Al Baraka Banking Group net income up 15 per cent to $66 million in Q1

Bahrain-based Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG) announced net income increased by 15 per cent to $66 million, and total operating income by 16 per cent to $233 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012. Total assets increased by 2 per cent and amounted to $19.5 billion. Total deposits including equity of investment accountholders grew by 2 per cent while total financing and investments remained unchanged at the end of March 2013 as compared with the end of December 2012. According to the group's CEO Adnan Ahmed Yousif, the good results are due to the bank's initiatives like introducing more innovative products, expanding the branch network of ABG subsidiary units, and entering new markets as well as modernizing and developing the group's infrastructures.