Successful St.Galler Kantonalbank: more profit, higher dividend
14.February 2024
ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
St.Galler Kantonalbank (SGKB) continues to be successful: profit increases by 12.8 % to CHF 207.2 million. All income pillars are higher than in the previous year. The dividend will be increased by CHF 2 to CHF 19 per share.
Strong growth
SGKB increased its business volume by CHF 6.9 billion to CHF 90.9 billion (+8.2 %), continuing the very good growth of previous years. «This growth is broadly based across all business areas and our bank subsidiary in Germany», says Christian Schmid, CEO of St.Galler Kantonalbank. CHF 4.2 billion in new managed assets (net new money) were acquired in 2023 (+7.8 %). Thus, SGKB currently manages CHF 58.7 billion in client assets. The strongest growth was recorded by the client groups «Private Individuals Domestic», «External Asset Managers» and «Institutional Investors». Loans to clients rose by 5.7 % to CHF 32.2 billion. CEO Christian
Schmid: «This proves that we are well positioned and on a high level of customer confidence.»
All income pillars strengthened
Consolidated profit rose by 12.8 % to CHF 207.2 million. All income pillars were higher than in the previous year: gross result from interest operations increased by 19.5 %, result from commission business and services by 4.9 % and result from trading activities by 8.4 %. Interest income benefited from growth in the lending business and, in particular, from the normalisation of the interest rate level. For the first time in 8 years, the central bank rate was positive for the entire financial year.
39 new jobs created
The good growth is also reflected in the number of employees. Last year, 39 new jobs were created, more than half of them in customer advisory services. As a result, SGKB employed a total of 1’393 people at the end of 2023. Personnel expenses increased accordingly by 3.9 %. Operating expenses rose by 7.2% due to larger investments in construction and IT projects as well as generally higher purchase prices.
Higher dividend
SGKB pursues a predictable and sustainable dividend policy and distributes 55 % of its consolidated profit for 2023 to shareholders. The Board of Directors will therefore propose a CHF 2 higher dividend of CHF 19 per share at the Annual General Meeting on 1 May 2024. CHF 7 of this will be paid out of reserves from capital contributions and will be tax-free for individuals residing in Switzerland who hold their shares as private assets. The main shareholder, the Canton of St.Gallen, will receive CHF 58.1 million as a result.
Outlook result 2024
St.Galler Kantonalbank expects the result for the 2024 financial year to be at the previous year's level.
Key Figures
| in CHF million | 2023 | 2022 | change |
| Operating income | 580.7 | 511.5 | + 13.5 % |
| Operating result | 272.7 | 221.7 | + 23.0 % |
| Consolidated profit | 207.2 | 183.8 | + 12.8 % |
| in CHF million | 31.12.2023 | 31.12.2022 | change |
| Balance sheet total | 41'337 | 40'824 | + 1.3 % |
| Total loans to clients | 32'161 | 30'417 | + 5.7 % |
| Managed assets | 58'736 | 53'568 | + 9.6 % |
| Shareholders' equity | 2'903 | 2'771 | + 4.8 % |
| Number of employees (average) Full-time equivalents (average) |
1’374 1’155 |
1’337 1’132 |
+ 2.8 % + 2.1 % |
Alternative Performance Measures:
The alternative performance measures used outside the scope of generally accepted accounting principles as defined in the corresponding SIX Directive are explained (in German) on the SGKB website (sgkb.ch/alternative-performancekennzahlen).
Media contact
Jolanda Meyer
Media Relations
+41 71 231 32 18
jolanda.meyer@sgkb.ch
Adrian Kunz
Investor relations
+41 71 231 32 04
adrian.kunz@sgkb.ch