First Investment Bank (FIB) posted 9m 2010 net profit of BGN 23.5m down 15% YoY, subdued by more than 11-fold YoY increase in provision charges. Due to a 23% YTD expansion of deposits, total assets advanced by 16% and figured out at BGN 4.8bn. The loan portfolio also grew by 12% YTD to reach BGN 3.3bn. Though no NPL data was reported, the provisions to gross loans ratio stood at 2.5% (2.2% at 2009 year-end), vs. 5.4% for the banking system. Due to a 23% YTD expansion of deposits, total assets advanced by 16% and figured out at BGN 4.8bn. The loan portfolio also grew by 12% YTD to reach BGN 3.3bn. Following the outpacing growth of deposits over loans, the L/D ratio improved to 82% (against 105% average for Bulgaria's banking system) down 10p.p. since 30 Sept 2009. Though no NPL data was reported, the provisions to gross loans ratio stood at 2.5% (2.2% at 2009 year-end), vs. 5.4% for the banking system. As of September 2010 the bank's ROE was at 6.3% in line with the banking system average of 6.6%, CAR was at 13.09% compared to 17.8% for the banking system.