TIDM32SS

RNS Number : 1231I

National Bank of Canada

30 November 2022

Regulatory Announcement

National Bank of Canada

November 30, 2022

2022 Management's Discussion and Analysis (Part 1)

National Bank of Canada (the "Bank") announces publication of its 2022 Annual Report, including the Management's Discussion and Analysis thereon (the "2022 MD&A"). The 2022 MD&A has been uploaded to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and is available on the Bank's website as part of the 2022 Annual Report at: https://www.nbc.ca/en/about-us/investors/investor-relations/annual-reports-proxy-circulars-aif.html .

To view the full PDF of the 2022 MD&A, the 2022 Annual Report and the 2022 Annual CEO and CFO Certifications please click on the following link:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1231I_1-2022-11-30.pdf

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1231I_2-2022-11-30.pdf

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1231I_3-2022-11-30.pdf

The information found in the various documents and reports published by the Bank or the information available on the Bank's website and mentioned herein is not and should not be considered incorporated by reference into the 2022 Annual Report, the Management's Discussion and Analysis, or the Consolidated Financial Statements, unless expressly stated otherwise.

 
 Financial Reporting Method       16   Quarterly Financial Information         48 
                                       Analysis of the Consolidated 
 Financial Disclosure             22    Balance Sheet                          49 
                                       Securitization and Off-Balance-Sheet 
 Overview                         23    Arrangements                           53 
 Financial Analysis               27   Capital Management                      55 
 Business Segment Analysis        30   Risk Management                         65 
                                       Critical Accounting Policies 
   Personal and Commercial        31    and Estimates                         106 
   Wealth Management              35   Accounting Policy Changes              111 
   Financial Markets              38   Future Accounting Policy Changes       111 
   U.S. Specialty Finance 
    and International (USSF&I)    42   Additional Financial Information       112 
   Other                          47   Glossary                               122 
 
 

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements. All such statements are made in accordance with applicable securities legislation in Canada and the United States. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the economy-particularly the Canadian and U.S. economies-market changes, the Bank's objectives, outlook and priorities for fiscal year 2023 and beyond, the strategies or actions that will be taken to achieve them, expectations for the Bank's financial condition, the regulatory environment in which it operates, the impacts of-and the Bank's response to-the COVID-19 pandemic, and certain risks it faces. These forward-looking statements are typically identified by verbs or words such as "outlook", "believe", "foresee", "forecast", "anticipate", "estimate", "project", "expect", "intend" and "plan", in their future or conditional forms, notably verbs such as "will", "may", "should", "could" or "would" as well as similar terms and expressions. Such forward-looking statements are made for the purpose of assisting the holders of the Bank's securities in understanding the Bank's financial position and results of operations as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, as well as the Bank's vision, strategic objectives, and financial performance targets, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and intentions and are subject to uncertainty and inherent risks, many of which are beyond the Bank's control.

Assumptions about the performance of the Canadian and U.S. economies in 2023 and how that performance will affect the Bank's business are among the main factors considered in setting the Bank's strategic priorities and objectives, including provisions for credit losses. In determining its expectations for economic conditions, both broadly and in the financial services sector in particular, the Bank primarily considers historical economic data provided by the governments of Canada, the United States and certain other countries in which the Bank conducts business, as well as their agencies.

Statements about the economy, market changes, and the Bank's objectives, outlook and priorities for fiscal 2023 and thereafter are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to risk factors, many of which are beyond the Bank's control and the impacts of which are difficult to predict. These risk factors include, among others, the general economic environment and financial market conditions in Canada, the United States, and other countries where the Bank operates; exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; inflation; disruptions in global supply chains; higher funding costs and greater market volatility; changes made to fiscal, monetary, and other public policies; changes made to regulations that affect the Bank's business; geopolitical and sociopolitical uncertainty; the transition to a low-carbon economy and the Bank's ability to satisfy stakeholder expectations on environmental and social issues; significant changes in consumer behaviour; the housing situation, real estate market, and household indebtedness in Canada; the Bank's ability to achieve its long-term strategies and key short-term priorities; the timely development and launch of new products and services; the Bank's ability to recruit and retain key personnel; technological innovation and heightened competition from established companies and from competitors offering non-traditional services; changes in the performance and creditworthiness of the Bank's clients and counterparties; the Bank's exposure to significant regulatory matters or litigation; changes made to the accounting policies used by the Bank to report financial information, including the uncertainty inherent to assumptions and critical accounting estimates; changes to tax legislation in the countries where the Bank operates, i.e., primarily Canada and the United States; changes made to capital and liquidity guidelines as well as to the presentation and interpretation thereof; changes to the credit ratings assigned to the Bank; potential disruptions to key suppliers of goods and services to the Bank; potential disruptions to the Bank's information technology systems, including evolving cyberattack risk as well as identity theft and theft of personal information; the risk of fraudulent activity; and possible impacts of major events affecting the local and global economies, including international conflicts, natural disasters, and public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the evolution of which is difficult to predict and could continue to have repercussions on the Bank.

There is a strong possibility that the Bank's express or implied predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that its assumptions may not be confirmed and that its vision, strategic objectives and financial performance targets will not be achieved. The Bank recommends that readers not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as a number of factors could cause actual results to differ significantly from the expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in these forward-looking statements. These risk factors include credit risk, market risk, liquidity and funding risk, operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, reputation risk, strategic risk, environmental and social risk, and certain emerging risks or risks deemed significant, all of which are described in greater detail in the Risk Management section beginning on page 65 of the 2022 Annual Report.

The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Additional information about these risk factors is provided in the Risk Management section of the 2022 Annual Report. Investors and others who rely on the Bank's forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Except as required by law, the Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, by it or on its behalf. The Bank cautions investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual events or results may differ significantly from these statements due to a number of factors.

Financial Reporting Method

The Bank's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. The financial statements also comply with section 308(4) of the Bank Act (Canada), which states that, except as otherwise specified by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada) (OSFI), the consolidated financial statements are to be prepared in accordance with IFRS, which represent Canadian GAAP. None of the OSFI accounting requirements are exceptions to IFRS.

The presentation of segment disclosures is consistent with the presentation adopted by the Bank for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 2021. This presentation reflects the fact that the loan portfolio comprising borrowers in the "Oil and gas" and "Pipelines" sectors as well as related activities, which had previously been reported in the Personal and Commercial segment, are now reported in the Financial Markets segment. The Bank made this change to better align the monitoring of its activities with its management structure.

In addition, a change in accounting policy, as described in the Accounting Policy Changes section of Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, was applied retrospectively during the year ended October 31, 2022 after the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) issued a final agenda decision on accounting for the costs of configuring or customizing a supplier's software in a cloud computing arrangement. The figures for the year ended October 31, 2021 have been adjusted to reflect this change in accounting policy.

Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

The Bank uses a number of financial measures when assessing its results and measuring overall performance. Some of these financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. Regulation 52-112 respecting Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure (Regulation 52-112) prescribes disclosure requirements that apply to the following measures used by the Bank:

   --     non-GAAP financial measures; 
   --     non-GAAP ratios; 
   --     supplementary financial measures; 
   --     capital management measures. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Bank uses non-GAAP financial measures that do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and that therefore may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Presenting non-GAAP financial measures helps readers to better understand how management analyzes results, shows the impacts of specified items on the results of the reported periods, and allows readers to better assess results without the specified items if they consider such items not to be reflective of the underlying performance of the Bank's operations. In addition, like many other financial institutions, the Bank uses the taxable equivalent basis to calculate net interest income, non-interest income, and income taxes. This calculation method consists of grossing up certain tax-exempt income (particularly dividends) by the income tax that would have been otherwise payable. An equivalent amount is added to income taxes. This adjustment is necessary in order to perform a uniform comparison of the return on different assets regardless of their tax treatment.

The key non-GAAP financial measures used by the Bank to analyze its results are described below, and a quantitative reconciliation of these measures is presented in the tables in the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures section on pages 20 and 21 and in the Consolidated Results table on page 27. It should be noted that, for the year ended October 31, 2022, no specified items have been excluded from results, whereas an amount of $9 million in intangible asset impairment losses ($7 million net of income taxes) related to technology developments had been excluded as specified items for the year ended October 31, 2021.

Adjusted Net Interest Income

This item represents net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. A taxable equivalent is added to net interest income so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that net interest income can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Non-Interest Income

This item represents non -interest income on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. A taxable equivalent is added to non-interest income so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that non--interest income can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Total Revenues

This item represents total revenues on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. It consists of adjusted net interest income and adjusted non-interest income. A taxable equivalent is added to total revenues so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that total revenues can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Non -Interest Expenses

This item represents non-interest expenses excluding specified items, if any. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that non-interest expenses can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Income Before Provisions for Credit Losses and Income Taxes

This item represents income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. It also represents the difference between adjusted total revenues and adjusted non-interest expenses. A taxable equivalent is added to income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Income Taxes

This item represents income taxes on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding income taxes on specified items, if any.

Adjusted Net Income

This item represents net income excluding specified items, if any. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that net income can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Net income Attributable to Common Shareholders

This item represents net income attributable to common shareholders excluding specified items, if any. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that net income attributable to common shareholders can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Basic Earnings Per Share

This item represents basic earnings per share excluding specified items, if any. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that basic earnings per share can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

This item represents diluted earnings per share excluding specified items, if any. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that diluted earnings per share can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

The Bank also uses the below-described measures to assess its results. A quantitative reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is presented in the tables of the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures section on pages 20 and 21 and in Table 5 on page 115.

Adjusted Non-Trading Net Interest Income

This item represents non-trading net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis. It includes revenues related to financial assets and financial liabilities associated with non-trading activities, net of interest expenses and interest income related to the financing of these financial assets and liabilities, and is used to calculate adjusted non-trading net interest margin. A taxable equivalent is added to non-trading net interest income so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment .

Net Interest Income From Trading Activities on a Taxable Equivalent Basis

This item represents net interest income from trading activities plus a taxable equivalent. It comprises dividends related to financial assets and liabilities associated with trading activities, net of interest expenses and interest income related to the financing of these financial assets and liabilities. A taxable equivalent is added to net interest income from trading activities so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment.

Non-Interest Income Related to Trading Activities on a Taxable Equivalent Basis

This item represents non-interest income related to trading activities to which a taxable equivalent amount is added. It consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses as well as interest income on securities measured at fair value through profit or loss, income from held-for-trading derivative financial instruments, changes in the fair value of loans at fair value through profit or loss, changes in the fair value of financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss, certain commission income, other trading activity revenues, and any applicable transaction costs. A taxable equivalent amount is added to the non-interest income related to trading activities such that the returns of different assets can be compared regardless of their tax treatment.

Trading Activity Revenues on a Taxable Equivalent Basis

This item represents trading activity revenues plus a taxable equivalent. They comprise dividends related to financial assets and liabilities associated with trading activities, net of interest expenses and interest income related to the financing of these financial assets and liabilities, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and interest income on securities measured at fair value through profit or loss, income from held-for-trading derivative financial instruments, changes in the fair value of loans at fair value through profit or loss, changes in the fair value of financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss, certain commission income, other trading activity revenues, and any applicable transaction costs. A taxable equivalent is added to trading activity revenues so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment.

Non-GAAP Ratios

The Bank uses non-GAAP ratios that do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and that may therefore not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. A non-GAAP ratio is a ratio in which at least one component is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Bank uses non-GAAP ratios to present aspects of its financial performance or financial position .

The key non-GAAP ratios used by the Bank are described below.

Adjusted Return on Common Shareholders' Equity (ROE)

This item represents ROE excluding specified items, if any. It is adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders expressed as a percentage of average equity attributable to common shareholders. It is a general measure of the Bank's efficiency in using equity. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that ROE can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Dividend Payout Ratio

This item represents the dividend payout ratio excluding specified items, if any. It is dividends on common shares (per share amount) expressed as a percentage of adjusted basic earnings per share. This ratio is a measure of the proportion of earnings that is paid out to shareholders in the form of dividends. Specified items, if any, are excluded so that the dividend payout ratio can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Operating Leverage

This item represents operating leverage on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. It is the difference between the growth rate of adjusted total revenues and the growth rate of adjusted non-interest expenses, and it measures the sensitivity of the Bank's results to changes in its revenues. Adjusted operating leverage is presented on a taxable equivalent basis so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that the efficiency ratio can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Efficiency Ratio

This item represents the efficiency ratio on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items, if any. The ratio represents adjusted non-interest expenses expressed as a percentage of adjusted total revenues. It measures the efficiency of the Bank's operations. The adjusted efficiency ratio is presented on a taxable equivalent basis so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment, and specified items, if any, are excluded so that the efficiency ratio can be better evaluated by excluding items that management believes do not reflect the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations.

Adjusted Net Interest Margin, Non-Trading

This item represents the non-trading net interest margin on a taxable equivalent basis. It is calculated by dividing net interest income related to adjusted non-trading activities by average non-trading interest-bearing assets. This ratio is a measure of the profitability of non-trading activities. The adjusted non-trading net interest margin includes adjusted non-trading net interest income, which includes a taxable equivalent amount so that the performance of the various assets can be compared irrespective of their tax treatment.

Supplementary Financial Measures

A supplementary financial measure is a financial measure that: (a) is not reported in the Bank's consolidated financial statements, and (b) is, or is intended to be, reported periodically to represent historical or expected financial performance, financial position, or cash flows. The composition of these supplementary financial measures is presented in table footnotes or in the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 of this MD&A.

Capital Management Measures

The financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements requires disclosure that helps readers assess the Bank's capital management objectives, policies, and processes, as set out in IFRS in IAS 1 - Presentation of Financial Statements. The Bank has its own methods for managing capital and liquidity, and IFRS does not prescribe any particular calculation method. These measures are calculated using various guidelines and advisories issued by OSFI, which are based on the standards, recommendations, and best practices of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), as presented in the following table.

