Rating History
Dissemination Date Long-Term Rating Short-Term Rating Outlook Action Rating Watch
29-Dec-25 AA+ - Stable Maintain -
27-Jun-25 AA+ - Stable Maintain -
06-Jan-25 AA+ - Stable Maintain -
28-Jun-24 AA+ - Stable Maintain -
29-Dec-23 AA+ - Stable Maintain -
About the Instrument

BAHL issued an unsecured, listed, subordinated, perpetual, rated and non-cumulative TFC-IX in Apr-22 of PKR 7bln to contribute towards AL Habib's Tier I Capital. The funds raised are planned to be utilized in the Bank's normal business operations. The instrument is perpetual. The profit rate is 6M-KIBOR plus 165bps and is being paid semi-annually in arrears on the outstanding principal. The instrument is unsecured and subordinated as to payment of principal and profit to all other claims except common shares and is pari passu to other Additional Tier I instruments.

Rating Rationale

The ratings of Bank AL Habib Limited (BAHL) reflect the Bank’s continued emphasis on sustaining and reinforcing its relative positioning in an increasingly competitive banking landscape. Under strong and consistent leadership, the Bank is executing targeted strategic initiatives to maintain its competitiveness and expand its market presence. BAHL has built a long-standing track record of steady growth, anchored in sound governance, prudent risk management, and a strong customer-centric approach. A distinctive feature of the Bank’s strategy is its unwavering focus on nurturing customer relationships—this remains a key driver of both loyalty and growth. Core strengths in trade finance and foreign remittances continue to contribute meaningfully to revenue diversification and industry positioning. In CY24, foreign trade volumes remained on the higher side, while the Bank’s renewed focus on remittances has borne fruit, improved its market share, and allowed it to maintain a net positive contribution in forex terms. In 9MCY25, the Bank’s deposit base grew to PKR 2.5 trillion (CY’24: PKR 2.2 trillion), pushing its market share to 7.00%, with a CASA ratio of 90.2%. Advances stand at PKR 906.6 billion. However, after a period of stability, non-performing loans remain intact, primarily tied to a few large, concentrated exposures. These are adequately provided for, and management remains optimistic about recoveries. Profit after tax stands at PKR 25.3 billion (CY24': PKR 33.1 billion). BAHL is also expanding its acquisition business and deepening its reach across the broader financial services spectrum to meet evolving customer expectations. Looking ahead, while sector-wide margin compression is likely amid monetary easing, BAHL’s strategic clarity, experienced leadership, and deep-rooted customer relationships position it well to sustain growth and maintain its standing as a stable and trusted institution in Pakistan’s banking sector.

Key Rating Drivers

The ratings are dependent on the sustained market positioning of the Bank in all areas of its business leadership, while preserving the asset quality. A strong capital adequacy remains essential.

Issuer Profile
Profile

Bank AL Habib Limited ("BAHL" or the "Bank"), incorporated as a public limited Company, commenced operations as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in 1992 and was listed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The Bank’s registered office is located in the city of Multan in Punjab, and its principal office is located in Karachi. The Bank's principal activities are to provide commercial banking services to individuals and institutional clients. The Bank has an existing branch network of 1,295 as of the end Sep'25 (end-Dec24: 1,221) branches, including 350 (end-Dec24: 350) Islamic banking branches. BAHL has been operating 2 overseas branches in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Malaysia (Labuan) and 3 representative office one each in Dubai, Istanbul, and Beijing. Further, branch expansion is expected in CY25.


Ownership

The shareholding in BAHL, to the extent of (48.9%), is held by the Habib family along with their friends and associates, Other significant shareholders include joint stock companies (17.2%) and investment and insurance companies (9.08%). The ownership structure of the Bank is seen as stable as the majority stake rests with the sponsors. Sponsors are members of the Habib Family - one of the oldest and most distinguished names in Pakistan's banking sector. Their significant experience and business acumen in commercial banking have been of value, as their background has allowed them to proactively deal with the changing dynamics of the industry and demonstrate consistent performance. BAHL is the flagship business of sponsors. Hence, willingness to support the Bank in case the need arises is considered high; also supplemented by access to the capital markets.


