the first time since the beginning of the acute crisis, Russian banks have begun to receive income from its core business, which in March for the whole system was 35.1 billion rubles. But Earned Income was not able to cut losses from the revaluation of the currency, resulting in the final month of the first quarter of Russia’s banking system showed a loss 9.9 billion rubles.
The total income of banks from their main activity in March was 35.1 billion rubles., from the March bank statements issued by the Bank of Russia on the site. In calculating the “Kommersant”, data from the back of accounting statements (Form 101) 944 Russian banks as of April 1.

positive results from its core business – lending – banks have been the first time since the beginning of the financial crisis. Since October 2008 the total income of banks from lending has been negative. Last October, the loss amounted to 29,0 billion rubles. With the crisis of the total losses from the core banking activities only increased, and reached a peak of 150 billion rubles. in January. “It began with the fall of intensive growth of a delay in bank loans, where income from lending has stopped short on the formation of reserves for problem loans,” – explains the analyst of bank “KIT Finance” Maria Kalvarskaya. According to the Central Bank, only for the September volume of bad debts in the aggregate loan portfolio of banks tripled to 276.2 billion rubles. But at the beginning of 2009 he had already reached 422 billion rubles.

However, the negative result of currency revaluation, which is estimated “Kommersant”, on the whole banking system in March amounted to 56.0 billion rubles., blocked the revenue from main business of banks.

In March, the official exchange rate for U.S. currency increased by 4.8% – from 35.72 EUR. / up to $34.01 USD. / $. It helped even revaluation of securities portfolio, which in March amounted to 10.4 billion rubles. Thus, in contrast to a profit of January (66.7 billion rubles.) And February (497.1 million rubles.) This year in March, the Russian banking system received a cumulative loss of 9.9 billion rubles. The number of unprofitable banks in the system, compared with February, March, increased from 243 to 265 credit organizations, and the cumulative loss – from 27.6 billion to 39.5 billion rubles. Gains in March showed 679 banks (29.5 billion rubles.).

The bulk of the losses in the system provided the results of VTB and Gazprombank – 14.4 billion rubles. and 5.9 billion rubles. respectively. Thus if, on the basis of quarter Gazprombank did make a profit before tax (3.2 billion rubles.), The VTB 24 has demonstrated a loss of 239.2 million rubles. In the VTB 24 yesterday explained that such results were expected due to increasing reserves for problem loans, but the bank aims to end 2009 with a profit. ” Among the most unprofitable banks in March, also includes the International Industrial Bank (pretax loss of 2.1 billion rubles.) Citibank (1.5 billion rubles.) Saniruemy now bank VEFK-Siberia “(1.1 billion rubles.) Sberbank (871.6 million rubles.) and VTB 24 (845 mln.). Earlier indicated that income from core activities of the Savings Bank in March (2,3 billion rubles.) Had eaten a loss from revaluation of foreign currency (2.8 billion rubles.) (See “Kommersant” from April 23). At Citibank and Gazprombank yesterday not to answer the query “Kommersant.”

In the first quarter of Russia’s banking system is a profit 57.5 billion rubles. However, experts note that even if this year’s Bank of Russia did not resume its devaluation of the Russian currency, the best results would be “balance at zero.” “In the absence of the devaluation of currency revaluation would not have so much influence on the overall result, and the banks themselves will try to reduce the foreign exchange position – said Maria Kalvarskaya .- But virtually all the profits will go to reserves for problem loans.” Senior Economist, Alfa-Bank’s Natalya Orlova and senior analyst URALSIB Leonid Slipchenko expect total losses in the system.