ATB Financial today reported third quarter earnings of $69.2 million for the period ending Dec. 31, 2006. That’s up 67% from the third quarter of fiscal 2005-2006.

The Alberta financial institution said Increased net interest income of $148.6 million, as well as relatively low loan loss provisions, positively contributed to this quarter’s results.

ATB’s equity now stands at $1.6 billion, up $277.1 million compared to Dec. 31, 2005.

“ATB Investor Services continues to produce consistent and strong results surpassing another milestone with $3.4 billion in assets under management and administration,” said Bob Normand, President and CEO, ATB Financial, in a news release.

“Our customers have responded very favourably to our Investor Services offer. We are confident that this line of business will continue to perform strongly in the marketplace, especially since we only introduced this line of business four years ago.”


ATB’s efficiency ratio (non-interest expenses as a percentage of operating revenues) improved to 63% per cent from 68.38%.

Personal and Business Financial Services saw loan growth in the third quarter decrease to $345.3 million from $360.9 million in the second quarter this year.

ATB Investor Services achieved another milestone this quarter with asset growth of $424.4 million and now has $3.4 billion in assets under administration and management.

Within the Corporate Financial Services (CFS) line of business, all three sub-lines of business — Energy, Commercial, and Food and Forestry — grew their loan balance during the third quarter. To date, the CFS loan book has grown at an annualized rate of over 40 per cent. Deposits also grew during the quarter and have recorded an annualized growth rate of about 28 per cent. The credit quality of the loan portfolio has remained stable for the past three quarters as determined by an internal weighted average risk rating.