Agência Brasil*
Brasília – The Bank of Brazil had revenues of R$ 3.9 billion (US$ 1.8 billion, all values at current exchange rates) in the first half of 2006, with growth of 96.5% when compared to the R$ 2 billion (US$ 925 million) in the same period of last year, and 78.8% over the profit in the previous half. The result is even greater than that reached by Bradesco, the largest Brazilian private bank, which was R$ 3.1 billion (US$ 1.4 billion).
The figures were disclosed today (14) by the board of the bank, and correspond to average annual return on assets of 47.8%, causing the bank to pay R$ 4.71 (US$ 2.18) per share, almost double the R$ 2,48 (US$ 1.15) paid in the first half of 2005.
In the half, the Bank of Brazil turned R$ 1.6 billion (US$ 740 million) of its income to shareholders, of which R$ 862 million (US$ 399 million) as dividends and R$ 693 million (US$ 320 million) in interest on own capital.
*Translated by Mark Ament
