Commonwealth Bank of Australia posted cash net profit after tax of AUD 5.13 billion for the first half of its fiscal year 2025, covering the six months to December 2024, a 2% increase compared with the equivalent prior-year period. Statutory NPAT came in at AUD 5.14 billion, a 6% increase. The results were published on the bank's newsroom and accompanied by detailed investor materials.
The half-year result was supported by volume growth in home lending and business lending. Net interest margin for the six-month period was 2.08%, an improvement of 2 basis points on an underlying basis compared with the prior corresponding period.
PROFIT AND CREDIT QUALITY
Pre-provision profit for the half year reached AUD 7.725 billion, a 1% increase on the prior period. Loan impairment expense for the period was AUD 320 million, equivalent to 7 basis points of average lending assets.
DIVIDEND
The board declared an interim dividend of AUD 2.25 per share for the half year, fully franked, a 5% increase on the interim dividend paid in the prior corresponding period. Return on equity for the half-year period was 13.7%.
The RBA cash rate was held at 4.35% throughout the half-year period.