 
 OSFI guideline or advisory             Measure 
 Capital Adequacy Requirements          Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital 
                                         ratio 
                                         Tier 1 capital ratio 
                                         Total capital ratio 
                                         CET1 capital 
                                         Tier 1 capital 
                                         Tier 2 capital 
                                         Total capital 
                                         Risk-weighted assets 
                                         Maximum credit risk exposure under 
                                         the Basel asset classes 
-------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Leverage Requirements                  Leverage ratio 
                                         Total exposure 
-------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC)   Key indicators - TLAC requirements 
                                         Available TLAC 
                                         TLAC ratio 
                                         TLAC leverage ratio 
-------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Liquidity Adequacy Requirements        Liquid asset portfolio 
                                         Encumbered assets and unencumbered 
                                         assets 
                                         Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 
                                         High-quality liquid assets (HQLA) 
                                         Cash inflows/outflows and net cash 
                                         outflows 
                                         Net stable funding ratio (NSFR) 
                                         Available stable funding items 
                                         Required stable funding items 
-------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 Global Systemically Important Banks    G-SIB indicators 
  (G-SIBs) - 
  Public Disclosure Requirements 
-------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Presentation of Results - Adjusted

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                                                           2022  2021(1) 
==============================  ===============  ===========  =========  ======  =====  =====  ======= 
 
                                       Personal       Wealth  Financial 
                                 and Commercial   Management    Markets  USSF&I  Other 
 =============================  ===============  ===========  =========  ======  =====  =====  ======= 
 
Net interest income                       2,865          594      1,029   1,090  (307)  5,271    4,783 
Taxable equivalent                            -            -        229       -      5    234      181 
Net interest income - Adjusted            2,865          594      1,258   1,090  (302)  5,505    4,964 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
 
Non-interest income                       1,169        1,781      1,162      20    249  4,381    4,144 
Taxable equivalent                            -            -         48       -      -     48        8 
Non-interest income - Adjusted            1,169        1,781      1,210      20    249  4,429    4,152 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
 
Total revenues - Adjusted                 4,034        2,375      2,468   1,110   (53)  9,934    9,116 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Non-interest expenses                     2,149        1,391      1,022     344    324  5,230    4,903 
Impairment losses on 
 intangible 
 assets(2)                                    -            -          -       -      -      -      (9) 
Non-interest expenses - 
 Adjusted                                 2,149        1,391      1,022     344    324  5,230    4,894 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
 
Income before provisions for 
 credit 
 losses and income taxes - 
 Adjusted                                 1,885          984      1,446     766  (377)  4,704    4,222 
Provisions for credit losses                 97            3       (23)      66      2    145        2 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
 
Income before income taxes - 
 Adjusted                                 1,788          981      1,469     700  (379)  4,559    4,220 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Income taxes                                474          260        112     143   (95)    894      882 
Taxable equivalent                            -            -        277       -      5    282      189 
Income taxes related to 
 impairment 
 losses on intangible 
 assets(2)                                    -            -          -       -      -      -        2 
Income taxes - Adjusted                     474          260        389     143   (90)  1,176    1,073 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Net income - Adjusted                     1,314          721      1,080     557  (289)  3,383    3,147 
Specified items after income 
 taxes                                        -            -          -       -      -      -      (7) 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Net income                                1,314          721      1,080     557  (289)  3,383    3,140 
Non-controlling interests                     -            -          -       -    (1)    (1)        - 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
 
Net income attributable to the 
 Bank ' s shareholders 
 and holders of other equity 
 instruments                              1,314          721      1,080     557  (288)  3,384    3,140 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Net income attributable to the 
 Bank ' s shareholders 
 and holders of other equity 
 instruments 
 - Adjusted                               1,314          721      1,080     557  (288)  3,384    3,147 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Dividends on preferred shares 
 and 
 distributions on 
 limited recourse capital 
 notes                                                                                    107      123 
------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ------  -----  -----  ------- 
Net income attributable to 
 common 
 shareholders - Adjusted                                                                3,277    3,024 
==============================  ===============  ===========  =========  ======  =====  =====  ======= 
 

(1) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

(2) During the year ended October 31, 2021, the Bank recorded $9 million ($7 million net of income taxes) in intangible asset impairment losses related to technology developments, which were considered a specified item.

Presentation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share - Adjusted

 
Year ended October 31 
(Canadian dollars)                                 2022   2021(1) 
============================================       ====   ======= 
 
Basic earnings per share                       $   9.72  $   8.95 
Impairment losses on intangible assets(2)             -      0.02 
Basic earnings per share - Adjusted            $   9.72  $   8.97 
--------------------------------------------       ----   ------- 
                                                                - 
Diluted earnings per share                     $   9.61  $   8.85 
Impairment losses on intangible assets(2)             -      0.02 
Diluted earnings per share - Adjusted          $   9.61  $   8.87 
============================================       ====   ======= 
 

(1) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

(2) During the year ended October 31, 2021, the Bank recorded $9 million ($7 million net of income taxes) in intangible asset impairment losses related to technology developments, which were considered a specified item.

Presentation of Non-Trading Net Interest Income - Adjusted

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                             2022   2021 
=======================================================   =====  ===== 
 
Net interest income - Adjusted                            5,505  4,964 
Net interest income related to trading activities on 
a taxable equivalent basis                                  911    948 
-------------------------------------------------------   -----  ----- 
Net interest income, non-trading - Adjusted               4,594  4,016 
=======================================================   =====  ===== 
 
 

Financial Disclosure

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Bank's financial information is prepared with the support of a set of disclosure controls and procedures (DC&P) that are implemented by the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and by the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President, Finance (CFO). During the year ended October 31, 2022, in accordance with Regulation 52-109 Respecting Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings (Regulation 52-109) released by the CSA, the design and operation of these controls and procedures were evaluated to determine their effectiveness.

As at October 31, 2022, the CEO and the CFO confirmed the effectiveness of the DC&P. These controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information disclosed in annual and interim filings and in other reports filed or submitted under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by that legislation. These controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Bank's management, including its signing officers, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding disclosure.

This Annual Report was reviewed by the Bank's Disclosure Committee, Audit Committee, and the Board of Directors (the Board), which approved it prior to publication.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) is designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial information presented is reliable and that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, which are based on IFRS, unless indicated otherwise as explained on pages 16 to 21 of this MD&A. Due to inherent limitations of internal controls, the ICFR may not prevent or detect all misstatements in a timely manner.

The CEO and the CFO oversaw the evaluation work performed on the design and operation of the Bank's ICFR in accordance with Regulation 52--109. The ICFR was evaluated in accordance with the control framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO - 2013) for financial controls and in accordance with the control framework of the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) for general information technology controls.

Based on the evaluation results, the CEO and CFO concluded, as at October 31, 2022 , that there are no material weaknesses, that the ICFR is effective and provides reasonable assurance that the financial reporting is reliable, and that the Bank's consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

On February 1, 2022, the Bank deployed a new integrated accounting software package, and certain processes that affect ICFR were modified. The Bank has assessed the impact of this deployment and has made sure that the key controls affected and the newly implemented controls are well designed and effective.

The CEO and CFO also undertook work that enabled them to conclude that, during the year ended October 31, 2022, aside from the above-described change, no changes were made to the ICFR that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the design or operation of the ICFR.

Disclosure Committee

The Bank's Disclosure Committee assists the CEO and CFO by ensuring the design, implementation, and operation of the DC&P and ICFR. In so doing, the committee ensures that the Bank is meeting its disclosure obligations under current regulations and that the CEO and CFO are producing the requisite certifications.

Overview

Highlights

 
As at October 31 or for the year ended October 
 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars, except per 
 share amounts)                                                 2022       2021(1)      % change 
=====================================================   ===  =======       =======      ======== 
Operating results 
Total revenues                                                 9,652         8,927             8 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                              4,422         4,024            10 
Net income                                                     3,383         3,140             8 
Net income attributable to the Bank's shareholders 
 and holders of other equity instruments                       3,384         3,140             8 
 
Return on common shareholders' equity(2)                        18.8   %      20.7% 
 
Dividend payout ratio(2)                                        36.8   %      31.7% 
Earnings per share 
 
 Basic                                                    $     9.72      $   8.95             9 
 Diluted                                                        9.61          8.85             9 
 ----------------------------------------------------------  -------       -------      -------- 
Operating results - Adjusted (3) 
Total revenues - Adjusted(3)                                   9,934         9,116             9 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes - Adjusted(3)                                4,704         4,222            11 
Net income - Adjusted(3)                                       3,383         3,147             7 
 
Return on common shareholders' equity - Adjusted(4)             18.8   %      20.7% 
 
Dividend payout ratio - Adjusted(4)                             36.8   %      31.7% 
 
Operating leverage - Adjusted(4)                                 2.1   %       1.9% 
 
Efficiency ratio - Adjusted(4)                                  52.6   %      53.7% 
Earnings per share - Adjusted (3) 
 
 Basic                                                    $     9.72      $   8.97             8 
 Diluted                                                        9.61          8.87             8 
 ----------------------------------------------------------  -------       -------      -------- 
Common share information 
 
Dividends declared                                        $     3.58      $   2.84            26 
Book value(2)                                                  55.24         47.44 
Share price 
 High                                                         105.44        104.32 
 Low                                                           83.12         65.54 
 Close                                                         92.76        102.46 
Number of common shares (thousands)                          336,582       337,912 
Market capitalization                                         31,221        34,622 
-----------------------------------------------------   ---  -------       -------      -------- 
Balance sheet and off-balance-sheet 
Total assets                                                 403,740       355,621            14 
Loans and acceptances, net of allowances                     206,744       182,689            13 
Deposits                                                     266,394       240,938            11 
Equity attributable to common shareholders                    18,594        16,029            16 
Assets under administration(2)                               616,165       651,530           (5) 
Assets under management(2)                                   112,346       117,186           (4) 
-----------------------------------------------------   ---  -------       -------      -------- 
Regulatory ratios under Basel III (5) 
Capital ratios 
 
 Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio                      12.7   %      12.4% 
 
 Tier 1                                                         15.4   %      15.0% 
 
 Total                                                          16.9   %      15.9% 
 
Leverage ratio                                                   4.5   %       4.4% 
-----------------------------------------------------   ---  -------       -------      -------- 
 
TLAC ratio(5)                                                   27.7   %      26.3% 
 
TLAC leverage ratio(5)                                           8.1   %       7.8% 
-----------------------------------------------------   ---  -------       -------      -------- 
 
Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)(5)                                140   %       154% 
 
Net stable funding ratio (NSFR)(5)                               117   %       117% 
-----------------------------------------------------   ---  -------       -------      -------- 
Other information 
Number of employees - Worldwide                               29,509        26,920            10 
Number of branches in Canada                                     378           384           (2) 
Number of banking machines in Canada                             939           927             1 
=====================================================   ===  =======       =======      ======== 
 

(1) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

(2) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

(3) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures.

(4) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP ratios.

(5) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

About National Bank

The Bank carries out its activities in four business segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets as well as U.S. Specialty Finance and International (USSF&I), which comprises the activities of the Credigy Ltd. (Credigy) and Advanced Bank of Asia Limited (ABA Bank) subsidiaries. Other operating activities, certain specified items, Treasury activities, and the operations of the Flinks Technology Inc. (Flinks) subsidiary are grouped in the Other heading of segment results. Each reportable segment is distinguished by services offered, type of clientele, and marketing strategy. For additional information, see the Business Segment Analysis section of this MD&A.

Objectives and 2022 Results

When setting its objectives, the Bank aims for a realistic challenge in the prevailing business environment by considering such factors as changes in banking industry financial results as well as the Bank's business development plan. When the Bank sets its medium-term objectives, it does not take into consideration specified items, if any, which are not reflective of the underlying financial performance of the Bank's operations. Management therefore excludes specified items when assessing the Bank's performance against its objectives.

In fiscal 2022, the Bank recorded $3,383 million in net income compared to $3,140 million in fiscal 2021, and its diluted earnings per share stood at $9.61 compared to $8.85 in fiscal 2021. The Bank's fiscal 2022 return on common shareholders' equity (ROE) was 18.8% versus 20.7% in fiscal 2021. Its diluted earnings per share stood at $9.61 in fiscal 2022, an 8% increase from adjusted diluted earnings per share of $8.87 in fiscal 2021. Furthermore, the 18.8% ROE in fiscal 2022 compares to an adjusted ROE of 20.7% in fiscal 2021.

The following table compares the Bank's medium-term objectives with its fiscal 2022 results.

 
                                             Medium-Term      2022 
                                           Objectives (%)    Results 
Growth in diluted earnings - Adjusted(1)       5 - 10         8.3% 
 
ROE - Adjusted(2)                              15 - 20       18.8% 
 
Dividend payout ratio - Adjusted(2)            40 - 50       36.8% 
 
CET1 capital ratio(3)                       Strong level     12.7% 
 
Leverage ratio(3)                           Strong level     4.5 % 
 

The Bank's financial results met all of its medium-term objectives, except for the dividend payout ratio. Year over year, adjusted diluted earnings per share grew 8%, which is within the target range, and was driven by strong revenue growth in every business segment, growth that more than offset increases in non-interest expenses and in provisions for credit losses. For fiscal 2022, adjusted ROE was in the upper range of the target objective. The CET1 capital ratio and the leverage ratio, at 12.7% and 4.5%, respectively, also met the objectives. As for the adjusted dividend payout ratio, it was below the target distribution range given strong growth in net income and the interruptions to dividend increases prescribed by OSFI between March 13, 2020 and November 4, 2021.

The Bank also examines its performance using the efficiency ratio and operating leverage. For fiscal 2022, the Bank's efficiency ratio stood at 54.2% compared to 54.9% in fiscal 2021. Its adjusted efficiency ratio for fiscal 2022 was 52.6%, a 1.1 percentage point improvement from 53.7% in fiscal 2021. These improvements are reflective of disciplined cost management by all the Bank's segments. Also for fiscal 2022, operating leverage and adjusted operating leverage were positive, at 1.4% and 2.1%, respectively.

 
 
   Net Income                                    Diluted Earnings Per                       Efficiency Ratio (4) 
                                                 Share 
    Year ended October                            Year ended October                         Year ended October 
    31                                            31                                         31 
   (millions of Canadian                         (Canadian dollars)                         (%) 
    dollars) 
 
    2021         2022                   2021    2022                               2018      2019     2020   2021     2022 
 
  Published                            Published                                   Published 
   Adjusted (1)                         Adjusted (1)                                Adjusted (2) 
 
 

(1) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures.

(2) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP ratios.

(3) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

(4) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

Dividends

For fiscal 2022, the Bank declared $1,206 million in dividends to common shareholders (2021: $ 958 million), representing 36.8% of net income attributable to common shareholders (2021: 31.7%).

Solid Capital Levels(1)

As at October 31, 2022, the Bank's CET1, Tier 1, and Total capital ratios were, respectively, 12.7 %, 15.4 % and 16.9 %, compared to ratios of, respectively, 12.4%, 15.0% and 15.9% as at October 31, 2021. All of the capital ratios have therefore increased since October 31, 2021, essentially due to net income net of dividends and to common share issuances under the Stock Option Plan. These factors were partly offset by growth in RWA, common share repurchases, and the impact of the transitional measures applicable to ECL provisioning, of which the scaling factor decreased from 50% to 25%. The increase in the Tier 1 capital ratio was also due to the $500 million issuance of limited recourse capital notes, i.e., Limited Recourse Capital Notes (LRCN) - Series 3, on September 8, 2022. The increase in the Total capital ratio was also due to the $750 million issuance of medium-term notes on July 25, 2022 . As at October 31, 2022, the leverage ratio was 4.5 % compared to 4.4 % as at October 31, 2021. The growth in Tier 1 capital was partly offset by growth in total exposure, which will continue to benefit, until April 1, 2023, from the temporary measure permitted by OSFI with respect to the exclusion of exposures from central bank reserves.