Governance

BAHL’s ten-member Board includes three representatives of Habib Family, three members are independent directors while one is executive director. The Board members have extensive experience in the banking and commercial industries of Pakistan and are actively involved in providing strategic input and guidance to the management. CEO is a seasoned professional banker, who has been with the Bank for over 28 years. There are six Board committees that assist the Board in the effective oversight of the Bank’s overall operations on relevant matters. The Board provides overall guidelines on managing risks associated with the Bank’s operations and strategic direction. These committees are 01) Audit Committee, 02) Human Resource & Remuneration Committee, 03) Credit Risk Management Committee, 04) Risk Management Committee, 05) IT Committee and 06) Islamic Banking Conversion Committee. The auditors of the Bank are KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co, Chartered Accountants, classified in category 'A' by SBP and having a "satisfactory" in QCR rating. They have expressed an unqualified opinion on the Bank’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.


Management

The Bank has established well-developed management tiers and robust succession planning frameworks to ensure leadership continuity across all key positions. Its organizational structure is designed to be horizontal, promoting collaboration and efficient decision-making. Operational responsibilities are strategically distributed among Division Heads, each overseeing distinct functional areas, which fosters accountability, enhances operational oversight, and supports the Bank's long term strategic goals. This structure enables the Bank to remain agile, responsive, and well-positioned to manage growth and risk effectively. The strength of the Bank comes from the core team of experienced senior banking professionals, who have sizable experience in commercial banking, locally and abroad. The Bank has established five internal committees at the management level to oversee day-to-day operations and ensure effective execution of strategic objectives. These committees facilitate informed decision-making, promote operational efficiency, and enhance governance across key functional areas. The Bank is using in-house developed software named ‘AL Habib Banking System -AHBS’ as its core banking software that allows real-time online connectivity with other subsystems operating in the Bank. The Bank also has a separate Information Security Department. Bank AL Habib (BAHL) has a robust risk management framework designed to effectively identify, assess, and mitigate the various risks the Bank is exposed to. The overall responsibility for risk oversight rests with the Board of Directors, which discharges this role through its specialized committees. To support this framework, the Bank has established a dedicated Risk Management Division (RMD) that operates independently to monitor and manage risk across all business areas.


Business Risk

During 9MCY25, Pakistan's Banking sector's total assets posted growth of ~9.5% YTD whilst investments surged by ~23.4% to PKR ~36.7trln (CY24: PKR ~29.8trln). Net Advances of the sector recorded a decline of ~16.3% to stand at PKR ~13.2trln (CY24: PKR ~15.8trln). Non-performing loans witnessed a decrease of 11.2% YTD to PKR ~948bln (CY24: PKR ~1,068bln). The CAR averaged at 22.1% (CY24: 20.6%). Given the low monetary rate and high cost environment, Banks are likely to show some dilution in profitability by the end of CY25. At end-Sep25, BAHL, a large-sized Bank, holds almost same position in the industry as comapred to last year 7.00% (end-Dec24:7.31%) market share in terms of total deposits. During Sep'25 the Bank’s deposit base stands at PKR 2,497bln (end-Dec'24: PKR 2,278bln) reflecting an increase of 9.6%. At the end Sep'25, BAHL’s NIMR witnessed an decrease of 17% on a YoY basis to stand at PKR 99.3bln (Sep'24: PKR 117.4bln). primarily attributable to decreased markup earned amounting to PKR 260bln (Sep'24: PKR 367bln). The Bank’s asset yield stand at 12.2% (Sep'24: 19.6%), whereas the cost of funds stands at 7.3% (Sep'24: 12.8%). The Bank’s spread stands at 4.9% (Sep'24: 6.8%). During Sep25, non-markup income increased year-on-year (YoY) to PKR 22.1bln, compared to PKR 19.5bln in Sep'24. This growth was primarily driven by fee and commission income, which stands at PKR 14.1bln (Sep'24: PKR 14.1bln), followed by foreign exchange income of PKR 5.6bln (Sep'24: PKR 3.8bln).The Bank has significant share in trading as well as remittance. On the expense side, non-markup expenses increased by 15% YoY, reaching PKR 71bln, up from PKR 61.8bln in Sep'25. The Bank’s net profitability stands at, amounting PKR 25.3bln in Sep'25 compared to PKR 33bln in Sep'24.


