Lloyds Bank plc

2024 Q1 Interim Management Statement

LONDON, April 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Lloyds Bank plc

Q1 2024 Interim Management Statement

24 April 2024

Member of the Lloyds Banking Group

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income statement

Lloyds Bank plc together with its subsidiaries' (the Group) statutory profit before tax for the first three months of 2024 was £1,587 million, 23 per cent lower than the same period in 2023. This was due to lower net interest income and higher operating expenses, partly offset by a lower impairment charge. Profit for the period was £1,159 million (three months ended 31 March 2023: £1,513 million).

Total income for the first three months was £4,385 million, a decrease of 5 per cent on 2023, primarily reflecting lower net interest income in the quarter.

Net interest income of £3,127 million was down 12 per cent from the same period in 2023, primarily driven by a lower net interest income margin. The lower margin reflects expected headwinds due to deposit churn and asset margin compression, particularly in the mortgage book as it refinances in a lower margin environment. These factors were partially offset by benefits from higher structural hedge earnings in the higher rate environment. Average interest-earning banking assets were lower compared to the first three months of 2023, significantly due to a modest reduction in the mortgage book and continued repayments of government-backed lending in the Small and Medium Businesses portfolio.

Other income was £171 million higher at £1,258 million in the three months ended 31 March 2024 compared to £1,087 million in the same period last year, driven by improved UK Motor Finance performance including growth from the acquisition of Tusker.

Total operating expenses of £2,728 million were 18 per cent higher than the same period in 2023. This includes expected elevated severance charges taken early in the year and a new sector-wide Bank of England levy, replacing the former charging structure. This annual levy of c.£0.1 billion was charged through operating expenses in the first quarter and will have a broadly neutral impact on profit in 2024, with an offsetting benefit recognised in net interest income over the course of the year. The Group continues to maintain cost discipline and delivery of cost efficiencies, in the context of inflationary pressures and ongoing strategic investment. Operating lease depreciation of £290 million increased compared to the prior year (three months to 31 March 2023: £140 million). This reflects a full quarter of depreciation from Tusker, alongside growth in the fleet size and declines in used car prices.