High-Quality Loan Portfolio

Loans and acceptances, net of allowances for credit losses, accounted for 51% of the Bank's total assets and amounted to $206.7 billion as at October 31, 2022. For fiscal 2022, the Bank recorded $145 million in provisions for credit losses compared to $2 million in fiscal 2021. This increase was due to higher provisions for credit losses on non-impaired loans recorded to reflect a less favourable macroeconomic environment in fiscal 2022 and to a slight deterioration in certain risk parameters, and was also due to an increase in provisions for credit losses on purchased or originated credit-impaired (POCI) loans, as there had been higher reversals on certain portfolios recorded in fiscal 2021. These increases were tempered by lower provisions for credit losses on impaired loans excluding POCI loans, particularly Commercial Banking loans and Financial Markets loans, partly offset by higher provisions for credit losses on the impaired ABA Bank loans recorded to reflect the end of COVID-19 relief measures that had been granted to clients. Gross impaired loans totalled $1,271 million as at October 31, 2022 compared to $1,126 million as at October 31, 2021 and represented 0.61% of total loans and acceptances.

Risk Profile

 
As at October 31 or for the year ended October 
 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                                                              2022                2021 
===========================================================================  ===================  ========  ========  ======= 
 
Provisions for credit losses                                                                 145                   2 
Provisions for credit losses as a % of average 
 loans and acceptances(2)                                                                   0.07         %         -% 
Provisions for credit losses on impaired loans 
 excluding POCI loans as a % of average loans 
 and acceptances(2)                                                                         0.07         %      0.11% 
 
Net write-offs as a % of average loans and acceptances(2)                                   0.10         %      0.09% 
Gross impaired loans as a % of total loans and 
 acceptances(2)                                                                             0.61         %      0.61% 
Gross impaired loans                                                                       1,271               1,126 
Net impaired loans                                                                         1,030                 836 
===========================================================================  ===================  ========  ========  ======= 
 
   Annual Dividend Per                         Evolution of Regulatory          Gross Impaired Loans 
   Common Share                                Ratios Under Basel               As at October 31 
   Year ended October                          III (1)                          (millions of Canadian 
   31                                          As at October 31                 dollars) 
   (Canadian dollars) 
 
 
  2018       2019   2020   2021       2022               2021          2022       2018     2019       2020    2021       2022 
                                                                 CET1             Gross impaired loans 
                                                                 Tier 1            - Stage 3 
                                                                 Total             Gross impaired loans 
                                                                 Leverage          - POCI 
                                                                 ratio             Gross impaired loans 
                                                                                   as a % of total loans 
                                                                                   and acceptances (bps)(2) 
                                                                                   Gross impaired loans 
                                                                                   exlcuding POCI loans 
                                                                                   as a % of total loans 
                                                                                   and acceptances (bps)(2) 
 
 
 

(1) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

(2) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

Economic Review and Outlook

Global Economy

After a somewhat late start, the cycle of tightening global monetary policy seems well under way, with more and more central banks now taking a more restrictive approach to rein in inflation. While this trend reversal offers promise of greater price stability in the future, the economic impacts will still be significant, especially if the reversal comes at a time when growth has already slowed considerably in several regions. In the eurozone, for example, annualized GDP growth was only 0.7% in the third quarter of 2022, since soaring energy costs are being felt and resulting in a decrease in actual compensation. While the energy situation improved slightly in the third quarter of 2022, several signs are pointing to a recession starting in the fourth quarter of 2022. Elsewhere in the world, emerging markets continue to feel the brunt of a strong U.S. dollar, which is putting upward pressure on inflation and making it more difficult to repay loans in U.S. dollars. All the while, China has continued to feel the economic impacts of its zero-COVID policy at a time when weak consumer demand and sluggish real estate markets can no longer be offset by higher exports. Against this backdrop, the global economy is expected to grow by only 2.2%(1) in 2023, on the heels of 3.1%(1) growth in 2022.

The last time that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised interest rates, bringing the target range between 3.75 and 4.00%, Jerome Powell, Chair of the Fed, stated that data published since the last Fed meeting justified having a higher terminal rate than what had previously been presented. And yet, there are increasing signs that an economic slowdown lies ahead. While GDP figures for the third quarter of 2022 showed that growth is rebounding, this is mainly due to international trade since private domestic demand is weakening. More specifically, residential investment decreased for a sixth consecutive quarter-something not seen since the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Inflation continues to hover at abnormally high levels, although there are now many signs pointing to a turnaround, especially given the manufacturing sector slowdown, high inventory levels, a sharp decline in shipping costs, lower selling prices by Chinese producers, and a strong U.S. dollar. Where services are concerned, it may take longer to return inflation to a reasonable level, although there is evidence suggesting far fewer new hires in an environment characterized by anemic growth, which will help to reduce wage pressures. Given this context, the central bank should be able to end its monetary tightening cycle no later than for the first monetary policy meeting in 2023. Otherwise, a recession is practically unavoidable in 2023. Moreover, even if the Fed changes direction, this would not prevent a major slowdown in growth next year. We anticipate a difficult first half next year and growth of only 0.2%(1) for 2023.

Canadian Economy

In Canada, efforts to soft-land the economy after a period of overheating are continuing. So far, indicators are moving in the right direction for the Bank of Canada, which suggests that we are approaching the terminal rate in this extremely aggressive tightening cycle. In fact, the labour market is showing signs of moderation: private-sector and full-time jobs have been at a standstill for several months, and hiring intentions are declining, suggesting that there will be no rebound in the short term. Inflationary pressures are less acute and widespread than earlier this year. Nevertheless, given the rushed response and the transmission lag for monetary policy, it is normal for observers to be nervous. Unfortunately, we will only know in hindsight if the response was too aggressive. One thing is certain: we are already seeing a notable slowdown in the real estate market, which is leading to extremely rapid real estate deflation. In our view, it will not be necessary to keep interest rates at current levels for long to cool down inflation; consequently, we expect that the central bank will have to lower them in the second half of next year. In light of this monetary tightening, we anticipate an anemic growth rate of 0.7%(1) in 2023, as consumers will be hit simultaneously

by a loss of purchasing power, a negative wealth effect, and interest payment shock.

Quebec Economy

Quebec's economy, which had experienced a spectacular post-pandemic recovery compared to the country as a whole, lost its lead in July 2022 after posting the fourth monthly decline in a row. But that is not overly concerning for now, since this decline has not had a significant adverse effect on the labour market, which is still one of the most stable in the country. The unemployment rate reached 4.1% in October 2022, which is the lowest in all of the provinces, while the job vacancy rate is among the highest in the country. We also see some encouraging structural factors for the Quebec economy, such as a highly diversified economy, fiscal support from the Quebec government, and low electricity costs. Moreover, Quebec households are in a better financial situation (lower financial leverage and higher savings rate), mainly because housing accessibility is significantly better than in the rest of the country. They are therefore less vulnerable to the recent interest rate increase. Our forecast for growth in 2023 is 0.7%(1) , in line with Canada as a whole, despite less favourable demographic factors.

   (1)       GDP growth forecasts, National Bank Financial's Economics and Strategy group 

Financial Analysis

Consolidated Results

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                        2022      2021(1)      % change 
================================================   =======      =======      ======== 
Operating results 
Net interest income                                  5,271        4,783            10 
Non-interest income                                  4,381        4,144             6 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Total revenues                                       9,652        8,927             8 
Non-interest expenses                                5,230        4,903             7 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                    4,422        4,024            10 
Provisions for credit losses                           145            2 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Income before income taxes                           4,277        4,022             6 
Income taxes                                           894          882             1 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Net income                                           3,383        3,140             8 
Diluted earnings per share (dollars)                  9.61         8.85             9 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Taxable equivalent basis (2) 
Net interest income                                    234          181 
Non-interest income                                     48            8 
Income taxes                                           282          189 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Impact of taxable equivalent basis on net 
 income                                                  -            - 
------------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Specified items (2) 
Impairment losses on intangible assets                   -          (9) 
Specified items before income taxes                      -          (9) 
Income taxes on specified items                          -          (2) 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Specified items after income taxes                       -          (7) 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Operating results - Adjusted (2) 
Net interest income - Adjusted                       5,505        4,964            11 
Non-interest income - Adjusted                       4,429        4,152             7 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Total revenues - Adjusted                            9,934        9,116             9 
Non-interest expenses - Adjusted                     5,230        4,894             7 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes - Adjusted                         4,704        4,222            11 
Provisions for credit losses                           145            2 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Income before income taxes - Adjusted                4,559        4,220             8 
Income taxes - Adjusted                              1,176        1,073            10 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Net income - Adjusted                                3,383        3,147             7 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Diluted earnings per share - Adjusted (dollars)       9.61         8.87             8 
-------------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
Average assets(3)                                  393,847      363,506             8 
Average loans and acceptances(3)                   194,340      172,323            13 
Average deposits(3)                                258,929      236,229            10 
 
Operating leverage(4)                                  1.4   %      6.4% 
 
Operating leverage - Adjusted(5)                       2.1   %      1.9% 
 
Efficiency ratio(4)                                   54.2   %     54.9% 
 
Efficiency ratio - Adjusted(5)                        52.6   %     53.7% 
 
Net interest margin, non-trading - Adjusted(5)        1.96   %     1.90% 
=================================================  =======      =======      ======== 
 

(1) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

(2) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures.

   (3)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

(4) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

(5) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP ratios.

Analysis of Consolidated Results

Financial Results

For fiscal 2022, the Bank's net income totalled $3,383 million, an 8% increase from $3,140 million in fiscal 2021. Excellent performance in all of the business segments, driven by revenue growth, contributed to this increase in net income, which was partly offset by higher provisions for credit losses recorded in part to reflect a deterioration in the macroeconomic outlook in fiscal 2022. Income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes totalled $4,422 million for fiscal 2022, a 10% year-over-year increase that was due to the revenue growth in all of the business segments.

Total Revenues

For fiscal 2022, the Bank's total revenues amounted to $9,652 million versus $8,927 million in fiscal 2021, a $725 million or 8% increase that was driven by the revenue growth across all of the Bank's business segments. For additional information on total revenues, see Table 2 on page 114. The fiscal 2022 adjusted total revenues grew $818 million or 9% year over year.

Net Interest Income

For fiscal 2022, net interest income totalled $5,271 million, up $488 million or 10% from $4,783 million in fiscal 2021 (see Table 3, page 114). As for the adjusted net interest income in fiscal 2022, it amounted to $5,505 million, up 11% from $4,964 million in fiscal 2021.

In the Personal and Commercial segment, net interest income totalled $2,865 million in fiscal 2022, a $318 million or 12% year-over-year increase owing mainly to growth in loans and deposits, which rose 11% and 7%, respectively, year over year. The loan growth came mainly from mortgage credit and business lending. The increase in net interest income was also due to a higher net interest margin, which rose to 2.14% in 2022 from 2.11% in 2021 as a result of interest rate hikes, and that was primarily attributable to the deposit margin. In the Wealth Management segment, net interest income totalled $594 million in fiscal 2022, a 33% year-over-year increase owing to higher interest rates, growth in loan and deposit volumes, and the deposit margin.

In the Financial Markets segment, net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis was down $4 million in fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021, mainly due to trading activities, and should be examined together with the other items of trading activity revenues. In the USSF&I segment, net interest income rose $183 million or 20% year over year owing to loan and deposit growth at the ABA Bank subsidiary in fiscal 2022 as well as to an increase in the Credigy subsidiary's net interest income given growth in loan portfolios and solid performance in certain portfolios.

Non-Interest Income

The Bank's non-interest income amounted to $4,381 million in fiscal 2022, up $237 million or 6% from $4,144 million in fiscal 2021. For additional information on non-interest income, see Table 4 on page 115.

For fiscal 2022, revenues from underwriting and advisory fees were down 22% year over year, notably due to capital markets activities in the Financial Markets segment. Revenues from securities brokerage commissions were down 14% year over year, essentially due to a decrease in commission-generating transactions in the Wealth Management segment. Combined, mutual fund revenues and revenues from investment management and trust service fees totalled $1,584 million, a $121 million year-over-year increase owing to growth in average assets under administration and under management as a result of net inflows into various solutions and of stock market performance in the first half of 2022.

Credit fee revenues and revenues from acceptances and letters of credit and guarantee were down $16 million year over year, as greater business activity at Commercial Banking was more than offset by a decrease in the activities of Financial Markets. Conversely, card revenues and revenues from deposits and payment service charges rose 26% and 9%, respectively, as an upswing in economic activity led to greater transaction volume during fiscal 2022.

Non-interest income related to trading activity on a taxable equivalent basis totalled $596 million, up from $290 million in fiscal 2021 (Table 5, page 115). Including the portion recorded in net interest income, trading activity revenues on a taxable equivalent basis amounted to $1,507 million in fiscal 2022, a $269 million year-over-year increase that was essentially driven by equity securities revenues from the Financial Markets segment. Conversely, trading activity revenues on a taxable equivalent basis from the Bank's other business segments decreased year over year.

For fiscal 2022, gains on non-trading securities were down $38 million year over year, in part due to Treasury activities, while insurance revenues were up $27 million year over year, reflecting a revision to actuarial reserves. Also up year over year were foreign exchange revenues and the share in the net income of associates and joint ventures, which rose $9 million and $5 million, respectively. Other revenues amounted to $242 million in fiscal 2022, an $83 million decrease that was notably due to a gain realized on the disposal of certain loan portfolios and to a more favourable impact of the fair value remeasurements of certain Credigy loan portfolios in fiscal 2021. In addition, in fiscal 2021, the Other revenues item had included a $33 million gain on the remeasurement of the previously held equity interest in Flinks and a $30 million loss related to the fair value measurement of the Bank's equity interest in AfrAsia Bank Limited (AfrAsia).

Non-Interest Expenses

For fiscal 2022, non-interest expenses stood at $5,230 million, up $327 million or 7% from fiscal 2021 (Table 6, page 116). In fiscal 2021, non-interest expenses had included $9 million in intangible asset impairment losses. The fiscal 2022 non-interest expenses, compared to $4,894 million in adjusted non-interest expenses, were up $336 million or 7%.

