Issuer Profile
Profile
Soneri Bank Limited (“SNBL” or “the Bank”)
commenced its banking operations in 1991 as a scheduled commercial bank and is
listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) within the Commercial Banks sector.
Founded by the Feerasta Family, SNBL was envisioned to bridge the financing gap
for Pakistan’s SME sector by extending banking services to businesses that
remained relatively underserved by larger financial institutions.
Beginning its journey with a single branch
in Lahore, the Bank has gradually evolved into a nationwide financial
institution with a network of 674 branches spread across more than 260 cities
as of end-Mar’26. With an asset base exceeding PKR 836bln, SNBL has established
a notable position in trade finance while continuously strengthening its
banking proposition through technology-led initiatives and digital
transformation.
The Bank operates from its registered
office located at 2nd Floor, 307-Upper Mall Scheme, Lahore, while its central
office is situated at 10th Floor, PNSC Building, M.T. Khan Road, Karachi. SNBL
offers a diversified portfolio of financial solutions, including conventional
and Islamic banking products, digital banking services, consumer and corporate
financing, trade finance facilities, and cash management solutions tailored to
evolving customer requirements.
Driven by a focus on innovation,
accessibility, and customer experience, the Bank continues to enhance its
nationwide presence through expanding delivery channels and technology-enabled
banking platforms. As of end-Mar’26, SNBL’s branch network comprises 674
branches (end-Dec’25: 670), including 186 Islamic banking branches and 10
Islamic banking windows.
Ownership
At end-Dec’25, the ownership of SNBL remains
concentrated with the Feerasta Family, the Bank’s founding sponsors, who
collectively maintain a controlling interest through various trusts and related
parties. The major shareholding comprises Trustees Alauddin Feerasta Trust
holding 35.69%, Trustees Feerasta Senior Trust holding 14.57%, and Trustees
Alnu Trust holding 7.29%. In addition, related parties collectively hold 11.28%
stake in the Bank.
Other significant shareholders include
National Investment Trust Limited (NIT) with a shareholding of 7.25%, while the
remaining ownership is distributed among general public, institutional
investors, and other corporate shareholders.
The ownership profile of the Company is
considered stable, with no significant changes anticipated in the near to
medium term. The Feerasta Family has established a longstanding presence across
diverse business sectors and has demonstrated sound managerial capabilities in
successfully overseeing its ventures. Given SNBL’s strategic importance within
the sponsors’ business portfolio, the sponsors’ ability and willingness to
provide support to the Bank, if required, is considered strong.
Governance
As of Mar’26, Mr. Amin A. Feerasta –
Chairperson of the Board assumed office on June 6,
2024. With over 27 years at the Bank, he has served in key roles including
Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy CEO, and Executive
Director. He holds a BSc in Finance from Santa Clara University, USA, and is a
Certified Director. He has completed executive programs at the University of
Oxford and in Malaysia. He also serves as Chairperson of the Aga Khan
Foundation, Pakistan. Mr. Nooruddin Feerasta – Non-Executive Director is
the Sponsor Director and CEO/Chairman of several Rupali Group companies. With
over 40 years of industrial experience, he specializes in operations, finance,
and legal affairs. He holds a BBA from the USA and is a member of the Board's
Credit and Audit Committees. Mr. Ahmed A. Feerasta – Non-Executive Director
is a young entrepreneur and CEO of Rupali Foods. A University of Texas at
Austin graduate, he brings experience in corporate procurement, finance, and
marketing. He is also a Certified Director. Mr. Manzoor Ahmed –
Non-Executive Director (NIT Nominee) is the Chief Operating Officer (COO)
of National Investment Trust Limited, overseeing a portfolio exceeding PKR 215bln with experience of over 35 years in mutual funds. He holds an MBA,
D.A.I.B.P., is pursuing CFA Level III, and is a Certified Director. Mr.
