Annual Report 2015
33
Total assets
The Group’s asset base increased by $6.6 billion or 11.2%, mainly
due to the first-time consolidation of a $3.2 billion asset base from
Suriname and $2.2 billion in assets out of Ghana.
Total assets in Trinidad and Tobago increased by $2.2 billion or
4.9%, largely driven by a $3.1 billion or 16% growth in loans
and advances. This growth was funded from our excess liquidity,
resulting in a $2.1 billion decrease in liquid assets.
Barbados’ asset base grew by $173 million or 2% with loans and
advances and investments remaining fairly flat. The growth was
mainly in low-yielding liquid assets. The asset base of Guyana grew
by $433 million or 11.1% funded from the growth in deposits of
$360.8 million or 10.7%. This was invested mainly in liquid assets.
Growth in the Cayman/Suriname/Eastern Caribbean Region is
effectively due to the $3.2 billion asset base of RBL Suriname, as
minimal loan growth in the Eastern Caribbean Region was totally
negated by declines in liquid assets in the Cayman Islands to fund
the declining deposit base.
Total LoansandAdvances
Total loansandadvances
The Group’s loans and advances portfolio continues to grow,
increasing by $5.9 billion or 21.8% in 2015. Excluding the $2.8
billion in loans incorporated on the acquisition of Suriname and
Ghana, organic loan growth across the Group was actually $3.1
billion or 11.5% compared with the 7.4% growth in 2014, a very
good achievement, given the existing economic conditions. This
$3.1 billion in organic loan growth originated mainly from Trinidad
and Tobago. Guyana’s loan portfolio grew by $66.8 million or
4.4%. While economic conditions in Barbados and Grenada have
improved slightly, this has not translated into higher loan growth
thus far. We remain optimistic, however, that the improving
tourism sectors in Barbados and Grenada will lead to higher loan
growth in these territories over the next fiscal year.
Country (TT$ Millions)
2015
2014
Change
% Change
Trinidad and Tobago
22,386
19,336
3,050
15.8%
Barbados
4,585
4,578
6
0.1%
Guyana
1,592
1,525
67
4.4%
Cayman/Suriname/Eastern Caribbean
3,061
1,656
1,405
84.9%
Ghana
1,384
–
1,384
0.0%
Total
33,008
27,095
5,913
21.8%