Compensation and employee benefits totalled $3,284 million in fiscal 2022, an 8% year-over-year increase that was notably due to wage growth and a greater number of employees as well as to the variable compensation associated with revenue growth. An increase in technology expenses, including amortization, was attributable to significant investments made to support the Bank's technological evolution and the business development plan. In addition, fiscal 2022 travel and business development expenses increased year over year as activities with clients resumed. These higher expenses were tempered by decreases in certain expenses; in particular, there was a $20 million reversal of the provision for the compensatory tax on salaries paid in Quebec during the first quarter of 2022 as well as a decrease in COVID-19 response expenses, which had been higher during fiscal 2021. Furthermore, a portion of the overall increase in non-interest expenses was attributable to the Flinks acquisition at the end of fiscal 2021.

Provisions for Credit Losses

For fiscal 2022, the Bank recorded $145 million in provisions for credit losses compared to $2 million in fiscal 2021 (Table 7, page 117). This increase was mainly attributable to $1 million in provisions for credit losses on non-impaired loans during fiscal 2022 compared to the $155 million in reversals of allowances for credit losses recorded during fiscal 2021. The macroeconomic outlook deteriorated in the second half of fiscal 2022, notably due to high inflationary pressure, geopolitical instability, and global supply chain disruptions, whereas in fiscal 2021, the macroeconomic outlook had been more favourable. Provisions for credit losses on impaired loans excluding POCI(1) loans were down $45 million in fiscal 2022, mainly those in Commercial Banking and Financial Markets, which decreased $13 million and $77 million, respectively. These decreases were partly offset by a $10 million increase in Personal Banking's provisions for credit losses (including credit card receivables) and a $35 million increase in USSF&I's provisions for credit losses (excluding POCI loans), essentially attributable to the ABA Bank subsidiary, where COVID-19 relief measures that had been granted to customers ended. The provisions for credit losses on Credigy's POCI loans also increased, rising $32 million given the favourable remeasurements of certain portfolios during fiscal 2021. At $138 million for fiscal 2022, the provisions for credit losses on impaired loans excluding POCI loans(1) decreased and represented 0.07% of average loans and acceptances, down from 0.11% in fiscal 2021.

Income Taxes

Detailed information about the Bank's income taxes is provided in Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements. For fiscal 2022, income taxes stood at $894 million, representing an effective tax rate of 21%, which compares to income taxes of $882 million and a 22% effective tax rate in fiscal 2021. The change in effective tax rates stems mainly from a higher level of tax-exempt dividend income during fiscal 2022.

(1) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

Business Segment Analysis

The Bank carries out its activities in four business segments, which are defined below. For presentation purposes, other activities are grouped in the Other heading. Each reportable segment is distinguished by services offered, type of clientele, and marketing strategy.

 
                                                                                     National Bank of Canada 
 
   Business               Personal and                                     Wealth                                     Financial                                U.S. Specialty 
   Segments                 Commercial                                   Management                                     Markets                                  Finance and 
                                                                                                                                                                International 
 
     Core 
  Activities        *    Banking services             *    Full-service brokerage                              *    Equities, fixed-incom        *    U.S. Specialty Finance 
                                                                                                              e securities, commodities a 
                                                                                                              nd 
                    *    Credit services              *    Private banking                                          foreign exchange             *    Credigy 
 
 
                    *    Financing                    *    Direct brokerage                                    *    Corporate banking            *    International 
 
 
                    *    Investment solutions         *    Investment solutions                                *    Investment banking           *    ABA Bank (Cambodia) 
 
 
                    *    Insurance                    *    Administrative and trade execution services                                           *    Minority interests in emerging markets 
 
 
                                                      *    Transaction products for advisors 
 
 
                                                      *    Trust and estate services 
 
 
 
   Other: Treasury activities, liquidity management, Bank funding, asset/liability 
   management, Flinks subsidiary activities (a fintech specialized in financial 
   data aggregation and distribution), and corporate units. 
 
 
 
 
   Total Revenues by               Income Before Provisions           Net Income by Business 
   Business Segment (1)            for                                Segment(1) 
   Year ended October 31,          Credit Losses and Income           Year ended October 31, 
   2022                            Taxes by Business Segment(1)       2022 
                                   Year ended October 31, 
                                   2022 
 
   Personal and Commercial         Personal and Comemrcial             Personal and Commercial 
    (2021: 40%)                     (2021: 36%)                         (2021: 35%) 
    Wealth Mangement (2021          Wealth Mangement (2021:             Wealth Management (2021: 
    : 24%)                          20%)                                19%) 
    Financial Markets (2021:        Financial Markets (2021:            Financial Markets (2021: 
    25%)                            29%)                                29%) 
    USSF&I ( 2021: 11%)             USSF&I (2021: 15%)                  USSF&I ( 2021 : 17%) 
 
   (1)         Excluding the Other  heading. 

Personal and Commercial

The Personal and Commercial segment meets the financial needs of close to 2.6 million individuals and over 145,000 businesses across Canada. These clients entrust the Bank to manage, invest, and safeguard their assets and to finance their projects. Clients turn to the Bank's experienced advisors who take the time to understand their specific needs and help them reach their financial goals. Thanks to the Bank's convenient self-banking channels, 378 branches, and 939 banking machines across Canada, clients can do their daily banking whenever and wherever they wish.

 
 Total Revenues by Category         Total Revenues by Geographic 
  Year ended October                 Distribution 
  31, 2022                           Year ended October 31, 
                                     2022 
 
  Retail (2021: 46%)                  Province of Quebec (2021: 
   Payment Solutions (2021:            75%) 
   11%)                                Other provinces (2021: 
   Insurance (2021: 5%)                25%) 
   Commercial Banking 
   (2021: 38%) 
 
 
  Key Success Factors 
 

Personal Banking

Personal Banking provides a complete range of financing and investment

products and services to help clients reach their financial goals throughout every stage in their lives. It offers everyday transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, savings and investment solutions as well as a range of insurance products.

Commercial Banking

Commercial Banking serves the financial needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations, helping them to achieve growth. It offers a full line of financial products and services, including credit, deposit, and investment solutions as well as international trade, foreign exchange transaction, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transaction, and complementary services. With deep roots in the business community for over 160 years, Commercial Banking is the leading bank in the Quebec market.

Economic and Market Review

In Canada, efforts continue to soft-land the economy after a period of overheating. Interest rate hikes brought real estate activity to an abrupt halt, after it had reached record levels since the start of the pandemic and was characterized by soaring house prices. With house hunters now having less buying power, prices across Canada are undergoing a correction, generating more of an impact on household wealth already falling as a result of weak financial market performance. However, many people seized opportunities that arose during the pandemic to get their financial house in order. In fact, some consumers have amassed excess savings that can be used to cushion the blow of the rising cost of living and higher interest rates. Personal and corporate bankruptcies are on the rise, even though they remain below pre-pandemic levels. The labour market is showing signs of moderation, with full-time private-sector employment stagnating in recent months and hiring intentions slowing down-which does not point to a turnaround in the short-term. Corporate investment remains strong for now, but activity may slow down due to higher funding costs and the uncertain economic outlook.

The economic environment in 2022 and the outlook for 2023 are discussed in more detail in the Economic Review and Outlook section on page 26.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities

The Personal and Commercial segment is targeting growth by becoming a more simple, efficient bank focused on constantly improving the client experience.

 
                                  2022 Achievements and Highlights                    2023 Priorities 
                            ============================================  ======================================= 
 Accelerate net client 
  acquisition                     > Delivered unparalleled                      > Achieve greater coverage 
                                  performance in terms of total                 in promising markets and 
                                  client acquisition.                           high-growth client segments. 
                                  > Enhanced our visibility                     > Further develop a distinctive 
                                  and proximity through targeted                offering for clients who 
                                  campaigns.                                    are in both our PB1859 
                                  > Continued our client acquisition            and Commercial Banking 
                                  strategy by intensifying coverage             sectors by adding differentiating 
                                  in promising markets and among                revenue-generating components 
                                  high-growth target clients                    such that they can go to 
                                  such as newcomers, professionals,             market together. 
                                  Gen Z, millennials, and SMEs.                 > Continue our acquisition 
                                  > Strengthened the synergies                  efforts by further developing 
                                  between our business units                    our digital acquisition 
                                  to achieve even greater acquisition           capabilities and client 
                                  success.                                      eligibility and by focusing 
                                  > Strengthened ties between                   branch efforts on advisory 
                                  Private Banking (PB1859) and                  service. 
                                  Commercial Banking using a                    > Simplify and modernize 
                                  mixed approach and a market                   our product offering such 
                                  presence that is delivering                   that it is better tailored 
                                  impressive results in terms                   to client needs. 
                                  of the engagement of our commercial           > Grow the Bank's brand 
                                  and high net worth clients.                   across Canada and demonstrate 
                                  > Enhanced our preferential                   our ESG impact. 
                                  offering to our strategic 
                                  client sectors, such as professionals. 
                                  > Continued to expand financial 
                                  literacy content in response 
                                  to common concerns arising 
                                  in the current economic environment. 
                                  > Improved our digital approval 
                                  processes for our signature 
                                  products (bank accounts and 
                                  credit cards). 
--------------------------  ============================================  ======================================= 
 Improve client engagement 
                                  > Implemented a new, more                     > Develop account and 
                                  client-centric and advisory--driven           market strategies designed 
                                  distribution approach.                        to raise the penetration 
                                  > Enhanced the capabilities                   rate of both Commercial 
                                  of the transactional platform                 Banking and PB1859 clients. 
                                  and the mobile app to deliver                 > Increase the quality 
                                  a simpler, safer, and more                    of our advice and our value 
                                  intuitive digital experience                  among clients by continuing 
                                  for all our clients.                          to develop our distribution 
                                  > Personalized client interaction             network and personalize 
                                  with the use of client data,                  our contacts. 
                                  which helps us to proactively                 > Achieve greater synergy 
                                  contact clients, through both                 by improving the penetration 
                                  assisted and unassisted channels,             rate of banking services 
                                  during key life moments.                      among our investor clients. 
                                  > Deployed an advisory and                    > Enhance our payment 
                                  support strategy to clients                   facilities offering. 
                                  most affected by market fluctuations          > Optimize client experience 
                                  in the volatile economic environment,         by modernizing the most 
                                  particularly to help them                     frequently used cash management 
                                  manage their liquidity.                       capabilities. 
                                  > Improved our digital investment             > Further develop our 
                                  platform, notably though the                  key technological capacities 
                                  Enhanced Investing Experience,                in the areas of account 
                                  by adding several self-serve                  management and client profile 
                                  capabilities that promote                     services. 
                                  client autonomy. 
==========================  ============================================  ======================================= 
 
 
                             2022 Achievements and Highlights                   2023 Priorities 
===================  ===============================================  =================================== 
 Improve efficiency 
                            > Simplified the transactional                  > Continue simplifying 
                            banking capabilities most                       the customer journey for 
                            frequently used by personal                     priority clients as well 
                            and commercial clients on                       as our business processes. 
                            our priority approaches by                      > Bolster our digital 
                            ensuring an integrated experience               capabilities such that 
                            among the channels.                             it promotes client autonomy 
                            > Finalized the automation                      and simplifies our processes. 
                            of the financing process for                    > Maximize the support 
                            all Commercial Banking segments,                structure provided to our 
                            thereby providing a simple                      sales force by optimizing 
                            and quick experience.                           the operational support 
                            > Simplified the customer                       offered to our client-facing 
                            journey, both for retail clients                employees. 
                            (account opening and payments)                  > Continue modernizing 
                            and commercial clients (account                 our range of cash management 
                            opening, financing, and cash                    offerings, adapting them 
                            management).                                    to client needs and helping 
                            > Aligned our product offering                  business clients manage 
                            to evolving market needs (transactional,        their cash cycle. 
                            card, payment, and cash management 
                            solutions). 
===================  ===============================================  =================================== 
 

Segment Results - Personal and Commercial

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                      2022      2021(1)      % change 
==============================================   =======      =======      ======== 
 
Net interest income                                2,865        2,547            12 
Non-interest income                                1,169        1,068             9 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Total revenues                                     4,034        3,615            12 
Non-interest expenses                              2,149        2,008             7 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                  1,885        1,607            17 
Provisions for credit losses                          97           40 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Income before income taxes                         1,788        1,567            14 
Income taxes                                         474          416            14 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Net income                                         1,314        1,151            14 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
 
Net interest margin(2)                              2.14   %     2.11% 
Average interest-bearing assets(2)               133,754      120,956            11 
Average assets(3)                                140,514      126,637            11 
Average loans and acceptances(3)                 139,749      125,917            11 
Net impaired loans(2)                                193          213           (9) 
Net impaired loans as a % of total loans and 
acceptances(2)                                       0.1   %      0.2% 
Average deposits(3)                               82,005       76,442             7 
 
Efficiency ratio(2)                                 53.3   %     55.5% 
==============================================   =======      =======      ======== 
 
 

(1) For the year ended October 31, 2021, certain amounts have been reclassified, in particular amounts of the loan portfolio of borrowers in the "Oil and gas" and "Pipelines" sectors as well as related activities, which were transferred from the Personal and Commercial segment to the Financial Markets segment. Moreover, certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements (for additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements).

(2) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

   (3)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

Financial Results

In the Personal and Commercial segment, net income totalled $1,314 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $1,151 million in fiscal 2021, a 14% increase that was due to $419 million in total revenue growth, partly offset by higher provisions for credit losses. The segment's income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes totalled $1,885 million in fiscal 2022, up 17% year over year. The growth in total revenues was driven by a $318 million increase in net interest income and a $101 million increase in non-interest income. The increase in net interest income came mainly from growth in personal and commercial loans and deposits. In addition, the successive interest rate increases that occurred in fiscal 2022 had a favourable impact on net interest margin, which rose to 2.14% from 2.11% in fiscal 2021, an increase attributable mainly to the deposit margin.

For fiscal 2022, the Personal and Commercial segment's non-interest expenses stood at $2,149 million, a 7% year-over-year increase that was mainly due to higher compensation and employee benefits (given wage growth and a greater number of employees), to greater investments made as part of the segment's technological evolution, and to higher operations support charges. Furthermore, travel and business development costs increased as activities with clients resumed. At 53.3%, the segment's 2022 efficiency ratio improved by 2.2 percentage points from 55.5% in 2021.

The segment recorded $97 million in provisions for credit losses in fiscal 2022, which is $57 million more than the $40 million recorded in fiscal 2021. This increase came mainly from higher provisions for credit losses on non-impaired Personal Banking loans (including credit card receivables) recorded to reflect less favourable macroeconomic conditions, whereas, in fiscal 2021, a more favourable macroeconomic environment had led to significant reversals of allowances for credit losses on non-impaired loans. These increases were tempered by lower provisions for credit losses on impaired Commercial Banking loans as well as by a decrease in provisions for credit losses on non-impaired Commercial Banking loans resulting from more favourable risk parameters in fiscal 2022.