Jamil Hassan Hamdani – Independent Director has extensive international
banking experience since 1973. He retired as MD of Credit Agricole Indosuez
(Suisse) SA and chaired the Pakistan-France Business Alliance. He chairs the
Bank's Audit Committee and is a member of other key board committees. He is a
Certified Director. Ms. Navin Salim Merchant – Independent Director is a
Supreme Court Advocate with over 30 years of legal experience. She served as an
ADR Expert at IFC (World Bank Group) and leads the ICC ADR Commission Pakistan
and IBA DRF. She is an Independent Director on several boards and a member of
the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Dr. Sohail Razi Khan – Independent
Director brings extensive experience in corporate strategy, finance, and
business transformation, having held senior leadership roles with multinational
organizations. He holds a PhD, MBA, MSc, and MA from institutions in England
and is a Certified Director.
There are six board committees: i) Audit,
ii) Risk & Compliance, iii) Human Resource and Remuneration, iv) Credit, v)
Independent Directors, and vi) Information Technology Committee, which assists
the Board in the effective oversight of the Bank's overall operations on
relevant matters. M/s. A.F. Ferguson & Co., Chartered Accountants serve as
the external auditors for SNBL, and have issued an unmodified (unqualified)
opinion on the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Management
The Bank’s operations are structured across
thirteen key functions and organized into Northern, Central, and Southern
regions to ensure effective oversight, coordination, and operational
efficiency. SNBL’s management team comprises experienced professionals, led by Mr.
Ahsan Mushahid Siddiqui – Acting President & CEO, who brings over three
decades of experience in the banking sector, encompassing commercial banking,
strategic planning, business development, and operational management. His
extensive banking expertise supports the Bank’s continued focus on growth,
service enhancement, and institutional strengthening.
The Bank has established eight management
committees, all chaired by the CEO, including the Management Committee
(MANCOM), Executive Credit Committee (ECC), Compliance Committee, Asset &
Liability Committee (ALCO), IT Steering Committee, Operational Risk Management
Committee (ORMC), Credit Risk Management Committee (CRMC), and Business
Continuity Plan Steering Committee (BCPSC). These committees provide structured
oversight and facilitate effective decision-making, governance, and risk
management across key areas.
SNBL continues to enhance its risk
management framework through investments in technology, systems, and internal
processes. The Bank has strengthened its Operational Risk Rating (ORR)
monitoring mechanism through in-house developments and external consultancy
support. Furthermore, upgrades to the data center, disaster recovery
infrastructure, and implementation of a data warehouse have enhanced business
continuity, information management, and analytical capabilities. The Bank’s
comprehensive risk management framework enables proactive identification,
assessment, and mitigation of risks, while Board and committee-level oversight
ensures regulatory compliance, policy adherence, and sound governance
practices.
Business Risk
During 1QCY26, Pakistan’s banking sector
continued to operate amid a gradually improving macroeconomic environment,
supported by easing financial conditions and stable external indicators. The
sector maintained resilience with a strong liquidity position and improved
capitalization levels. SNBL, a small-sized Bank, holds a customer deposit base
of PKR 685.05bln as of Mar’26 (CY25: PKR 689.11bln). On such basis, the market
share of deposits of the Bank remained at 1.8% (Dec’25: 1.7%). The Bank’s asset
base stood at PKR 836.13bln (CY25: PKR 852.48bln), while investments increased
to PKR 492.74bln (CY25: PKR 479.25bln). Net advances of the Bank stood at PKR
223.85bln (CY25: PKR 214.32bln), reflecting growth in lending activity.
During 1QCY26, SNBL’s net mark-up income
decreased by 17.96% YoY to PKR 5.98bln (1QCY25: PKR 7.29bln), mainly due to
margin compression amid a declining interest rate environment. However, the
decline was partially offset by a notable increase in non-mark-up income, which
improved by 80.17% YoY to PKR 2.82bln (1QCY25: PKR 1.56bln), supported by
higher foreign exchange income, commission-based revenue, and gains on
securities. Consequently, the Bank’s total income remained stable at PKR
8.80bln (1QCY25: PKR 8.85bln).
The Bank’s asset yield moderated due to
lower interest rates, whereas the cost of funds improved to 6.94% (CY25: 7.7%). The deposit mix strengthened, with CASA ratio improving to 86.99%
(CY25: 81.86%), supporting funding efficiency. Non-mark-up expenses increased
by 28.30% YoY to PKR 6.69bln (1QCY25: PKR 5.21bln), mainly due to continued
branch expansion, with the network reaching 674 branches as of Mar’26 (CY25:
670 branches).
