Karachi – April 19, 2025 – Samba Bank Limited (SBL) has reported a significant decline of 53% in its profit-after-tax (PAT) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
The bank posted a PAT of Rs166.85 million in Q1 2025, down from Rs358.68 million in Q1 2024. Consequently, earnings per share (EPS) also fell to Re0.17 from Re0.36 during the same period.
SBL’s net interest income for the quarter stood at Rs1.56 billion, marking a decrease from Rs1.86 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. Total income of the bank dropped by 10%, settling at Rs1.94 billion in Q1 2025 as compared to Rs2.18 billion in Q1 2024.
Despite the overall dip in earnings, the bank’s foreign exchange income showed a positive trend, increasing to Rs231.59 million from Rs216.77 million last year.
The financial results come on the heels of a major strategic shift announced by the bank. In March, Samba Bank disclosed its plans to transition from a conventional banking model to a fully Islamic banking institution.
“The board of Samba Bank Limited has, in-principle, approved the plan to convert from conventional to Islamic bank,” the bank stated in an earlier notice to the PSX. The proposed conversion plan will be submitted to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for approval.
The shift aligns with a broader industry trend in Pakistan, as financial institutions increasingly pivot toward Shariah-compliant banking models to meet evolving customer preferences.