Personal Banking

Personal Banking's total revenues amounted to $2,359 million in fiscal 2022, a 6% increase from $2,234 million in fiscal 2021. Its net interest income increased, as there was 8% growth in loan volumes, 4% growth in deposit volumes and a higher deposit margin, partly offset by a lower net interest margin on loans. Non-interest income was also up, rising $53 million year over year, essentially due to higher credit card revenues given a notable increase in purchasing volume, higher insurance revenues (reflecting a revision to actuarial reserves), and higher internal commission revenues related to the distribution of Wealth Management products. For fiscal 2022, Personal Banking's non-interest expenses rose $105 million year over year, mainly due to higher compensation and employee benefits (given wage growth and a greater number of employees), to greater investments made as part of the segment's technological evolution, and to higher operations support charges.

Commercial Banking

Commercial Banking's total revenues amounted to $1,675 million in fiscal 2022, rising 21% from $1,381 million in fiscal 2021. Net interest income was up, essentially due to 17% growth in loans and 11% growth in deposits as well as to a higher net interest margin as interest rates were raised successively during fiscal 2022. Non-interest income was also up, rising $48 million compared to fiscal 2021, mainly due to increases in revenues from bankers' acceptances, in revenues from derivative financial instruments, and in revenues from foreign exchange activities. For fiscal 2022, Commercial Banking's non-interest expenses rose $36 million year over year, mainly due to higher compensation and employee benefits (given wage growth and a greater number of employees), to higher operations support charges, and to higher travel and business development costs as activities with clients resumed.

 
 
     Average Loans and Acceptances                                  Average Deposits 
     Year ended October 31                                          Year ended October 31 
     (millions of Canadian dollars)                                 (millions of Canadian Dollars) 
 
              2021               2022                                  2021                     2022 
       Total - Personal and Commercial                            Total - Personal and Commercial 
        Banking                                                    Banking 
        Personal Banking                                           Personal Banking 
        Commercial Banking                                         Commercial Banking 
 
 
 

Wealth Management

As a leader in Quebec and firmly established across Canada, the Wealth Management segment serves all market segments by emphasizing advisory-based service and close client relationships. It delivers a full range of wealth management products and solutions through a multi-channel distribution network and a differentiated business model. Wealth Management also provides services to independent advisors and institutional clients.

 
 Total Revenues by Category           Total Revenues by Geographic 
  Year ended October 31,               Distribution 
  2022                                 Year ended October 31, 
                                       2022 
 
   Net interest income                     Province of Quebec (2021: 
    (2021: 21%)                             63%) 
    Fee-based services (2021:               Other provinces (2021: 
    61%)                                    37%) 
    Transaction-based and 
    other revenues (2021: 
    18%) 
 
 
  Key Success Factors 
 

Full-Service Brokerage

Drawing on the largest network of investment advisors in Quebec, National Bank Financial Wealth Management (NBFWM) provides wealth management advisory services through 800-plus advisors at close to 100 service points across Canada. Its advisors serve approximately 400,000 retail clients, proposing portfolio management services, financial and succession planning services, and insurance services while working in close collaboration with other segments of the Bank.

Private Banking

Private Banking 1859 (PB1859) offers highly personalized wealth management services and advice across Canada, helping affluent clients benefit from comprehensive management of their personal and family fortunes. As a true market leader in Quebec, PB1859 is continuing to expand its operations throughout Canada with its extensive range of financial solutions and strategies for the protection, growth, and transition of wealth.

Direct Brokerage

National Bank Direct Brokerage (NBDB) offers a multitude of financial products and investment tools to self-directed investors across Canada through its online investment solution. NBDB helps customers who want to manage their own investments to do so through an online trading platform or by speaking directly to a representative on the phone.

Investment Solutions

National Bank Investments Inc. (NBI) manufactures and offers mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETF), investment solutions, and services to consumers and institutional investors through the Bank's extended network. With its open architecture model, NBI is Canada's largest investment fund manager to entrust the management of its investments exclusively to external portfolio managers.

Administrative and Trade Execution Services

National Bank Independent Network (NBIN) is a Canadian leader in providing administrative services such as trade execution, custodial services, and brokerage solutions to many independent financial services firms across Canada, in particular to introducing brokers, portfolio managers, and investment fund managers.

Transaction Products

The Wealth Management segment provides independent advisors across Canada with a vast array of investment products, including guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), mutual funds, notes, structured products, and monetization, helping to support their own business needs and client relationships.

Trust and Estate Services

Through National Bank Trust (NBT), Wealth Management provides retail and institutional clients with turnkey services and solutions. Its team of experts offers a full range of high value-added services designed to consolidate, protect, and transfer its customers' wealth and give them peace of mind. NBT also provides integrated trustee and depository services as well as securities custody services.

Economic and Market Review

Soaring inflation resulting from the war in Ukraine has led to the fastest tightening of monetary policies since the mid-1990s. The financial market corrections were brutal, and rising interest rates caused bond and stock portfolios to post losses. A number of stock markets, including the S&P 500, entered bear market territory (market decline of over 20%). Canada's stock market also declined, although it was more resilient, primarily owing to the country's raw materials sectors, which are doing quite well in the current geopolitical context. While the market impacts of rising interest rates were felt very quicky, it will take some time to assess the full economic impacts, which could create volatility in the months to come. Although the North American economy is holding up well, the outlook for 2023 is less rosy. The real estate sector has been hit very hard-both in the U.S. and Canada-and house prices have already begun to slide despite a resilient labour market. Business leaders' confidence has been shaken by the growing risk of recession, and anemic economic growth is expected in 2023.

The economic environment in 2022 and the outlook for 2023 are discussed in more detail in the Economic Review and Outlook section on page 26.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities

The Wealth Management segment will capitalize on the strength of the Bank's brand by generating sustained earnings growth, further improving client satisfaction, and maintaining high employee engagement.

 
                            2022 Achievements and                             2023 Priorities 
                                 Highlights 
========================  ========================  ================================================================== 
 Create h ighly engaged 
 clients thanks to             > Focused on our             > Further develop the 
 an exceptional                growth strategies            quality of our advice and 
 advisory--based               by leveraging                our closeness to clients 
 experience                    intersegment                 by leveraging client relationship 
                               synergies and by             tools and accelerating 
                               looking beyond               synergies, both in terms 
                               Quebec and also              of our expertise as well 
                               towards sectors              as geographically. 
                               with strong                  > Continue developing 
                               potential.                   a fully-integrated solution 
                               > Reconciled the             that helps advisors become 
                               activities                   independent. 
                               of PB1859 and                > Further develop a distinctive 
                               Commercial Banking           offering for clients who 
                               to better meet client        are in both PB1859 and 
                               needs.                       the Commercial Banking 
                               > Raised client              sectors by adding differentiating 
                               satisfaction                 revenue-generating components 
                               across all channels          such that they can go to 
                               despite                      market together. 
                               an uncertain economic 
                               environment. 
------------------------  ==========================  ================================================================ 
 Have best-in-class 
  investment and digital       > Continually                > Continue developing 
  solutions                    simplified                   new investment solutions 
                               and improved our             that are constantly aligning 
                               digital ecosystem            with client needs (responsible 
                               to improve client and        investing, ETFs, private 
                               employee                     investments, life goals, 
                               experience.                  etc.). 
                               > Enhanced our               > Further simplify and 
                               responsible                  improve digital solutions 
                               investment and               according to client needs 
                               non-traditional              and on a continual basis. 
                               investment product 
                               offerings 
                               through teams of 
                               experts. 
------------------------  ==========================  ================================================================ 
 Target fast, expert 
  and flawless execution       > Continued                    > Maintain the pace of 
                               developing our                 progress on transformation 
                               analytic foundations           projects and continue executing 
                               and the                        our automation and digitalization 
                               360-degree holistic            plan. 
                               view of                        > Continue developing 
                               clients.                       analytic foundations in 
                               > Made ongoing                 order to put data (360-degree 
                               investments                    holistic view) at the service 
                               to automate and                of clients. 
                               digitalize 
                               key processes to 
                               improve both 
                               client and employee 
                               experience. 
------------------------  ==========================  ================================================================ 
 Encourage 
 entrepreneurial               > Deployed multiple          > Continue delivering 
 culture and talent            tools                        an engaging employee experience 
 development                   and programs to              by: 
                               further improve               *    providing experiences tailored to employee needs and 
                               diversity and                      that support flexibility and quality of life; 
                               inclusion and 
                               to support the 
                               ongoing development           *    having an inclusive culture that is conducive to 
                               of our employees.                  synergy, agility, and a client focus. 
                               > Created conditions 
                               that 
                               encourage employees 
                               to return 
                               to work, notably a 
                               flexible 
                               hybrid work model. 
========================  ==========================  ================================================================ 
 
 

Segment Results - Wealth Management

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                    2022      2021(1)      % change 
============================================   =======      =======      ======== 
 
Net interest income                                594          446            33 
Fee-based revenues                               1,429        1,322             8 
Transaction and other revenues                     352          398          (12) 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Total revenues                                   2,375        2,166            10 
Non-interest expenses                            1,391        1,293             8 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                  984          873            13 
Provisions for credit losses                         3            1 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Income before income taxes                         981          872            13 
Income taxes                                       260          231            13 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Net income                                         721          641            12 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Average assets(2)                                8,226        7,146            15 
Average loans and acceptances(2)                 7,132        5,998            19 
Net impaired loans(3)                               15           16           (6) 
Average deposits(2)                             35,325       33,934             4 
 
Efficiency ratio(3)                               58.6   %     59.7% 
============================================   =======      =======      ======== 
 
 
Assets under administration (3)                616,165      651,530           (5) 
--------------------------------------------   -------      -------      -------- 
Assets under management (3) 
 Individual                                     65,214       64,941             - 
 Mutual funds                                   47,132       52,245          (10) 
 --------------------------------------------  -------      -------      -------- 
                                               112,346      117,186           (4) 
============================================   =======      =======      ======== 
 

(1) For the year ended October 31, 2021, certain amounts have been reclassified, notably certain amounts that have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements (for additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements).

   (2)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

(3) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

 
     Financial Results 
 
      In the Wealth Management segment, net income 
      totalled $721 million in fiscal 2022, up 12% 
      from $641 million in fiscal 2021. The segment's 
      total revenues amounted to $2,375 million in 
      fiscal 2022, up 10% from $2,166 million in fiscal               Assets Under Administration 
      2021. Its fiscal 2022 net interest income grew                  and Assets Under Management 
      $148 million or 33% year over year owing to                     Year ended October 31 
      higher interest rates, to growth in loan and                    (millions of Canadian dollars) 
      deposit volumes, and to the deposit margin. 
      Fee-based revenues rose 8% year over year due                              2021                       2022 
      to growth in average assets under administration                                Assets under administration 
      and assets under management as a result of net                                   Assets under management 
      inflows into various solutions and to stock 
      market performance in the first half of fiscal 
      2022. As for transaction and other revenues, 
      they decreased 12% year over year as a result 
      of lower commission-generating trading volume 
      during fiscal 2022. 
 
      For fiscal 2022, Wealth Management's non-interest 
      expenses stood at $1,391 million compared to 
      $1,293 million in fiscal 2021, an increase attributable 
      to higher compensation and employee benefits, 
      notably the variable compensation associated 
      with revenue growth, as well as to higher operations 
      support charges related to the segment's business 
      growth and initiatives. At 58.6%, the segment's 
      2022 efficiency ratio improved by 1.1 percentage 
      points from 59.7% in 2021. 
 
      Wealth Management recorded $3 million in provisions 
      for credit losses in fiscal 2022 to reflect 
      a less favourable macroeconomic environment, 
      whereas $1 million had been recorded in fiscal 
      2021. 
 

Financial Markets

The Financial Markets segment offers a complete suite of products and services to corporations, institutional clients, and public-sector entities. Whether providing comprehensive advisory services and research or capital markets products and services, the segment focuses on relationships with clients and their growth. Over 900 professionals serve clients through its offices in North America, Europe, the UK, and Asia.

 
 Total Revenues by Category          Total Revenues by Geographic 
  Year ended October                  Distribution 
  31, 2022                            Year ended October 31, 
                                      2022 
 
   Global Markets (2021:               Province of Quebec (2021: 
    53 %)                               30 %) 
    Corporate and Investment            Other provinces (2021: 
    Banking (2021: 47 %)                57 %) 
                                        Outside of Canada (2021: 
                                        13 %) 
 

Global Markets

Financial Markets is a Canadian leader in risk management solutions, structured products, and market-making in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by volume. The segment offers solutions in the areas of fixed-income securities, currencies, equities, and commodities in order to mitigate the financial and business risks of clients. It also provides new product development expertise to asset managers and fund companies and supports their success by providing liquidity, research, and counterparty services. Financial Markets also provides tailored investment products across all asset classes to institutional and retail distribution channels.

Corporate and Investment Banking

Financial Markets provides corporate banking, advisory, and capital markets services. It offers loan origination and syndication to large corporations for project financing, merger and acquisition transactions, and corporate financing solutions. The segment is also an investment banking leader in Quebec and across Canada. Its comprehensive services include strategic advisory for financing and merger and acquisition initiatives as well as for debt and equity underwriting. It is the Canadian leader in government debt and corporate high--yield debt underwriting. Dominant in Quebec, the segment is the leader in

debt underwriting for provincial and municipal governments across Canada while growing its national position in infrastructure and project financing. Financial Markets is active in securitization financing, mainly mortgages insured by the Government of Canada and mortgage-backed securities.

Economic and Market Review

The impacts of tighter monetary policy announced several months ago by a number of central banks are clearly being felt the world over. In Europe, rising interest rates (and soaring prices) have again stymied growth and shone a light on certain financial weaknesses, notably in the UK, where poor fiscal management nearly derailed the bond market. U.S. growth remained stronger, even though cracks have begun to appear in sectors that are more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. The Bank of Canada followed the global trend, quickly raising its benchmark rate, which is weighing heavily on the housing market. After skyrocketing increases during the pandemic, house prices have begun to cool, putting downward pressure on household wealth at a time when consumer spending power has already been eroded by steep prices.

