STUART GRAHAM, Johannesburg | Friday
WRONG perceptions, fear and speculation about BoE Bank’s R12-billion sale of its NBS home loan book to FirstRand caused the liquidity crisis at the bank, chief executive officer Tom Boardman said in Johannesburg on Thursday afternoon.
He said in the wake of the Saambou crisis, some depositors worried because word spread that the bank was selling its home loan book and rumours started that there was a cash crisis at the bank.
”BoE’s strategy is to focus on markets in which it can create a competitive advantage and generate active returns for shareholders, but the retail mortgage market has become increasingly commoditised and dominated by the larger banks who benefit from economies of scale,” Boardman said.
”The process leading up to our decision to sell the mortgage book spanned several weeks. During this time, we were precluded from disclosing anything in this regard and the resulting silence fuelled rumours about our intentions. We hope the announcement of the sale will bring this speculation to an end.”
Boardman said recent events in banking in South Africa had raised concerns about stability within the industry and liquidity in particular.
”Rumours started that there was a liquidity problem at the bank and that there would be retrenchments and a cap placed on withdrawals, but this was totally untrue.
”BoE performed normally for about the first 12 weeks after the Saambou crisis, but then gradually there was an outflow of capital from the bank and when we detected an imbalance we reported the matter to the banking regulator and the Ministry of Finance, immediately.”
”The Ministry and the SA Reserve Bank have therefore been involved in this since day one. When they thought the situation was getting out of hand, they decided to step in and release a statement, confirming their support for the bank.”
The joint statement issued early on Thursday by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and SA Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni said despite the recent unprecedented level of withdrawals of deposits from BoE, the bank was well-managed and sound.
”The current apparent loss of confidence in BoE is without foundation, as BoE is a well-managed, sound and solvent bank,” the statement said.
”Through the provision of an explicit government guarantee, all depositors of BoE are advised that their deposits are safe,” it further said, stressing it was business as usual for BoE.
BoE financial director David Woollman said they had obtained a loan from the SARB, but unable to disclose the amount because of a secrecy agreement with the bank.
”If they were not confident in our ability to pay back the loan in the short-term, they would not have given it to us,” he said.
”What had been proved though is that the system that the SARB has in place to protect banks when they are faced with a situation caused by perception and fear, works.”
Boardman said the sale would enhance BoE’s liquidity profile and had left the company with a clearer business focus.
”More than 60% of our earnings are derived from our traditional strengths in corporate and merchant banking, which together with investment management and private banking, are our focus going forward.
” All these businesses were well poised for continued growth and the group as a whole will undoubtedly benefit from the sale.”
Boardman said the sale of the home loan book would not affect operations of NBS, a division of BoE Bank. NBS would continue to provide a full range of financial services to its clients.
Terms and conditions applying to NBS home loans that would be transferred to FNB, would remain unchanged and that he had every confidence that the clients in question would continue to enjoy solid service standards from FNB HomeLoans.
”We will continue to provide NBS clients with access to mortgage loans via a non-exclusive origination agreement with FNB HomeLoans and similar agreements with other financial institutions,” said Boardman.
He said the cash from the sale to First National Bank (FNB) HomeLoans –a division of FirstRand — would be used to reduce the bank’s cost of funding, enhance its liquidity position and improve returns for shareholders.
BOE gained 7% on the JSE on Thursday, closing at R2,84. – Sapa
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