FINANCIAL BANKING NEWS

REGIONAL BANKING

BIB Profitability Improves Further

Bahrain International Bank (BIB) recorded a 28% increase in net operating income to $14.1mn in 1985 as a result of marginally lower costs and a cut in loan loss provisions from $6.4mn in 1984 to $3.5mn in 1985. The bank's total assets increased 7% to reach $316mn, which represents a very low gearing of its $201.5mn shareholders' funds. The loan portfolio remains very small, edging up 5% to $33mn, so that...