The economic environment in 2022 and the outlook for 2023 are discussed in more detail in the Economic Review and Outlook section on page 26.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities

 
                                     2022 Achievements and Highlights                  2023 Priorities 
==============================  ==========================================  ==================================== 
 
   Ensure continued growth            > Advanced our Inclusion                    > Implement innovative 
   by recruiting, coaching,           and Diversity strategy through              practices for employee 
   and retaining a diversified        scholarship and sponsorship                 recruitment, coaching, 
   workforce                          programs.                                   and retention while fostering 
                                      > Coached and retained our                  inclusion. 
                                      talent at all levels through 
                                      mentorship and executive development 
                                      programs. 
------------------------------  ==========================================  ==================================== 
 
   Carry on international             > Enhanced U.S. coverage                    > Assist our clients in 
   expansion supported                in key sectors and distribution             their growth ambitions 
   by an innovative offering          of selected products.                       and funding needs. 
------------------------------  ==========================================  ==================================== 
 
   Maintain our leadership            > Ranked number one in Canadian             > Maintain our leadership 
   in established businesses          government debt underwriting                through quality and innovation 
   and leverage our strengths         for an eighth consecutive                   . 
   onto other businesses              year.                                       > Grow market shares in 
                                      > Maintained our ETF leadership             corporate debt issuance. 
                                      position. 
                                      > Ranked number one in International 
                                      Securities Finance's (ISF) 
                                      survey in the G2 Borrowers 
                                      category for the Americas. 
------------------------------  ==========================================  ==================================== 
 Strengthen our leadership 
  role in sustainable                 > Guided and advised our                    > Continue discussions 
  financing solutions                 clients in their energy transition.         with clients, employees, 
                                      > Exclusive financial advisor               and other stakeholders 
                                      to Tidewater Renewables Ltd.                to achieve net-zero greenhouse 
                                      on its $60 million renewable                gas (GHG) emissions by 
                                      natural gas (RNG) and feedstock             2050. 
                                      partnership with Rimrock RNG                > Ensure depth and quality 
                                      Inc., allowing each party                   of our coverage regarding 
                                      to focus on their core competencies         the global energy transition. 
                                      to build and advance RNG projects;          > Make ESG principles 
                                      lead lender to a wholly owned               a growth lever and impact 
                                      subsidiary of Tidewater Renewables          multiplier for Financial 
                                      Ltd. on a $26 million credit                Markets. 
                                      facility used to fund investment 
                                      into the partnership. 
                                      > Exclusive financial advisor 
                                      to Whitecap Resources Inc., 
                                      a leader in driving forward 
                                      best ESG practices, on its 
                                      $1.9 billion acquisition of 
                                      XTO Energy Canada; joint bookrunner 
                                      and co-lead arranger on a 
                                      $1.4 billion four-year committed 
                                      term loan. 
                                      > Supported several cleantech 
                                      companies through increased 
                                      capacity. 
==============================  ==========================================  ==================================== 
 
 
                                    2022 Achievements and Highlights                    2023 Priorities 
============================  ===========================================  ========================================= 
 
   Further strengthen               > Invested in technology                     > Continue to create differentiated 
   information technology           and talent to deploy technology              technology across all Financial 
   to enhance and accelerate        enhancements.                                Markets' business lines. 
   our execution                    > Leveraged and exported 
                                    our technology expertise 
                                    to other segments of the 
                                    Bank. 
                                    > Used the latest advances 
                                    in deep learning to automate 
                                    and scale our platform. 
----------------------------  ===========================================  ========================================= 
 Strengthen our ability 
  to deliver integrated             > Exclusive financial advisor                > Deepen our relationships 
  advice and solutions              to Stantec Inc. on its acquisition           with corporations, institutional 
  to clients                        of select assets of Australian-listed        clients, and public-sector 
                                    Cardno Limited for US$500                    entities and help support 
                                    million.                                     their growth. 
                                    > Financial advisor to Cominar 
                                    Real Estate Investment Trust 
                                    on its sale to a consortium 
                                    led by Canderel Management 
                                    Inc. for $5.7 billion. 
                                    > Sole bookrunner and lead 
                                    underwriter on an $86 million 
                                    bought deal equity offering 
                                    for Artemis Gold Inc., following 
                                    the Bank's inaugural project 
                                    loan facility; co-lead arranger 
                                    and underwriter of a committed 
                                    credit facility of up to 
                                    $385 million, plus an additional 
                                    $40 million standby cost 
                                    overrun facility. 
                                    > Exclusive financial advisor 
                                    to Nomad Royalty Company 
                                    Ltd. (Nomad) on its sale 
                                    to Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (Sandstorm) 
                                    for US$590 million, including 
                                    a fairness opinion provided 
                                    to the Special Committee 
                                    of Nomad; co-manager on bought 
                                    deal equity offerings for 
                                    Nomad ($42.5 million) and 
                                    Sandstorm (US$90 million). 
                                    > Exclusive financial advisor 
                                    to the Credit Union Central 
                                    of Saskatchewan on the sale 
                                    of its 84% ownership stake 
                                    in Concentra Bank to Equitable 
                                    Group Inc. (Equitable); co-manager 
                                    on a $230 million bought 
                                    deal offering of subscription 
                                    receipts for Equitable. 
                                    > Exclusive financial advisor 
                                    to Vegpro International Inc. 
                                    on the sale of the majority 
                                    of its operations to Vision 
                                    Ridge Partners, LLC; sole 
                                    bookrunner, administrative 
                                    agent and arranger on the 
                                    acquisition financing. 
                                    > Exclusive financial advisor 
                                    to IBI Group Inc. on its 
                                    $873 million sale to Dutch-listed 
                                    Arcadis N.V. 
                                    > Received Consensus Economics' 
                                    Forecast Accuracy Award (FAA) 
                                    for Canada. 
                                    > Sponsored the tenth annual 
                                    Bloomberg Canadian Finance 
                                    Conference. 
============================  ===========================================  ========================================= 
 

Segment Results - Financial Markets

 
Year ended October 31 
(taxable equivalent basis)(1) 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                      2022      2021(2)       % change 
==============================================   =======      =======  ===  ======== 
Global markets 
 Equities                                            979          685             43 
 Fixed-income                                        367          357              3 
 Commodities and foreign exchange                    156          128             22 
 ----------------------------------------------  -------      -------  ---  -------- 
                                                   1,502        1,170             28 
Corporate and investment banking                     966        1,048            (8) 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------  ---  -------- 
Total revenues(1)                                  2,468        2,218             11 
Non-interest expenses                              1,022          906             13 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------  ---  -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                  1,446        1,312             10 
Provisions for credit losses                        (23)         (24)              4 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------  ---  -------- 
Income before income taxes                         1,469        1,336             10 
Income taxes(1)                                      389          353             10 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------  ---  -------- 
Net income                                         1,080          983             10 
----------------------------------------------   -------      -------  ---  -------- 
Average assets(3)                                154,349      151,240              2 
Average loans and acceptances(3) (Corporate 
 Banking only)                                    22,311       19,630             14 
Net impaired loans(4)                                 91           14 
Net impaired loans as a % of total loans and 
 acceptances(4)                                      0.4   %      0.1    % 
Average deposits(3)                               47,242       44,006              7 
 
Efficiency ratio(4)                                 41.4   %     40.8% 
==============================================   =======      =======       ======== 
 

(1) The Total revenues and Income taxes items of the Financial Markets segment are presented on a taxable equivalent basis. Taxable equivalent basis is a calculation method that consists in grossing up certain tax-exempt income by the amount of income tax that would have been otherwise payable. For the year ended October 31, 2022, Total revenues were grossed up by $277 million ($183 million in 2021) and an equivalent amount was recognized in Income taxes. The effect of these adjustments is reversed under the Other heading in the segment results.

(2) For the year ended October 31, 2021, certain amounts have been reclassified, in particular amounts of the loan portfolio of borrowers in the "Oil and gas" and "Pipelines" sectors as well as related activities, which were transferred from the Personal and Commercial segment to the Financial Markets segment. Moreover, certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements (for additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements).

   (3)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

(4) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

 
     Financial Results 
 
      In the Financial Markets segment, net income 
      totalled $1,080 million in fiscal 2022, a 10% 
      year-over-year increase driven by growth in 
      total revenues. The segment's income before 
      provisions for credit losses and income taxes                Total Revenues by Category 
      totalled $1,446 million in fiscal 2022, up $134              Year ended October 31 
      million or 10% from fiscal 2021. Its fiscal                  (millions of Canadian dollars) 
      2022 total revenues amounted to $2,468 million, 
      up $250 million or 11% year over year. Global 
      markets revenues rose 28% year over year owing                       2021                            2022 
      to growth across every revenue category, notably                             Global markets - Equities 
      revenues from equities as market conditions                                   Global markets - Fixed income 
      favoured greater client activity. As for the                                  Global markets - Commodities and 
      fiscal 2022 corporate and investment banking                                  foreign exchange 
      revenues, they were down 8% year over year,                                   Corporate and investment banking 
      mainly due to a decrease in revenues related 
      to capital markets activity, tempered by revenues 
      generated by favourable merger and acquisition 
      activity and by growth in loan volumes. 
 
      For fiscal 2022, the segment's non-interest 
      expenses rose 13% year over year, essentially 
      attributable to higher compensation and employee 
      benefits, notably the variable compensation 
      associated with revenue growth, and to higher 
      technology investment expenses and operations 
      support charges. The segment's 2022 efficiency 
      ratio was 41.4% versus 40.8% in 2021. 
 
      Financial Markets recorded $23 million in recoveries 
      of credit losses during fiscal 2022 compared 
      to $24 million in recoveries of credit losses 
      in fiscal 2021. A $78 million increase in provisions 
      for credit losses on non-impaired loans, resulting 
      from a less favourable macroeconomic outlook 
      than in fiscal 2021, was offset by a $77 million 
      decrease in provisions for credit losses on 
      impaired loans. 
 

U.S. Specialty Finance and International

The Bank complements its Canadian growth with a targeted, disciplined international strategy that aims for superior returns. The Bank is currently focused on specialty finance in the U.S. through its Credigy subsidiary and on personal and commercial banking in Cambodia through its ABA Bank subsidiary. The Bank also holds minority positions in financial groups operating in French-speaking Africa and Africa-Asia. The Bank currently has a moratorium on any new significant investments in emerging markets. During fiscal 2022, the U.S. Specialty Finance and International (USSF&I) segment generated 12% of the Bank's consolidated total revenue and 16% of its net income.

 
 Credigy        Breakdown of Total Revenues       ABA Bank 
                   Year ended October 31, 
                            2022 
 
                    Credigy (2021: 49 %) 
                   ABA Bank (2021: 51 %) 
 

U.S. Specialty Finance - Credigy

Founded in 2001 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, Credigy is a specialty finance company primarily active in financing and acquiring a diverse range of performing assets. Its portfolio is mostly comprised of diversified secured consumer receivables in the U.S. market. Through its landmark modelling expertise, flexibility, and client-centric approach, Credigy is a partner of choice for financial services institutions.

Economic and Market Review

The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) has already raised its policy rate by 375 basis points since March 2022, and its most recent announcements show that it believes that more work is needed to rein in inflation. Yet, the U.S. economy has begun to grow again after a difficult first six months. While the labour market remains solid, consumers are managing to cope with their reduced buying power by digging into their savings amassed during the pandemic. Americans are also maintaining their spending levels using credit. In fact, credit card debt rose 15%, year over year in the third quarter of 2022, the highest increase seen in 20 years. However, there are growing signs of an economic slowdown on the horizon. Residential investment declined for a

sixth consecutive quarter-something not seen since the Great Recession of 2008-09. Moreover, the manufacturing sector growth outlook is less rosy. While inflation is showing some encouraging signs that should soon enable the Fed to press the pause button, there has been so much monetary tightening that growth is expected to slow substantially in 2023.

The economic environment in 2022 and the outlook for 2023 are discussed in more detail in the Economic Review and Outlook section on page 26.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities - Credigy

Credigy aims to provide customized solutions for the acquisition or financing of customer receivable assets in pursuit of the best risk-adjusted returns and a pre-tax return on assets (ROA) of at least 2.5%.

 
                                   2022 Achievements and Highlights                    2023 Priorities 
============================  =========================================  =========================================== 
 Sustain deal flow 
  by being a partner                > Conducted active monitoring                        > Leverage relationships 
  of choice for institutions        of the economy and opportunities.                    with current and prospective 
  facing complex challenges         > Achieved a balance in transactions                 partners. 
  and strategic changes             among new and existing partners.                     > Remain prepared to seize 
                                    > Maintained average assets                          opportunities in rapidly 
                                    of approximately $8.2 billion.                       evolving markets. 
----------------------------  ===========================================  =========================================== 
 Maintain a diversified 
  mix of performing                > Performing assets accounted                 > Favour asset diversification 
  assets                           for 99% of assets.                            and a prudent investment 
                                   > Continued asset class                       profile. 
                                   diversification                               > Maintain a stable risk-reward 
                                   focused on secured high-quality               balance while optimizing 
                                   consumer assets.                              for capital efficiency. 
                                   > Leveraged flexibility to 
                                   invest via financing and direct 
                                   acquisitions. 
----------------------------  ===========================================  =========================================== 
 Achieve best risk-adjusted 
  returns                           > Refined and monitored credit                > Actively monitor macroeconomic 
                                    models to target the best                     conditions to implement 
                                    risk-return investments.                      risk mitigation strategies. 
                                    > Maintained a disciplined                    > Deliver asset growth 
                                    approach to ensure a risk-return              through a balanced mix 
                                    balance and a pre-tax return                  of financing and direct 
                                    on assets (ROA) of at least                   acquisitions. 
                                    2.5%. 
============================  ===========================================  =========================================== 
 
 
 
  Key Success Factors 
 

International - ABA Bank

Established in 1996, ABA Bank provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia. It is now the largest by assets and the fastest growing commercial bank in Cambodia. ABA Bank offers a full spectrum of financial services to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as to individuals through 81 branches, 30 self-banking units, 1,024 automated teller machines (ATMs) and other self-service machines, and advanced online banking and mobile banking platforms. It has been selected as the Best Bank in Cambodia by financial magazines T he Banker , Global Finance (eighth consecutive year), Euromoney (ninth consecutive year) and Asiamoney.

Economic and Market Review

The persistent impact of the pandemic, most notably in China, continues to affect Cambodia's tourism industry. The export sectors on the other hand are growing with textile and agriculture benefitting from the economic recovery in developed countries and the new Regional Comprehensive Trade Partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, China and Japan. The highly dollarized nature of the Cambodian economy (more than 80%) helps to keep inflation under control. After peaking at 8% in mid-2022, it is expected to level off at year end and return to historical averages of 3% by 2024.

The economy grew by 3% in 2021 and is expected to grow by close to 5% in 2022. In 2023, growth rates should remain close to 5%, as tourism returns to more normalized levels. Cambodia will also continue to benefit from increased regional economic integration under the ASEAN trade association. The Cambodian market is underbanked; there is a high adoption and use of mobile technology and social media in the country, and over 65% of the population of 17 million is under 35 years of age.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities - ABA Bank

ABA Bank is pursuing an omnichannel banking strategy with the goal of becoming the lending partner of choice to MSMEs while increasing market penetration in deposits and transactional services for retail and business clients.

