Askari Bank Limited has demonstrated a powerful financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, reporting a significant jump in profitability and rewarding its shareholders with a second interim cash dividend.
The Bank’s Board of Directors, in a meeting held on October 29, 2025, recommended an interim cash dividend of Rs. 1.25 per share (12.5%), building upon the first interim dividend of Rs. 2.0 per share already paid this year.
The standout figure is the substantial growth in profit after taxation, which climbed to Rs. 18.06 billion for the nine-month period, a marked increase from the Rs. 14.02 billion recorded in the same period last year, showcasing a 28.8% increase. This robust performance translates directly into enhanced value for shareholders, with earnings per share (EPS) rising to Rs. 12.56 from Rs. 9.77.
The driving force behind this growth was a formidable increase in net interest income, which soared to Rs. 65.27 billion from Rs. 44.31 billion, indicating improved core banking margins. Furthermore, non-markup income, particularly from gains on securities, also contributed positively to the revenue.
A strategic shift is evident in the Bank’s balance sheet. While total assets expanded to Rs. 2,827 billion, the Bank notably increased its investment portfolio to Rs. 1,968 billion, even as its advances (loans) decreased to Rs. 545 billion.
This suggests a strategic preference for high-yield government securities in a high-interest-rate environment over aggressive lending. Concurrently, the Bank successfully grew its deposit base to over Rs. 1,515 billion, strengthening its low-cost funding sources. The consolidated results, which include subsidiaries, mirror this strong standalone performance, confirming the overall health of the banking group. Shareholders approved as of November 7, 2025, will be eligible for the newly declared dividend.