The Bank’s profitability profile remained
adequate, with profit after taxation increasing by 16.72% YoY to PKR 1.34bln
(1QCY25: PKR 1.15bln), supported by diversified income streams and reversal in
credit loss allowance. Asset quality improved, with NPL ratio declining to
2.93% as of Mar’26 (CY25: 3.41%). Going forward, the Bank aims to further
enhance its outreach through branch expansion and digital initiatives while
focusing on sustainable growth, deposit mobilization, and maintaining
compliance with regulatory capital requirements.
Financial Risk
At end-Mar’26, SNBL’s net advances
increased by 4.44% and were reported at PKR 223.85bln (end-Dec25: PKR
214.32bln). The Bank’s Net Advances to Deposit Ratio (ADR) stood at 32.68%
(end-Dec25: 31.11%), reflecting a cautious lending approach. The infection
ratio improved to 2.93% (end-Dec25: 3.41%), primarily due to a decline
in non-performing loans, which stood at PKR 6.76bln (end-Dec25: PKR
7.56bln).
The Bank’s investment portfolio increased
by 2.82% and was reported at PKR 492.74bln (end-Dec25: PKR 479.25bln),
with a predominant concentration towards Government securities. The investment
portfolio remained largely skewed towards Federal Government securities
(~99%), comprising mainly Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) and Market
Treasury Bills (MTBs). The higher allocation towards PIBs reflects the
Bank’s strategy to optimize returns through longer-duration instruments, while
maintaining a low-risk investment profile.
The Bank’s deposit mix remained stable,
with Current Accounts (CA) representing 35% (end-Dec25: 32%) and Savings
Accounts (SA) comprising 52% (end-Dec25: 51%) of total deposits,
supporting the overall funding profile. The Bank’s liquidity position remained
strong, with Liquid Coverage Ratio (LCR) at 191.81% (end-Dec25: 198.44%)
and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) at 187.86% (end-Dec25: 191.48%),
providing adequate cushion against liquidity risk.
The Bank remains well capitalized,
maintaining adequate buffers above regulatory requirements. The Capital
Adequacy Ratio (CAR) stood at 13.98% (end-Dec25: 14.88%), while Tier-I
CAR was reported at 10.87% (end-Dec25: 11.31%), in compliance with SBP’s
minimum thresholds. The Bank’s eligible total capital stood at PKR 40.72bln
(end-Dec25: PKR 42.44bln), with Risk Weighted Assets reported at PKR 291.37bln
(end-Dec25: PKR 285.20bln).
The Bank’s capital structure is further
supported through additional capital instruments, including ADT-I (Tier-I)
TFC amounting to PKR 4bln issued in 2018 and Tier-II TFC amounting to PKR 4bln
issued in 2022, strengthening the overall capital base and providing
additional loss absorption capacity. The leverage ratio stood at 3.10%
(end-Dec25: 3.23%), remaining above the regulatory requirement.
Going forward, SNBL aims to maintain a
balanced growth strategy through optimized asset allocation, efficient
liquidity management, and strengthening of its capital buffers to support
sustainable operations.
Instrument Rating Considerations
About the Instrument
Soneri Bank Limited issued perpetual, unsecured, subordinated, rated, listed, and non-cumulative term finance certificate (“TFC” or the “Issue” or “Instruments”) The issue amounts to PKR 4bln inclusive of a Green Shoe option of PKR 1bln. The profit is being paid off semiannually at the rate of 6M KIBOR +200bps on a non-cumulative basis on the outstanding principal amount of the issue. The amount raised through this Issue, subject to necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, contributed towards SNBL’s Additional Tier 1 Capital in accordance with SBP guidelines on capital adequacy. Furthermore, the amount raised is utilized in SNBL’s normal business operations as permitted under its Memorandum & Articles of Association. Profit payments will only be paid from SNBL’s most recent/current year’s earnings on a non-cumulative basis subject to the SNBL’s compliance with SBP regulatory guidelines on Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR).
Relative Seniority/Subordination of Instrument
The Issue will be unsecured and subordinated to the payment of principal and profit of all other claims except ordinary shares. 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 the 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 Tier I TFC may be partially or fully converted into equity/written off as per the discretion/instructions of SBP.
Credit Enhancement
The Instrument is unsecured.
|