 
                                   2022 Achievements and Highlights                      2023 Priorities 
============================  ==========================================  ============================================ 
 Grow market share 
  in MSME lending                   > Achieved 39% growth in                    > Open four branches and 
                                    loan volumes.                               ten self-banking units in 
                                    > Went from the third-largest               2023 to extend its reach 
                                    bank in the market to the                   in Cambodia, continue modernizing 
                                    largest by increasing market                its branch network, and 
                                    share.                                      gain direct access to a 
                                    > Continued to adapt the                    larger pool of MSME customers 
                                    MSME lending strategy to                    and retail deposits. 
                                    support the growing needs                   > Focus on MSME clients 
                                    of customers as their businesses            in industries that have 
                                    become more mature.                         been minimally affected 
                                    > Opened two new branches,                  by the current economic 
                                    bringing the total to 81                    slowdown. 
                                    throughout the country.                     > Continue to adapt the 
                                                                                lending strategy in line 
                                                                                with the growing needs of 
                                                                                MSME customers as their 
                                                                                businesses become more mature. 
----------------------------  ==========================================  ========================================== 
 Maintain credit quality 
                                   > Maintained a well-diversified              > Maintain strong governance, 
                                   portfolio (99% of loans are                  disciplined risk management, 
                                   secured).                                    and sound business processes. 
                                   > At 2.8% of the loan portfolio              > Ensure strong credit 
                                   as at October 31, 2022,                      quality across the loan 
                                   non-performing                               portfolio to keep non-performing 
                                   loans were below market average.             loan levels below market 
                                   > Closely monitored clients                  averages. 
                                   as they exited the payment                   > Continue to focus on 
                                   deferral program established                 secured lending. 
                                   in 2020 to offer relief to 
                                   clients affected by the slowdown 
                                   caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
                                   > Standard & Poor's maintained 
                                   ABA Bank's long-term credit 
                                   rating at B+ with a "Stable" 
                                   outlook, based on its strengthening 
                                   business franchise underpinned 
                                   by a growing market share 
                                   and above-average profitability. 
----------------------------  ==========================================  ========================================== 
 Sustain growth in 
  deposits and transactional        > Grew deposit volume by                     > Further develop the transactional 
  services                          28% from fiscal 2021.                        banking model to accelerate 
                                    > Continued to enhance self-banking          the migration of cash transactions, 
                                    capabilities, including the                  payments, and money transfers 
                                    market-leading full-scale                    to self-service and digital 
                                    mobile banking application                   banking channels. 
                                    in Cambodia.                                 > Adapt the product offering 
                                    > Self-banking transactions                  to support the growth and 
                                    made up 98% of total transactions.           evolving needs of clients. 
                                    > Further expanded ABA 24/7,                 > Increase the deposit 
                                    a network of standalone self-banking         base by providing convenience 
                                    locations that provide customers             to retail customers through 
                                    with round-the-clock access                  an advanced digital and 
                                    to their accounts and now                    self-banking infrastructure 
                                    has 30 locations throughout                  and by expanding the network 
                                    the country.                                 of self-service locations. 
============================  ==========================================  ========================================== 
 

Segment Results - USSF&I

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                   2022        2021      % change 
============================================   ======      ======      ======== 
 
Total revenues 
 Credigy                                          439         486          (10) 
 ABA Bank                                         669         510            31 
 International                                      2           5 
 --------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
                                                1,110       1,001            11 
  -------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
Non-interest expenses 
 Credigy                                          131         139           (6) 
 ABA Bank                                         212         173            23 
 International                                      1           3 
 --------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
                                                  344         315             9 
  -------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses 
 and income taxes                                 766         686            12 
--------------------------------------------   ------      ------      -------- 
Provisions for credit losses 
 Credigy                                           35        (41) 
 ABA Bank                                          31          26            19 
 --------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
                                                   66        (15) 
  -------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
Income before income taxes                        700         701             - 
--------------------------------------------   ------      ------      -------- 
Income taxes 
 Credigy                                           57          86          (34) 
 ABA Bank                                          86          60            43 
 --------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
                                                  143         146           (2) 
  -------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
Net income 
 Credigy                                          216         302          (28) 
 ABA Bank                                         340         251            35 
 International                                      1           2 
 --------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
                                                  557         555             - 
  -------------------------------------------  ------      ------      -------- 
Average assets(1)                              18,890      16,150            17 
Average loans and receivables(1)               15,283      12,558            22 
Purchased or originated credit-impaired 
 (POCI) loans                                     459         464           (1) 
Net impaired loans excluding POCI loans 
 (2)                                              180          40 
Average deposits(1)                             8,577       6,699            28 
 
Efficiency ratio(2)                              31.0   %    31.5% 
============================================   ======      ======      ======== 
 
   (1)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

(2) See the Glossary section on pages 122 to 125 for details on the composition of these measures.

Financial Results

In the USSF&I segment, net income totalled $557 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $555 million in fiscal 2021 as total revenue growth was offset by higher provisions for credit losses. The segment's total revenues amounted to $1,110 million in fiscal 2022 versus $1,001 million in fiscal 2021, an 11% increase resulting from a $159 million or 31% increase in the ABA Bank subsidiary's revenues driven by loan and deposit growth, partly offset by a $47 million decrease in the Credigy subsidiary's revenues.

For fiscal 2022, the segment's non-interest expenses stood at $344 million compared to $315 million in fiscal 2021, a $29 million increase attributable to higher non-interest expenses at ABA Bank resulting from its business growth.

The segment's provisions for credit losses increased by $81 million compared to fiscal 2021, resulting in part from the more favourable macroeconomic outlook in fiscal 2021 as well as from more favourable remeasurements of Credigy's POCI loan portfolios in fiscal 2021.

Credigy

For fiscal 2022, the Credigy subsidiary's net income totalled $216 million, a 28% year-over-year decrease that was notably due to lower revenue and a significant increase in provisions for credit losses. Its income before provisions for credit losses and income taxes totalled $308 million in fiscal 2022, down 11% year over year. Credigy's fiscal 2022 total revenues amounted to $439 million, down from $486 million in fiscal 2021. While there was growth in net interest income, it was more than offset by a decrease in non-interest income, that was due to a $26 million gain that had been realized in the first quarter of 2021 upon a disposal of loan portfolios, to a favourable impact of fair value remeasurements of certain portfolios during fiscal 2021, and to an unfavourable impact upon remeasurements of certain portfolios in fiscal 2022. Credigy's non-interest expenses were down $8 million year over year, mainly due to a decrease in variable compensation. Provisions for credit losses rose $76 million year over year, whereas in fiscal 2021, reversals of allowances for credit losses on non-impaired loans had been recorded to reflect more favourable macroeconomic conditions at that time and more favourable remeasurements of POCI loan portfolios had also been carried out.

ABA Bank

For fiscal 2022, ABA Bank's net income totalled $340 million, up 35% from fiscal 2021. Growth in the subsidiary's business activities, mainly in the form of sustained loan and deposit growth, drove total revenues up 31% year over year. This increase was, however, partly offset by lower interest rates on loans given a competitive environment in Cambodia. The subsidiary's fiscal 2022 non-interest expenses stood at $212 million, a 23% year-over-year increase resulting from higher compensation and employee benefits (notably due to higher salaries given a greater number of employees and higher variable compensation associated with revenue growth) and from higher occupancy expenses attributable to business growth. ABA Bank recorded $31 million in provisions for credit losses in fiscal 2022, which is $5 million more than last year, as provisions for credit losses on impaired loans increased to reflect the end of COVID-19 relief measures that had been granted to the subsidiary's clients.

 
 
                        Average Loans and Receivables -              Average Loans and Average Deposits 
                        Credigy                                      - ABA Bank 
                        Year ended October 31                        Year ended October 31 
                        (millions of Canadian dollars)               (millions of Canadian dollars) 
 
                     2021                      2022                         2021 2022 
       Loans                                                          Loans 
        POCI loans                                                     Deposits 
 
 
 

Other

The Other heading reports on Treasury operations; liquidity management; Bank funding; asset and liability management; the activities of the Flinks subsidiary, a fintech company specialized in financial data aggregation and distribution; certain specified items; and the unallocated portion of corporate units. Corporate units include Technology and Operations, Risk Management, Employee Experience, and Finance. These units provide advice and guidance throughout the Bank and to its business segments in addition to expertise and support in their respective fields.

Segment Results - Other

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                                    2022  2021(1) 
=============================================================   ======  ======= 
 
Net interest income(2)                                           (536)    (379) 
Non-interest income(2)                                             201      306 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Total revenues                                                   (335)     (73) 
Non-interest expenses                                              324      381 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Income before provisions for credit losses and income 
 taxes                                                           (659)    (454) 
Provisions for credit losses                                         2        - 
-------------------------------------------------------------   ------  ------- 
Income before income taxes                                       (661)    (454) 
Income taxes (recovery)(2)                                       (372)    (264) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Net loss                                                         (289)    (190) 
Non-controlling interests                                          (1)        - 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Net loss attributable to the Bank's shareholders and holders 
 of other equity instruments                                     (288)    (190) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Specified items after income taxes(3)                                -      (7) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
Net loss - Adjusted (3)                                          (289)    (183) 
--------------------------------------------------------------          ------- 
Average assets(4)                                               71,868   62,333 
==============================================================  ======  ======= 
 
   (1)       For the year ended October 31, 2021, certain amounts have been reclassified. 

(2) For the year ended October 31, 2022, Net interest income was reduced by $234 million ($181 million in 2021), Non-interest income was reduced by $48 million ($8 million in 2021), and an equivalent amount was recorded in Income taxes. These adjustments include a reversal of the taxable equivalent of the Financial Markets segment and the Other heading. Taxable equivalent basis is a calculation method that consists in grossing up certain tax-exempt income by the amount of income tax that would have otherwise been payable.

(3) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures.

   (4)       Represents an average of the daily balances for the period. 

Financial Results

For the Other heading of segment results, there was a net loss of $289 million in fiscal 2022 compared to a net loss of $190 million in fiscal 2021. This change in net loss was due to a decrease in total revenues arising mainly from a lower contribution from Treasury activities and from lower gains on investments in fiscal 2022. This decrease in revenues was tempered by a reduction in non-interest expenses, notably variable compensation, and in pension plan expense as well as by a $20 million reversal of the provision for the compensatory tax on salaries paid in Quebec. In fiscal 2021, the net loss had included a $33 million gain on a remeasurement of the previously held equity interest in Flinks and a $30 million loss ($26 million net of income taxes) related to the fair value measurement of the Bank's equity interest in AfrAsia.

The specified items, net of income taxes, recorded in fiscal 2021 had consisted of $7 million in intangible asset impairment losses. For fiscal 2022, net loss stood at $289 million compared to a $183 million adjusted net loss in fiscal 2021.

Quarterly Financial Information

Several trends and factors have an impact on the Bank's quarterly net income, revenues, non-interest expenses and provisions for credit losses. The following table presents a summary of results for the past eight quarters.

Quarterly Results Summary (1)

 
(millions of Canadian 
dollars)                                       2022(2)                       2021(2) 
=========================   ==========================  =====  =====  =====  ======= 
                               Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2       Q1 
  =======================   =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  ======= 
 
Statement of income data 
Net interest income         1,207  1,419  1,313  1,332  1,190  1,230  1,156    1,207 
Non-interest income         1,127    994  1,126  1,134  1,021  1,024  1,082    1,017 
-------------------------   -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- 
Total revenues              2,334  2,413  2,439  2,466  2,211  2,254  2,238    2,224 
Non-interest expenses       1,346  1,305  1,299  1,280  1,268  1,224  1,217    1,194 
-------------------------   -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- 
Income before provisions 
 for credit losses and 
 income taxes                 988  1,108  1,140  1,186    943  1,030  1,021    1,030 
Provisions for credit 
 losses                        87     57      3    (2)   (41)   (43)      5       81 
Income taxes                  163    225    248    258    215    240    228      199 
-------------------------   -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- 
Net income                    738    826    889    930    769    833    788      750 
=========================   =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  =====  ======= 
 

(1) For additional information about the 2022 fourth-quarter results, visit the Bank's website at nbc.ca or the SEDAR website at sedar.com to consult the Bank's Press Release for the Fourth Quarter of 2022 , published on November 30, 2022 . Also, a summary of results for the past 12 quarters is provided in Table 1 on pages 112 and 113 of this MD&A.

(2) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

The analysis of the past eight quarters reflects the sustained performance of all the business segments and helps readers identify the items that have favourably or unfavourably affected results. In the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2022, the Bank's net income results decreased year over year; this was due to higher provisions for credit losses, as more favourable macroeconomic conditions in these quarters of 2021 had led to reversals of allowances for credit losses. Conversely, for the first two quarters of fiscal 2022, the net income results increased year over year. These increases came from the net income growth generated in each business segment, notably due to higher revenues, and from lower provisions for credit losses recorded in these quarters of fiscal 2022.

Net interest income posted year-over-year increases in every quarter of fiscal 2022. These increases were driven by loan and deposit growth in both the Personal and Commercial segment and the Wealth Management segment, by trading activity revenues in the Financial Markets segment (except for the fourth quarter), by loan portfolio growth and the good performance of certain Credigy portfolios, and by an increase in ABA Bank's net interest income owing to sustained business growth. In addition, interest rates were increased successively during fiscal 2022, which had a favourable impact on net interest income in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2022.

Non-interest income posted year-over-year increases in every quarter of fiscal 2022 except for the third quarter; the increases were driven partly by sustained business growth in the Personal and Commercial segment, particularly in the area of card revenues, where there was a notable increase in purchasing volume. In the Wealth Management segment, non-interest income grew substantially in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2022 given growth in average assets under administration and under management as a result of net inflows into various solutions and also due to stock market performance. Conversely, in the third quarter of fiscal 2022, non-interest income was down year over year, notably because higher gains on non-trading securities had been realized during the third quarter of 2021. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, non-interest income was favourably affected by trading activity revenues in the Financial Markets segment. Some factors, however, had an unfavourable impact on non-interest income, including the more favourable fair value remeasurements of Credigy loan portfolios during the quarters of 2021 and a gain realized in the first quarter of 2021 upon a disposal of certain Credigy loan portfolios.

In fiscal 2022, non-interest expenses posted year-over-year increases in every quarter. These increases came from compensation and employee benefits, notably due to wage growth and a greater number of employees, as well as from investments made as part of the Bank's technological evolution. Travel and business development expenses were also up in every quarter of fiscal 2022, as activities with clients resumed during the year. However, certain expenses decreased, in particular the compensatory tax on salaries for which a downward adjustment was recorded in the first quarter of 2022 as well as the expenses incurred to implement client and employee health and safety measures in response to COVID-19, which had been higher during fiscal 2021.