Financial Risk

As of end-September 2025, the Bank’s net advances remain intact PKR 906.6bln compared to PKR 910.8bln at end-December 2024. However, the Advances-to-Deposits Ratio (ADR) declined to 36.2% from 39.9% in Dec'24. The Bank’s infection ratio increased to 3.7% (end-December 2024: 3.7%), primarily due to a intact in non-performing loans (NPLs), which stands at PKR 35.5bln from PKR 35bln. At end-Sep25, the investment portfolio of the Bank stands at PKR 1,847bln including debt instruments (end-Dec24: PKR 1,924bln). Government securities constitute 98.8% of total investments (end-Dec24: 99.1%). By the end of Sep25, the Bank's deposit portfolio expanded by 9.6%, reaching PKR 2,497bln compared to PKR 2,279bln as of end-Dec24. The composition of deposits reflected a Current Account (CA) ratio of 37.7% and a Savings Account (SA) ratio of 40.1% (end-Dec24: 34.3% and 41%, respectively). The Bank's liquidity position remain stable, with the Liquid Assets ratio stands at 68.6%, compared to 70.6% at the close of Dec24 and Liquid coverage ratio stands at 294.4% (Dec'24: 272.1%). As of end-Sep25, BAHL’s paid-up capital remained at PKR 11bln. However, the Bank’s equity base rose to PKR 166bln (end-Dec24: PKR 151.9bln), primarily driven by enhanced profitability. Consequently, The Bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) improved to 18.7% as of the latest reporting period, up from 17.9% at end-December 2024. This includes a Tier I CAR of 14.4%, Tier II CAR of 4.3%, all in compliance with the minimum regulatory requirements set by the State Bank of Pakistan. The Bank has issue four bonds totaling PKR 26 billion.


Instrument Rating Considerations
About the Instrument

BAHL issued an unsecured, listed, subordinated, perpetual, rated and non-cumulative TFC-IX in Apr-22 of PKR 7bln to contribute towards AL Habib's Tier I Capital. The funds raised are planned to be utilized in the Bank's normal business operations. The instrument is perpetual. The profit rate is 6M-KIBOR plus 165bps and is being paid semi-annually in arrears on the outstanding principal. The instrument is unsecured and subordinated as to payment of principal and profit to all other claims except common shares and is pari passu to other Additional Tier I instruments.


Relative Seniority/Subordination of Instrument

The Instrument is unsecured and subordinated as to payment of principal and profit to all other claims except common shares and is pari passu to other Additional Tier I instruments. In addition to the Lock In Clause, the Instrument will be subject to 1) Loss absorption upon the occurrence of a Pre-Specified Trigger (“PST”) i.e., issuer’s CET1 ratio falls to/below 6.625% of Risk-Weighted Assets; and 2) Loss absorption and/or any other requirements of SBP upon the occurrence of a Point of Non-Viability (“PONV”). Upon reaching the pre-defined trigger point or point of non-viability (PONV), the TFC may be partially or fully converted into equity/written off as per the discretion/instructions of SBP. Number of shares to be issued to TFC holders at the time of conversion will be equal to the ‘Outstanding Value of the TFCs divided by Market value per share of the Bank’s common share on the date of trigger event as declared by SBP, subject to a cap of 118.5 million shares


Credit Enhancement

The Instrument is unsecured and subordinated.


