Strategy Note

Temporary improvement in profitability

According to BRSA February data, the loss of momentum in core activities in the banking sector which seen in December and January improved in February. However, we think that this improvement is temporary because the increases in deposit interest rates in March will suppress the margins again. The overall profitability of the sector was supported by the 214% annual increase in fee & commission income and the 111% annual increase in income from other operations.