Zürcher Kantonalbank increases net profit to CHF 865 million and distributes coronavirus special dividend of CHF 100 million

In the financial year 2020, Zürcher Kantonalbank generated a net profit of CHF 865 million, up 2.4% year on year. This result was driven in particular by higher income in trading but also by the commission and fee business and by interest operations. "This excellent result in a year heavily overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates the strength of our diversified business model. I would like to express my warmest thanks to our customers for continuing to place their trust in us even in difficult times. In 2021 too, we will be meeting our responsibilities and supporting companies heavily affected by the crisis", stated Martin Scholl, CEO of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

The Canton of Zurich and its municipalities will receive an ordinary dividend of CHF 356 million, as well as a non-ringfenced coronavirus special dividend of CHF 100 million. "Zürcher Kantonalbank is a reliable partner - not least of all in challenging situations. This special dividend is our way of helping the Canton and its municipalities to overcome the coronavirus crisis – in addition to the special services we are providing to SMEs, people working in the arts and the young unemployed", commented Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Operating income climbs to record high thanks to broad diversification

Operating income grew by CHF 99 million year on year to a new record level of CHF 2,513 million. All three pillars of the bank’s business model contributed to this positive development.

Net interest income came in at CHF 1,218 million, the same level as in the prior year. While gross interest income increased by a gratifying 4%, despite fierce competition and the ongoing negative interest rate environment, the coronavirus pandemic impacted the interest result. This prompted an increase in value adjustments for default risk and losses from interest operations to CHF 39 million. This stands in contrast to a net release of CHF 6 million in the previous year. The mainstay of the bank’s interest operations, the mortgage business, achieved growth of 4% - slightly more than the market as a whole. In absolute terms, mortgage volumes stood at CHF 87.7 billion at the end of 2020, up CHF 3.4 billion.

Income from the commission and fee business recorded a rise of almost 4% year on year to CHF 806 million - due in particular to positive overall market performance along with higher investment and transaction volumes. The positive development of the securities and investment business compensated for the higher commission expenses and for the decline in other service business, which was due mainly to lower earnings from card and Bancomat transactions as a result of reduced travel.

In the trading business, both the pandemic-related market dislocations and the market opportunities that presented themselves were optimally exploited. This resulted in net income of CHF 459 million, or an increase of around 44% year on year. This growth was driven above all by income from trading in bonds and from interest and credit derivatives, but also reflects higher income from foreign exchange, bank note and precious metals trading, as well as from equity trading and trading in structured products.

Trading activities benefited from higher margins and volumes thanks to the strategic focus on the customer business. The market upheavals in the spring may have led to a short-term increase in market risks in the trading book, but at no point did these breach risk tolerance ceilings. Thanks to the support measures provided by governments and central banks, market risks then receded to pre-coronavirus levels from the summer onwards.

Operating expenses impacted by one-off effects

Despite strong cost discipline, operating expenses rose in 2020 by 9.5% year on year to CHF 1,580 million. This was above all attributable to higher personnel costs (+9.7%), which were in turn significantly impacted by the anniversary payment of CHF 46 million to the bank’s employees, as approved in the previous year. In terms of profitability, this effect was neutralized by the release of reserves for general banking risks in the same amount. In addition, the higher personnel costs reflect a slight rise in headcount as well as higher variable personnel costs due to the rise in net profit. The rise in general and administrative expenses (+8.9%) is mainly due to IT costs that were incurred, for example, in connection with the expansion of infrastructure on the back of the coronavirus crisis as well as to the development and launch of the new pension app “frankly” and the centralization of jobs at the Zurich West location. The cost/income ratio for 2020 amounted to 60.1% (previous year 59.9%), a healthy level given the bank’s business model.

After the deduction of value adjustments on participations and depreciation and amortisation of tangible fixed assets and intangible assets (CHF 117 million), together with changes to provisions and other value adjustments and losses (CHF 14 million), operating income came in at CHF 801 million. After taking into account extraordinary income, changes in reserves for general banking risks and taxes, net profit amounted to CHF 865 million.

High distribution to the Canton and municipalities

Including the coronavirus special dividend, Zürcher Kantonalbank will distribute CHF 456 million to the Canton of Zurich and its municipalities for the financial year 2020 (2019: CHF 506 million including anniversary dividend). The Canton will therefore receive CHF 297 million in the form of a dividend and CHF 11 million to cover the cost of endowment capital. The municipalities will receive CHF 148 million.

In addition, the Canton will receive the sum of CHF 23 million by way of compensation for the state guarantee (2019: CHF 22 million). Payments relating to the public service mandate totalled CHF 126 million (2019: CHF 125 million). The bank is providing full support to its sponsorship partners during the coronavirus crisis, irrespective of the services they are able to provide.

Strong rise in customer assets

Customer assets had increased to CHF 362 billion at the end of 2020, corresponding to a rise of around 9% compared to the end of 2019. In addition to the pleasing net inflow of new money in the amount of CHF 22.1 billion, this growth was also driven by positive market performance of CHF 8.9 billion.

Strong capital position

Zürcher Kantonalbank continues to have an exceptionally strong capital base. The risk-based capital ratio amounted to 18.9% at the end of 2020 (2019: 20.0%). The leverage ratio, which highlights the bank's ability to absorb losses incurred during regular business operations (going concern), declined to 6.2% (2019: 7.0%).

With its extremely robust capital situation, Zürcher Kantonalbank significantly exceeds all regulatory requirements. This also applies to the additional requirements for gone-concern capital that entered into force at the start of 2019 and will last until 2026. This refers to the amounts that domestically-focused, systemically important banks must hold so that they can continue their systemically important functions in the event of recovery or resolution in a situation of impending insolvency.

Support for companies during the coronavirus crisis

Zürcher Kantonalbank considers that providing the economy of the Zurich region with support in these challenging times is part and parcel of its statutory public service mandate. During the past year, the bank received more than 7,800 applications for Covid-19 loans, and approved credits amounting to a total of CHF 1,041 million for large companies, SMEs and start-ups as a result. The bank has made an additional CHF 300 million of bridging loans available to SMEs since 4 January 2021.

Outlook

"The environment can be expected to remain challenging in 2021 given the ongoing pandemic. I am nonetheless confident that we are well positioned to deliver another pleasing result", commented CEO Martin Scholl.

Further information

Press release with earnings (PDF, 270 KB)