Lahore: The Bank of Punjab has demonstrated significant growth and strategic advancements, as highlighted by the recent rating by The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited. The Bank’s principal shareholder, the Government of Punjab, has played a crucial role in reinforcing the Bank’s institutional strength and credibility. This support has enabled the Bank to excel in underserved market segments, particularly in agriculture and small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Bank's SME market share has experienced a notable increase, doubling from 6% to 15.6% in under three years. The Bank has implemented targeted initiatives to support small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and rural communities. Additionally, the Bank has prioritized climate-related financing and digital transformation, resulting in a 95.3% surge in digital transaction volumes since 2022.

The Bank's innovative financial products, such as SME e-Qarza and freelancer accounts, along with government-backed initiatives like the Kissan and Livestock Cards, underscore its commitment to financial inclusion. The Bank has also been recognized with several awards for its contributions.

The Bank saw its deposit base grow by 12.5% to PKR 1,710.3 billion during the calendar year 2024, with current account deposits increasing by 24.3%. This growth reflects a stable and expanding deposit base. Although the advance-to-deposit ratio declined to 45.4%, indicating a cautious lending approach, the Bank's profit after tax increased by 17.9% to PKR 13.4 billion, driven by a 50.6% rise in non-markup income.

The Bank's equity base grew to PKR 92.5 billion, while its capital adequacy ratio stood at 17.93%. These figures highlight the Bank’s robust financial health and strategic focus on leveraging its strengths for sustainable growth.