% year-over-year decline in consolidated net profit attributable to the owners of 31.82 billion baht, from 34.18 billion baht. Basic EPS for the period fell to 16.67 baht from 17.91 baht.

The decline in net profit was partly due to an increase in total operating expenses to 50.51 billion baht from 45.05 billion baht, as well as a rise in impairment losses of loans and debt securities to 15.73 billion baht from 14.65 billion baht.

The group's nonperforming loan ratio was 3.2% as of Dec. 31, 2016, down from 3.4% at Sept. 30, 2016, but up from 2.8% at Dec. 31, 2015.

As of the end of 2016, the group's total capital adequacy ratio was 18.3%, compared to 18.8% as of Sept. 30, 2016, and 17.9% at the end of 2015. Its Tier 1 and common equity Tier 1 ratios for the period both clocked in at 16.4%, up from 15.8% for both ratios in the prior-year period.

As of Jan 19, US$1 was equivalent to 35.44 Thai baht.