PACRA Maintain Entity Ratings of Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited

The ratings reflect the Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited “SCBPL” association with a financially sound and reputed international bank - Standard Chartered PLC. This is supplemented by SCBPL's strategic and operational integration into the parent as the Bank continues to benefit from the technical resources and cumulative expertise developed at the Group level. Bank’s market share in customer deposits remained largely the same at 3.0% as of end-Dec21 (end-Dec20: 3.1%). SCBPL's predominantly low-cost deposit base has enabled the bank to achieve one of the best CASA mix in the industry (CY21: 92.1%, CY20: 90.5%) while distinguishing it from its peer universe also facilitates core operating activities. The ratings incorporate the Bank's dominant position in its targeted niche market (MNCs, established domestic Corporates & affluent retail clients) through a comprehensive product suite and significant digital capabilities complemented by its international franchise and its extensive presence in tier-I cities. The strategy is to focus on all business segments through digitization along with traditional banking. The Bank is focused on enhancing yield, and cost efficiency, increasing client revenue, and growing customer assets. The bank’s net mark-up income recorded attrition, during CY21, owing to declined key policy rate during the year. However, net mark-up income and profitability rebounded in 1QCY22 – the trend would sustain, given the high-interest rate environment prevailing at the moment. The advances of the Bank witnessed a sizable increase in CY21 and ADR clocked at 37.4% (CY20: 32%). The rating factor is sound management quality, healthy spreads, efficient operating structure, and ample liquidity of the Bank. The risk absorption capacity of the Bank, measured in terms of CAR, is robust (16.9%). Pakistan’s economy has gone through several varied phases in the last two years due to the COVID19 pandemic. The banking sector continued to flourish with high profitability. Going forward, the macro-economic environment is beset with myriad challenges due to heightened interest rates, tightening of demand, rupee depreciation, and higher inflation. This has repercussions for the entire system including banking.
The ratings remain dependent on the Bank's ability to maintain its presence in profitable segments while remaining abreast of changing domestic operating environment. Meanwhile, maintaining spreads whilst not compromising on the asset quality is important for the Bank.

About the Entity
SCBPL, incorporated in Pakistan in Jul 2006, is ultimately owned (98.99%) by Standard Chartered PLC and operates with a network of 41 branches including 2 Islamic branches across 11 cities at end-Mar’22. In recent years, Bank has extensively focused on digitizing its services and the emphasis on digitization is expected to continue in the future. Standard Chartered (PLC) credit ratings as of 17th January 2021 were BBB+ with a stable outlook (S&P), A2 with a stable outlook (Moody’s), and as of 08th December 2020. SCBPL’s seven-member Board comprises qualified and experienced professionals. The Board is composed of four members of the Standard Chartered (SC) Group, including SCBPL’s CEO. Among the other three board members, two members are independent directors whilst one is a non-executive director. Mr. Rehan Sheikh, the CEO of the bank, is a seasoned banker, he is assisted by an experienced team.