The Commercial Bank of Ceylon achieved another performance milestone in 2025, becoming the first private sector bank in the country to expand its loan book beyond Rs. 2 Tn., with a growth of Rs. 541 Bn. over 12 months at a monthly average of over Rs. 45 Bn., demonstrating its commitment to national economic resurgence.
Recording the highest annual loan growth in absolute terms in the history of the institution, the Bank said gross loans and advances for the year ending 31 st December 2025 grew by 36.37% to Rs. 2.028 Tn.,taking total assets to Rs. 3.258 Tn. This reflected an increase of Rs. 468 Bn. or 16.78% and demonstrated more than double the growth recorded in 2024. The Bankβs net assets value per share improved to Rs. 198.30 from Rs. 170.94 at end 2024.
Deposits grew by 16.65% or Rs. 372 Bn. over the 12 months to end the year at Rs. 2.6 Tn., reflecting an average deposit growth of over Rs. 30 Bn. per month despite relatively lower interest rates, the Bank said. The CASA ratio of the Bank, which is considered to be the industryβs best, stood at 39.65% from 38.07% as at 31 st December 2024. Commenting on the Bankβs performance in 2025, Sharhan Muhseen, Chairman of Commercial Bank said: βWe remain focused on the fundamentals that sustain shareholder value: earnings resilience, balance sheet strength, disciplined risk management and a strategy that is responsive to evolving customer and market needs. Our 2025 performance affirms the value of that focus.β
Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said: βIn 2025, we proved that scale and discipline can move together, growing lending and accelerating digital activity while strengthening asset quality and balance sheet resilience. This is how we build durable value, supporting productive growth without compromising governance and risk standards.β
In a filing with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) the Bank said it recorded gross income of Rs. 354.81 Bn. for the year ending December 31 2025 reflecting growth of 13.70% over the normalised figure for 2024, after adjusting for the impacts of restructuring of Sri Lanka International Sovereign Bonds (SLISBs) accommodated in that year, in order to avoid potential distortion of growth figures.
Net gains / (losses) from derecognition of financial assets in the Income Statement for 2024 (as reported) included a derecognition loss on restructuring of SLISBs amounting to Rs. 45.108 Bn. On the same basis, interest income for the 12 months grew by 8.91% to Rs. 293.61 Bn. helped by substantial growth in the Bankβs loan book. Interest expenses grew by a nominal 1.47% to Rs. 157.32 Bn., enabling the Bank to post a net interest income of Rs. 136.29 Bn., an increase of 18.97%.
Source : Daily News