BMO Bank of Montreal

By Robb M. Stewart and Vipal Monga 

Bank of Montreal logged a 5.4% rise in its fiscal first-quarter profit thanks in part to a lift in revenue and a solid period for Canadian loan and deposit growth and its capital markets arm.

The bank, however, set aside a higher provision for credit losses.

Bank of Montreal's U.S. arm recorded higher loss provisions for commercial borrowers in energy and the trucking industry, which is showing signs of weakness, executives said.

The Canadian bank, which owns Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank, reported a quarterly net income of 1.59 billion Canadian dollars ($1.2 billion), or C$2.37 a share, up from C$1.51 billion, or C$2.28, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, it posted earnings of C$2.41 a share.

Total provisions for credit losses were C$349 million for the quarter, more than double the C$137 million recorded a year earlier. .

Credit loss provisions in the U.S. personal and commercial bank rose to $113 million in the first quarter, compared with $5 million a year earlier. A weak transportation sector accounted for a large part of the increase, the bank said.

The bank's chief risk officer, Patrick Cronin, called the quarter "an anomaly," and said the bank expects credit loss provisions to fall in the second quarter.

Overall, net interest income for the first quarter was higher at C$3.39 billion from C$3.17 billion a year ago, while noninterest revenue was up at C$3.36 billion from C$3.35 billion a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter increased to C$6.75 billion from C$6.52 billion, the bank said.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com and Vipal Monga at vipal.monga@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 25, 2020 10:56 ET (15:56 GMT)

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