NOT SO BAD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 11

NOT SO BAD

BIG BANKS' DIVIDENDS

WEATHERING THE STORM

LAST YEAE'S EESULTS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 9th January, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Bth January. Despite the difficult problems presented by the past year Lloyds, Barclay's, the National Provincial, and the Westminster Banks—four members of the "Big Five" in British banking who have so far announced 1931 results—show highly satisfactory statements. Lloyds results were made known to-day, and the total dividend on A shares was 15 per cent, for the year, less tax. Barclay's maintained 14 per cent, dividend on B shares, and the Westminster made a distribution for the year of 18 per cent, and the National Provincial of 16 per cent. On the Stock Exchange bank shares continue very strong. *

In 1930, English banKs recorded their lowest aggregate profits since 1923, which represented their nadir after the slump of 1920-22. If profits were compared with total resources the resulting percentage was the! lowest since 1913. Nevertheless, the dividends of the biggest banks were high. Barclay's Bank distributed £1,614,275 amongst shareholders, the rate equalling 10 per cent. on1 A shares and 14 por cent, on B and C shares. Lloyda Bank distributed £1,726,551, the dividend rate being 15 per cent, on A shares and 5 per cent, on B shares. The Midland Bank distributed £1,976,660, the rate being 18 per cent., and the Westminster Bank allocated £1,313,890, the rate being 20 per cent, on A shares ana 12#per cent, on B shares. A flfth large "bank, the National Provincial, paid out a total of £1,706,295, which represented a dividend of 18 per cent.