 
 

Dec-25

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Sep-25
9M
Dec-24
12M
Dec-23
12M
Dec-22
12M
A. BALANCE SHEET
1. Stage I | Advances - net 904,009 908,165 862,348 810,530
2. Stage II | Advances - net 0 0 0 0
3. Stage III | Non-Performing Advances 35,247 35,509 25,187 14,721
4. Stage III | Impairment Provision (32,643) (32,824) (18,076) (11,716)
5. Investments in Government Securities 1,816,205 1,902,949 1,480,770 1,136,782
6. Other Investments 31,084 21,784 23,125 21,739
7. Other Earning Assets 67,704 51,412 13,901 29,053
8. Non-Earning Assets 461,487 433,040 353,765 270,959
Total Assets 3,283,094 3,320,035 2,741,020 2,272,068
6. Deposits 2,497,969 2,278,957 1,934,037 1,568,138
7. Borrowings 439,139 693,032 507,423 448,981
8. Other Liabilities (Non-Interest Bearing) 179,809 196,058 172,954 159,707
Total Liabilities 3,116,917 3,168,047 2,614,413 2,176,826
Equity 166,178 151,989 129,659 95,242
B. INCOME STATEMENT
1. Mark Up Earned 260,404 478,031 373,902 200,921
2. Mark Up Expensed (161,088) (321,783) (249,755) (123,602)
3. Non Mark Up Income 22,150 25,484 23,227 21,196
Total Income 121,467 181,732 147,375 98,515
4. Non-Mark Up Expenses (70,163) (83,000) (72,047) (52,761)
5. Provisions/Write offs/Reversals 2,200 (14,891) (4,200) (12,871)
Pre-Tax Profit 53,504 83,841 71,128 32,884
6. Taxes (28,110) (43,979) (35,809) (16,314)
Profit After Tax 25,393 39,862 35,319 16,570
C. RATIO ANALYSIS
1. Performance
Net Mark Up Income / Avg. Assets 4.0% 5.2% 5.0% 3.8%
Non-Mark Up Expenses / Total Income 57.8% 45.7% 48.9% 53.6%
ROE 21.3% 28.3% 31.4% 17.9%
2. Capital Adequacy
Equity / Total Assets (D+E+F) 5.1% 4.6% 4.7% 4.2%
Capital Adequacy Ratio 18.7% 17.9% 15.8% 14.7%
3. Funding & Liquidity
Liquid Assets / (Deposits + Borrowings Net of Repo) 68.6% 70.6% 62.5% 57.2%
Net Financial Assets to Deposits Ratio [(Total Finances - net + Non-Performing Finances - net) / Deposits] 36.29% 39.97% 44.96% 51.88%
Current Deposits / Deposits 50.0% 47.0% 48.6% 52.2%
Saving Deposits / Deposits 40.2% 41.5% 36.5% 30.3%
4. Credit Risk
Impaired Loan Ratio | [Stage III | Non-Performing Advances / Gross Advances] 3.7% 3.7% 2.8% 1.8%
Non-Performing Finances - net / Equity 1.6% 1.8% 5.5% 3.2%

Dec-25

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Dec-25

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  1. Rating Team Statements
    1. Rating is just an opinion about the creditworthiness of the entity and does not constitute a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security of the entity rated or to buy, hold, or sell the security rated, as the case may be. (Chapter III; 14-3-(x))
    2. Conflict of Interest
      1. The Rating Team or any of their family members have no interest in this rating (Chapter III; 12-2-(j))
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Dec-25

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Nature of Instrument Size of Issue (PKR) Years Security Quantum of Security Nature of Assets Book Value of Assets (PKR mln) Trustee
Bank AL Habib Limited | Tier-I | TFC IX | Apr-22 PKR 7 Billion Perpetual (i.e. no fixed or final redemption date) Instrument is unsecured and subordinated N/A Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited.
6 Months KIBOR Ask Rate (assumed "0" for calculation purpose) 0.00%
Effective Rate 6-Months KIBOR (ask side) + 1.65% (with no step up feature) Issue Amount PKR 7 bln
Bank AL Habib Limited | Tier-I | TFC IX | Apr-22| Redemption Schedule
No. Principal Issue price Years Months Tentative Dates of Redemption Component of Maximum Expected Total Redemption Prompt Payment Principal Outstanding Days Schedule Redemption Profit Bonus

Not Applicable, as the instrument is of perpetual nature.

Total 0% - - - -

Dec-25

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