Issuer Profile
Profile
HBL Microfinance Bank Limited ("HBL MfB" or the "Bank") was incorporated in November 2001 as a nationwide microfinance bank and started business in February 2002 after receiving the license from the State Bank of Pakistan. The Bank was created through a structured transformation of the credit and savings section of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), a development initiative pioneering microfinance in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral since 1982. As of end-Dec25, the Bank operates 229 business locations, including branches and permanent booths (end-Dec24: 225), with its head office based in Islamabad. The Bank provides a diverse range of products and services for low-income wage earners and the self-employed, focusing on microlending segments such as Agriculture, Livestock, Micro-enterprise, Housing, Nano Loans, Solar Finance, and more.
Ownership
The Bank's ownership is primarily held by HBL with a shareholding of 90.83% as at end-Dec25, followed by the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) at 5.51%, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) at 2.04%, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with 1.63%. This ownership structure is expected to remain stable in the near term. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which sponsors HBL, AKAM, and AKRSP, is a group of agencies focused on development in areas such as environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, and disaster management. AKDN aims to improve the quality of life for underserved communities by fostering self-reliance. The sponsor's business expertise is considered strong, with HBL, the direct sponsor, recognized as one of Pakistan's largest banks by deposits and advances.
Governance
The Board of Directors (Board) of HBL MfB comprised nine members as of
Dec25, including the Chairperson and President/CEO. There are six nominee directors—four
representing HBL, two representing the other shareholders—along with two
independent directors. Ms. Maya Inayat Ismail has been
appointed as the Chairperson of the Bank, becoming the first woman to chair an
institute in the AKDN Network worldwide, succeeding Mr. Rayomond H.
Kotwal, who resigned from his directorship in Jan'25. Ms. Maya Inayat
Ismail brings over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, with a
strong focus on financial services institutions, managing strategic
partnerships, and strategy formulation to benefit people at the grassroots
level. Moreover, during the period under review, two changes occurred in the
Bank’s Board composition. Ms. Sobia Chughtai, holding the role of Head of Corporate Risk at
HBL, resigned from her position as a Board member of the Bank. To fill these
casual vacancies, two new representatives from HBL — Mr. Aamir Israr
Kureshi, Head of Products, Transaction Services, and Solution Delivery at
HBL, bringing over 30 years of banking experience across global institutions,
including Standard Chartered and Citibank, with expertise in strategic policy,
credit risk, and digital transformation, holding an MBA from IBA and a
Bachelor’s in Economics from Pepperdine University, USA, and Mr.
Armughan Ahmed Kausar, Head of Konnect and Mass Segment at HBL, having over
25 years of international experience in financial services, including roles at
Big 4 auditing and accounting firms and Goldman Sachs in the UK and the Middle
East and have specialization in GRC framework implementation joined the Board.
The Board comprises seasoned professionals with diverse expertise and strong
technical acumen, bringing with them several decades of collective banking
experience that adds significant strategic value to the Bank. The Board has six
committees: (i) Human Resource Committee, (ii) Risk & Compliance Committee,
(iii) Audit Committee, (iv) Information Technology Committee, (v) Financial
Inclusion & Sustainability Committee, and (vi) Board Remuneration
Committee. During CY25, the Board held six meetings with satisfactory
attendance. KPMG Taser Hadi & Co. are the external auditors of the Bank.
They expressed an unqualified opinion on the financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2025. A.F Ferguson & Co. Chartered Accountants Islamabad
replaced KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co. Chartered Accountants as statutory auditors
for Financial Year 2026. The internal audit department reports directly to the
Audit Committee.
Management
The Bank operates with a
horizontally structured organization, comprising 11 departments that report
directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Each reporting line and job
description is clearly defined. Mr. Muhammad Amir Khan, the CEO and
President, has been with the Bank since 2012 and has over 30 years of
experience in commercial and consumer banking. He is supported by a skilled and
experienced team. Mr. Ali Raza Anjum, the Chief Operating Officer,
has also been with the Bank since 2012. He brings 30 years of diverse
experience in business, treasury, risk management, compliance, credit, internal
audit, banking operations, finance, and human resources, having held senior
management positions in prominent commercial and microfinance banks. Mr.
