Public Bank pre-tax profit Up 2.1%

Public Bank's pre-tax profit slightly increased by 2.1 percent to RM2.49 billion in the first half from RM2.43 billion in the same period of 2011.

Its revenue increased to RM6.83 billion from RM6.16 billion previously.

"Our asset quality and cost efficiency continued to be the best among the domestic peers, with the lowest gross impaired loan ratio of 0.8 per cent and cost-to-income ratio of 31.4 percent," the bank said.

Founder/chairman, Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow, said the group's gross loans increased at an annualised rate of 10.8per cent to RM187.3 billion as at end-June this year and domestic loans grew at a stronger rate of 12.3 percent.

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