In This Article:
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| 4Q2024 | 3Q2024 | 4Q2023 | FY2024 | FY2023 |
| Net result (in millions of EUR) | 1 116 | 868 | 677 | 3 415 | 3 402 |
| Basic earnings per share (in EUR) | 2.75 | 2.14 | 1.59 | 8.33 | 8.04 |
| Breakdown of the net result by business unit (in millions of EUR) |
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| Belgium | 487 | 598 | 474 | 1 846 | 1 866 |
| Czech Republic | 238 | 179 | 102 | 858 | 763 |
| International Markets | 175 | 205 | 178 | 751 | 676 |
| Group Centre | 215 | -114 | -77 | -40 | 97 |
| Parent shareholders’ equity per share (in EUR, end of period) | 56.6 | 54.1 | 53.9 | 56.6 | 53.9 |
‘We recorded a net profit of 1 116 million euros in the last quarter of 2024. Compared to the result of the previous quarter, our total income benefited from several factors, including higher net interest income, increased insurance revenues and sharply higher net fee and commission income driven by an excellent business performance. This clearly illustrates how our integrated customer offering strongly contributes to income growth and income diversification. These items were partly offset by a decrease in trading & fair value income and lower net other income.
Our loan portfolio continued to expand, increasing by 2% quarter-on-quarter and by 5% year-on-year. Customer deposits – excluding volatile, low-margin short-term deposits at KBC Bank’s foreign branches – were up 2% quarter-on-quarter and 7% year-on-year, with the latter figure benefiting from the successful return of customer funds after the Belgian state note had matured in the previous quarter.
Operational expenses were up in the quarter under review but remained perfectly within our full-year 2024 guidance. Insurance service expenses were lower, as the previous quarter had been impacted by storms and floods in Central Europe (especially Storm Boris). Loan loss impairment charges, excluding the reserve for geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, were down on the level recorded in the previous quarter, leading to a credit cost ratio of 16 basis points for full-year 2024, well below our guidance figure. Including the reserve for geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, the credit cost ratio stood at 10 basis points for full-year 2024. We also recorded a one-off tax benefit of 318 million euros in the quarter under review, due to the forthcoming liquidation of Exicon (the remaining activities of KBC Bank Ireland).
Consequently, when adding up the four quarters of the year, our full-year net profit amounted to an excellent 3 415 million euros, slightly up year-on-year.
On the sustainability front, we are proud to be included for the third consecutive year in the CDP Climate A List. This recognition highlights KBC's leading role in climate-related disclosures and actions.