Rizwan Maqsood, the Chief Financial Officer, has been with the Bank since
2009. He brings more than two decades of extensive experience. He has managed a
variety of functions, including financial strategy, planning, management,
reporting, treasury, analysis, accounting, auditing, and assurance. Mr.
Junaed Rayaz, the Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, has 30 years of diverse
experience in the banking industry, focusing on credit and market risk
management, fraud prevention, and portfolio optimization. Furthermore, during
the period under review, two key management changes took place. Ms.
Mahwush Mushtaq Malik was appointed as the Company Secretary &
General Counsel in May’25, taking over from Mr. Rizwan Maqsood, who held the
position with acting charge, in addition to his role as CFO, for over six
months. Ms. Mahwush brings over 15 years of legal experience in Pakistan and
the U.S., including a decade at HBL and prior roles at the World Bank and top
law firms, with strong expertise in banking law, AML, and regulatory
compliance. Additionally, Mr. Malik Adeel was appointed as
Head of Compliance, succeeding Mr. M. Ali Akram, who was looking after the
position in acting capacity. Mr. Adeel brings over 20 years of experience in
banking operations and compliance, having served at Citibank, MCB, and Faysal Bank,
and contributed to FATF-related initiatives with the Government of Pakistan.
Both appointments strengthen the Bank’s legal, control, and compliance
framework. The Bank has set up various management committees to ensure
operational efficiency and has implemented a robust Management Information
System (MIS) infrastructure to facilitate effective decision-making. The
dedicated risk management department regularly monitors credit, operational,
and market risks, convening monthly to ensure adherence to the risk profile approved
by the Board. The Bank's IT infrastructure, which supports core banking and
other essential systems, is located in a state-of-the-art data center at its
Head Office. The Core Banking System (CBS) in use is Oracle's Flexcube, which
has been enhanced with features to address changing business needs and
stringent regulatory requirements.
Business Risk
Pakistan’s microfinance ecosystem comprises Microfinance Banks (MFBs), Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), Rural Support Programmes (RSPs), and FinTechs, with MFBs dominating (~77% of Gross Loan Portfolio (GLP)) and uniquely funded through customer deposits, highlighting their systemic importance. The sector entered FY25 in a phase of cautious recovery following recent macroeconomic shocks. In CY25, macro conditions improved modestly, with easing inflation (~5.6%), stable currency, lower interest rates, and positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, while GDP growth is projected at ~2.6%–3.6% for FY26. Despite this improvement, the sector continues to face elevated credit risk, weak capital buffers, and uneven performance across players, with loan exposure largely concentrated in livestock and agriculture (~53.8%), increasing vulnerability to external shocks. During CY25, the sector reported net advances of PKR 468.3bln (CY24: PKR 421.2bln) funded primarily through deposits and borrowings, resulting in an Net Advance-to-Deposit Ratio (ADR) of 56.4% (CY24: 57.5%). In comparison, HBL Microfinance Bank's net ADR stood at 58.3% (CY24: 67.6%). The sector remained loss-making for the sixth consecutive year, reporting a reduced loss after tax of PKR 2.0bln (CY24: PKR 16.2bln). The sector’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained weak at -1.2% (CY24: 2.6%), well below the regulatory requirement of 15%. Whereas, the CAR of HBL Microfinance Bank stood at 18.8% at the end of CY25 (CY24: 17.1%). During CY25, the Bank reported a deposit share of 18.2% and a GLP share of 18.7%. Markup income increased by 6.4% to PKR 36.6bln (CY24: PKR 34.4bln), while the markup expenses decreased by 29.8% to PKR 17.8bln (CY24: PKR 25.3bln) due to lower deposit expenses. Consequently, the NIMR increased by 91.7% to PKR 21.3bln (CY24: PKR 11.1bln). The non-markup income rose by 21% to PKR 2.5bln (CY24: PKR 2.1bln), mainly attributable to higher fee and commission income and gains on securities. The credit loss allowance (net of write-off recovery) increased to PKR 6.4bln (CY24: PKR 5.4bln). Overall, the Bank reported a profit before tax of PKR 1.6bln and a profit after tax of PKR 0.5bln (CY24: loss before tax of PKR 5.9bln and loss after tax of PKR 3.7bln).
