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Germany Deutsche Bank reports 2nd-quarter profit despite loan losses

July 29 , 2020 12:53 PM
Lights illuminate the buildings of the banking district in Frankfurt, Germany, early Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Deutsche bank reported a small net profit of 61 million euros ($71 million) in the second quarter as cost-cutting and revenue growth outweighed increased loan losses due to the virus outbreak.

The gain compared with a loss of 3.1 billion euros in the year-earlier quarter, when the bank had large expenses related to its ongoing restructuring.

The bank based in Frankfurt, Germany, said Wednesday it had cut its cost base by 10% to 4.8 billion euros as it presses ahead with a drawn-out transformation aimed at improving profitability by reducing costs and riskier investments and activities.

The bank said that set-asides for loans that aren’t being repaid rose to 761 million euros in the quarter, from 161 million euros in the same quarter a year ago. Revenues rose 1 percent to 6.29 billion euros.

Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke said that the bank is “fully on track” with a restructuring that is shedding employees and reducing costs.