NBP the largest and the most efficient lender to farmer

Among all the financial institutions involved in lending to farmers National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) achieved nearly 120% of its target in agri loans and the second best performer after Allied Bank Limited (ABL), which has achieved 146% of the allocated target for the year ended June 30, 2013.

However, among the ‘Big Five’, NBP is the largest and the most efficient lenders to the farmers. This conclusion can be drawn if one compares NBP and ABL.

The first parameter is over all size of disbursement. While NBP disturbed over Rs57 billion, ABL lent Rs27 billion only.

The second parameter is the amount outstanding. The year end outstanding figure of NBP was Rs56 billion, much above the allocated target of Rs47.5 billion, as compared to this ABL had Rs6.7 billion outstanding against a target of Rs19 billion. This shows that ABL’s customer base is not improving rather the same customer is being catered and debit summations are being taken in to disbursement, else such a huge difference was not possible between disbursement and outstanding amounts.

The third parameter is increase in target for FY13. The target for ABL was raised to Rs19 billion from Rs17.6 billion, an increase of 7.8%. As against this NBP’s target was enhanced to Rs47.5 billion from Rs43.2 billion, which reflected an increase of 10%.

The forth but most important parameter is the size of non-performing loans (NPLs). As on December 31, 2012 ABL was carrying a load of 6.6%, while NBP was carrying a load of 5.8%, which further improved to 5.3% as on June 30, 2013.

It is heartening to note that banks have lent more than the indicate target fixed for them by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for the year ended June 30, 2013. Cumulatively, they extended credit to farmers amounting to more than Rs336 billion as against a target of Rs315 billion. Out of this the banks distributed nearly Rs294 billion.

Enviable was the performance of ‘Big Five’ banks collectively disbursing agri loans of Rs 172.8 billion, that was nearly 13 per cent higher than their annual target and18 per cent higher than Rs146.3 billion disbursed during the corresponding period last year. Out of the five Allied Bank emerged most distinguished with 146.2%  above the target lending, followed by National Bank of Pakistan (119.5%,), MCB Bank(103.9%), Habib Bank (100.3%) and United Bank just meeting the target.