Financial Risk
As of end-Dec’25, gross
advances increased by 11.3% and stood at ~PKR 100.5bln (end-Dec’24: PKR
90.3bln), while Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) were reported at PKR 8.8bln
(end-Dec’24: PKR 7.2bln).This increase is primarily attributed to higher
infection in livestock segment with live stock constituting the largest share
of gross portfolio.. To strengthen risk resilience amid higher NPLs, the Bank
has adopted a cautious lending approach by entering into multiple risk-sharing
arrangements, prominently being an unfunded 50% credit risk-sharing facility
amounting to USD 80mln with an international risk-sharing agency, International
Finance Corporation (IFC), for a period of six years. Specialized risk-sharing
arrangement with Economic Transformation Initiative Gilgit Baltistan (ETIGB)
has also been entered into, amounting to PKR 1bln, and the Bank is also in
negotiations with other agencies, i.e., NCGCL. Consequently, the Bank's
infection ratio stood at 8.8% (end-Dec’24: 8%). The investment portfolio of the
Bank increased by 4.3% and was reported at PKR 75.8bln (end-Dec’24: PKR
72.7bln), primarily comprising government securities. The deposit base
increased by 23% and stood at PKR 150.9bln (end-Dec’24: PKR 122.6bln), whereas
total borrowings declined by 14.5% and stood at PKR 37.5bln (end-Dec’24: PKR
43.9bln), followed by subordinated debt of PKR 3.5bln. The Bank liquidity
profile, as evident from the liquid assets to borrowings and deposits ratio,
declined to 59.7% (end-Dec’24: 71.6%). The Bank’s equity base increased to PKR
18bln (end-Dec’24: 15.4bln), supported by continuous and timely capital injections
over the years in share capital by the parent bank (the HBL). Backed by
enhanced liquidity, robust capitalization, and prudent portfolio management,
the Bank solidified its overall financial strength and resilience.
Instrument Rating Considerations
About the Instrument
In March 2024, the Bank issued privately placed, unsecured, subordinated, and rated Tier 2 Capital Term Finance Certificates ("TFCs" or the "Instrument") amounting to PKR 1,500mln. These TFCs, with a 10-year tenor, may be listed, to enhance the Bank’s Tier II capital and strengthen the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR). Profit is being paid semi-annually in arrears at a rate of 6MK + 200 bps per annum, calculated on a 365-day basis on the outstanding principal. Principal redemption will occur as a bullet payment at maturity. The issuer ("HBL MfB") may, with prior SBP approval, call the TFCs at par (in full or partially) on any profit payment date after five years from the issue date, provided at least 30 calendar days' notice is given to investors. Once announced, the call option is irrevocable. Additionally, the call option may only be exercised if HBL MfB is compliant with SBP's Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) and CAR requirements. In line with the lock-in clause for Tier II issues, neither profit nor principal on the TFCs may be paid, even at maturity, if such payment would cause a shortfall in the Bank's MCR or CAR, or increase any existing shortfall in MCR and CAR. The TFCs also include a loss-absorption clause, allowing SBP, in the event of a point of non-viability, to fully and permanently convert the TFCs into common shares of the Bank.
Relative Seniority/Subordination of Instrument
The instrument will rank pari passu with other Tier II instruments and superior to any Additional Tier I instruments.
Credit Enhancement
The instrument is unsecured.
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