The Group is strongly capital generative, although this has been impacted by PPI in 2019. Given a strong capital position at the year end, the Lloyds Banking Board has recommended a final ordinary dividend of 2.25 pence per share, bringing the total ordinary dividend for the year to 3.37 pence per share. This represents an increase of 5 per cent on 2018 and is in line with their progressive and sustainable ordinary dividend policy. The Group's capital position remains strong with a pro forma CET1 ratio of 13.8 per cent after allowing for ordinary dividends.
Other financial highlights include:
Underlying profit of £7.5 billion, down 7 per cent in a challenging external market
− Net income of £17.1 billion, down 4 per cent, with stable average interest-earning banking assets of £435 billion, net interest margin of 2.88 per cent and other income down 5 per cent to £5.7 billion
− Total costs of £8.3 billion further reduced by 5 per cent, driven by action to reduce operating costs, and lower remediation charges; market-leading cost:income ratio improved to 48.5 per cent with positive jaws of 1 per cent
− Credit quality remains strong with net asset quality ratio of 29 basis points
Statutory profit after tax of £3.0 billion after £2.45 billion PPI charge and £1.4 billion tax expense in the year
Balance sheet strength maintained with free capital build of 86 basis points in the year (207 basis points pre-PPI charge) and CET1 ratio of 13.8 per cent after dividends
The Group is targeting an ongoing CET1 capital ratio of c.12.5 per cent plus a management buffer of c.1 per cent.
Sustainable growth in targeted segments including £1.0 billion in UK Motor Finance, £0.3 billion in SME and £3.2 billion in Retail current accounts, as well as growth of £3.5 billion in the open mortgage book, including the Tesco acquisition
Underlying return on tangible equity remains strong at 14.8 per cent with statutory return on tangible equity at 7.8 per cent, largely driven by the PPI charge