For the first two quarters of fiscal 2022, provisions for credit losses decreased year over year; these decreases were due to reversals of allowances for credit losses on non-impaired loans recorded in the first half of fiscal 2022 given improvements in both the macroeconomic outlook and credit conditions, as well as to lower provisions for credit losses on impaired Commercial Banking and Financial Markets loans. Conversely, in the last two quarters of fiscal 2022, the provisions for credit losses increased year over year given less favourable macroeconomic conditions and a slight deterioration in credit conditions during the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2022. For the third quarter of fiscal 2022, the year-over-year increase in the provisions for credit losses was also due to the favourable remeasurements of Credigy's POCI loan portfolios that had been recorded in the third quarter of 2021.

The change in the effective tax rates between the quarters of fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 came essentially from a higher level and proportion of tax-exempt dividend income in every quarter of fiscal 2022, except for the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

Analysis of the Consolidated Balance Sheet

Consolidated Balance Sheet Summary

 
As at October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                          2022  2021(1)  % change 
==================================================   =======  =======  ======== 
 
Assets 
Cash and deposits with financial institutions         31,870   33,879       (6) 
Securities                                           109,719  106,304         3 
Securities purchased under reverse repurchase 
 agreements and securities borrowed                   26,486    7,516       252 
Loans and acceptances, net of allowances             206,744  182,689        13 
Other                                                 28,921   25,233        15 
--------------------------------------------------   -------  -------  -------- 
                                                     403,740  355,621        14 
  -------------------------------------------------  -------  -------  -------- 
 
Liabilities and equity 
Deposits                                             266,394  240,938        11 
Other                                                114,101   95,233        20 
Subordinated debt                                      1,499      768        95 
Equity attributable to the Bank ' s shareholders 
and holders of other equity instruments               21,744   18,679        16 
Non-controlling interests                                  2        3      (33) 
--------------------------------------------------   -------  -------  -------- 
                                                     403,740  355,621        14 
  =================================================  =======  =======  ======== 
 

(1) Certain amounts have been adjusted to reflect an accounting policy change applicable to cloud computing arrangements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

As at October 31, 2022, the Bank had total assets of $403.7 billion, which rose $48.1 billion or 14% from $355.6 billion since the end of fiscal 2021.

Cash and Deposits With Financial Institutions

At $31.9 billion as at October 31, 2022, cash and deposits with financial institutions were down $2.0 billion since October 31, 2021, mainly due to a decrease in deposits with the Bank of Canada, partly offset by an increase in deposits with the U.S. Federal Reserve. The high level of cash and deposits with financial institutions is explained in part by the excess liquidity related to the accommodative monetary policies that have been applied by central banks since 2020. The Bank's liquidity and funding risk management practices are described on pages 91 to 100 of this MD&A.

Securities

Securities, totalling $109.7 billion as at October 31, 2022, rose $3.4 billion since October 31, 2021, due to a $2.6 billion or 3% increase in securities at fair value through profit or loss, notably securities issued or guaranteed by the Canadian government and by U.S. Treasury, other U.S. agencies, and other foreign governments, partly offset by a decrease in equity securities. Securities other than those measured at fair value through profit or loss were also up, rising $0.8 billion. Securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements and securities borrowed rose $19.0 billion, an increase that is mainly related to the activities of the Financial Markets segment and of Treasury. The Bank's market risk management policies are described on pages 84 to 90 of this MD&A.

Loans and Acceptances

As at October 31, 2022, loans and acceptances, net of allowances for credit losses, accounted for 51% of total assets and totalled $206.7 billion, rising $24.0 billion or 13% since October 31, 2021.

Residential mortgage loans outstanding amounted to $80.1 billion as at October 31, 2022, rising $7.6 billion or 10% since October 31, 2021. This growth was mainly driven by sustained demand for mortgage credit in the Personal and Commercial segment as well as by the activities of the Financial Markets segment and the ABA Bank and Credigy subsidiaries. Personal loans totalled $45.3 billion at year-end 2022, rising $4.2 billion from $41.1 billion since October 31, 2021. This increase came mainly from business growth in Personal Banking and at ABA Bank. At $2.4 billion, credit card receivables rose $0.2 billion since October 31, 2021, as the consumer spending habits of clients gradually resumed and resulted in a notable increase in purchasing volume.

As at October 31, 2022, loans and acceptances to business and government totalled $79.9 billion, a $12.0 billion or 18% increase since October 31, 2021 that was mainly due to business growth in Commercial Banking, in the corporate financial services, and at ABA Bank.

Table 9 (page 119) shows, among other information, gross loans and acceptances by borrower category as at October 31, 2022. At $95.6 billion as at October 31, 2022, residential mortgages (including home equity lines of credit) have posted strong growth since 2018 and accounted for 46% of total loans and acceptances. The growth in residential mortgages was driven by sustained demand for mortgage credit in the Personal and Commercial segment and by the business activity at Financial Markets, ABA Bank, and Credigy. As for personal loans (including credit card receivables), they totalled $18.7 billion as at October 31, 2022, rising $2.2 billion since October 31, 2021. With respect to commercial loans, the key increases were recorded in the agriculture, utilities, manufacturing, financial services, real estate and real-estate-construction, and other services categories. As at October 31, 2022, certain categories were down compared to a year ago, notably the oil and gas category as well as the education and health care category. Furthermore, the Credigy subsidiary's POCI loans remained relatively stable since October 31, 2021.

Impaired Loans

Impaired loans include all loans classified in Stage 3 of the expected credit loss model and the Credigy subsidiary's POCI loans.

As at October 31, 2022, gross impaired loans stood at $1,271 million compared to $1,126 million as at October 31, 2021 (Table 10, page 120). As for net impaired loans, they totalled $1,030 million as at October 31, 2022 compared to $836 million as at October 31, 2021. Net impaired loans excluding POCI loans amounted to $479 million, rising $196 million from $283 million as at October 31, 2021. This increase was essentially due to the loan portfolio of the Financial Markets segment and to the loan portfolio of ABA Bank, as the COVID-19 relief measures that had been granted to this subsidiary's clients ceased. The increase was partly offset by decreases in the net impaired loans of the Commercial Banking loan portfolio and of the Credigy loan portfolio (excluding POCI loans). Net POCI loans stood at $551 million as at October 31, 2022 compared to $553 million as at October 31, 2021.

A detailed description of the Bank's credit risk management practices is provided on pages 75 to 83 of this MD&A as well as in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

Other Assets

As at October 31, 2022, other assets totalled $28.9 billion versus $25.2 billion as at October 31, 2021, a $3.7 billion increase that came mainly from a $2.0 billion increase in derivative financial instruments, related to the activities of the Financial Markets segment, and from a $1.4 billion increase in receivables, prepaid expenses and other items.

Deposits

As at October 31, 2022, deposits stood at $266.4 billion, rising $25.5 billion or 11% since the end of fiscal 2021. At $78.8 billion, personal deposits, as presented in Table 12 (page 121), accounted for 30% of all deposits, and had increased $8.7 billion since October 31, 2021. This increase was driven by business growth in Personal Banking, in both the Wealth Management and Financial Markets segments, and at ABA Bank.

As shown in Table 12, business and government deposits totalled $184.2 billion as at October 31, 2022, rising $16.3 billion from $167.9 billion as at October 31, 2021. This increase came from the funding activities of the Financial Markets segment and of Treasury, including $2.0 billion in deposits subject to bank recapitalization (bail-in) conversion regulations, as well as from business and government deposits from the business activities of Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. Deposits from deposit-taking institutions totalled $3.4 billion as at October 31, 2022, rising $0.4 billion since the end of fiscal 2021.

Other Liabilities

Other liabilities stood at $114.1 billion as at October 31, 2022, rising $18.9 billion since October 31, 2021, essentially due to a $16.2 billion increase in obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements and securities loaned. Obligations related to securities sold short and liabilities related to transferred receivables were also up, rising $1.5 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

Subordinated Debt and Other Contractual Obligations

Subordinated debt increased since October 31, 2021 as a result of the issuance, on July 25, 2022, of $750 million medium-term notes, partly offset by the US$7 million redemption, on August 31, 2022, of debentures denominated in foreign currency. The contractual obligations are presented in detail in Note 29 to the consolidated financial statements.

Equity

As at October 31, 2022, equity attributable to the Bank's shareholders and holders of other equity instruments totalled $21.7 billion, rising $3.0 billion from $18.7 billion since October 31, 2021. This increase was due to net income net of dividends, to the $500 million issuance of LRCN - Series 3, to the issuances of common shares under the Stock Option Plan, to the net fair value change attributable to the credit risk on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss, and to accumulated other comprehensive income, notably net unrealized foreign currency translation gains on investments in foreign operations. These increases were partly offset by the repurchases of common shares for cancellation and by remeasurements of pension plans and other post-employment benefit plans.

The Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity on page 136 of this Annual Report present the items that make up equity. In addition, an analysis of the Bank's regulatory capital is presented in the Capital Management section of this MD&A.

Exposures to Certain Activities

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) formed a working group, the Enhanced Disclosure Task Force (EDTF), that was mandated to develop principles for enhancing the risk disclosures of major banks. The EDTF published a report containing 32 recommendations. The risk disclosures required by the EDTF are provided in this Annual Report and in the documents entitled Supplementary Regulatory Capital and Pillar 3 Disclosure and Supplementary Financial Information, which are available on the Bank's website at nbc.ca. In addition, on page 13 of this Annual Report is a table of contents that readers can use to locate information relative to the 32 recommendations.

The FSB recommendations seek to enhance the transparency and measurement of certain exposures, in particular structured entities, subprime and Alt-A exposures, collateralized debt obligations, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, and leveraged financing structures . The Bank does not market any specific mortgage financing program to subprime or Alt-A clients. The Bank does not have any significant direct position in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities that are not insured by the CMHC. Credit derivative positions are presented in the Supplementary Regulatory Capital and Pillar 3 Disclosure report, which is available on the Bank's website at nbc.ca.

Leveraged finance is commonly employed to achieve a specific objective, for example, to make an acquisition, complete a buy-out, or repurchase shares. Leveraged finance risk exposure takes the form of both funded and unfunded commitments. As at October 31, 2022, total commitments for this type of loan stood at $5,285 million ($4,048 million as at October 31, 2021). Details about other exposures are provided in the table concerning structured entities in Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements.

Related Party Transactions

In the normal course of business, the Bank provides various banking services and enters into contractual agreements and other transactions with associates, joint ventures, directors, key officers and other related parties. These agreements and transactions are entered into under conditions similar to those offered to non-related third parties.

In accordance with the Bank Act (Canada), the aggregate of loans granted to key officers of the Bank, excluding mortgage loans granted on their principal residence, cannot exceed twice the officer's annual salary.

Loans to eligible key officers are granted under the same conditions as those granted to any other employee of the Bank. The main conditions are as follows:

   --     the employee must meet the same credit requirements as a client; 
   --     mortgage loans are offered at the preferential employee rate; 

-- home equity lines of credit bear interest at Canadian prime less 0.5%, but never lower than Canadian prime divided by two;

   --     personal loans bear interest at a risk-based regular client rate; 

-- credit card advances bear interest at a prescribed fixed rate in accordance with Bank policy;

-- personal lines of credit bear interest at Canadian prime less 0.5%, but never lower than Canadian prime divided by two.

The Bank also offers a deferred stock unit plan to directors who are not Bank employees. For additional information, see Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements. Additional information about related parties is presented in Notes 9 , 27 and 28 to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

Notice of Assessment

In September 2022, the Bank was reassessed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for additional income tax and interest of approximately $150 million (including estimated provincial tax and interest) in respect of certain Canadian dividends received by the Bank during the 2017 taxation year.

In prior fiscal years, the Bank had been reassessed for additional income tax and interest of approximately $725 million (including provincial tax and interest) in respect of certain Canadian dividends received by the Bank during the 2012-2016 taxation years.

In the reassessments, the CRA alleges that the dividends were received as part of a "dividend rental arrangement".

The CRA may issue reassessments to the Bank for taxation years subsequent to 2017 in regard to activities similar to those that were the subject of the above-mentioned reassessments. The Bank remains confident that its tax position was appropriate and intends to vigorously defend its position. As a result, no amount has been

recognized in the consolidated financial statements as at  October   31, 2022. 

Proposed Legislation

On November 4, 2022, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-32 - An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement table in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 to implement tax measures applicable to certain entities of banking and life insurer groups, as presented in its budget of April 7, 2022. These tax measures include the Canada Recovery Dividend (CRD), which is a one-time 15% tax on the fiscal 2021 and 2020 average taxable income above $1 billion, and also include a 1.5% increase in the statutory tax rate. The amount of CRD for the Bank is estimated at $32 million. Since these tax measures were not substantively enacted at the reporting date, no amount has been recognized in the Bank's consolidated financial statements as at October 31, 2022.

Event After the Consolidated Balance Sheet

Repurchase of Common Shares

On November 29, 2022, the Bank's Board of Directors approved a normal course issuer bid, beginning December 12, 2022, to repurchase for cancellation up to 7,000,000 common shares (representing approximately 2.08% of its outstanding common shares) over the 12-month period ending December 11, 2023. Any repurchase through the Toronto Stock Exchange will be done at market prices. The common shares may also be repurchased through other means authorized by the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable regulations, including private agreements or share repurchase programs under issuer bid exemption orders issued by the securities regulators. A private purchase made under an exemption order issued by a securities regulator will be done at a discount to the prevailing market price. The amounts that are paid above the average book value of the common shares are charged to Retained earnings. This normal course issuer bid is subject to the approval of OSFI and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Securitization and Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

In the normal course of business, the Bank is party to various financial arrangements that, under IFRS, are not required to be recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet or are recorded under amounts other than their notional or contractual values. These arrangements include, among others, transactions with structured entities, derivative financial instruments, the issuance of guarantees, credit instruments, and financial assets received as collateral.

Structured Entities

The Bank uses structured entities, among other means, to diversify its funding sources and to offer services to clients, in particular to help them securitize their financial assets or provide them with investment opportunities. Under IFRS, a structured entity must be consolidated if the Bank controls the entity. Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements describes the accounting policy and criteria used for consolidating structured entities. Additional information on consolidated and non-consolidated structured entities is provided in Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements.

Securitization of the Bank's Financial Assets

Mortgage Loans

The Bank participates in two Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) securitization programs: the Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Program under the National Housing Act (Canada) (NHA) and the Canada Mortgage Bond (CMB) Program. Under the first program, the Bank issues NHA securities backed by insured residential mortgage loans and, under the second, the Bank sells NHA securities to Canada Housing Trust (CHT), which finances the purchase through the issuance of mortgage bonds insured by CMHC. Moreover, these mortgage bonds feature an interest rate swap agreement under which a CMHC-certified counterparty pays CHT the interest due to investors and receives the interest on the NHA securities. As at October 31, 2022, the outstanding amount of NHA securities issued by the Bank and sold to CHT was $24.1 billion. The mortgage loans sold consist of fixed- or variable-rate residential loans that are insured against potential losses by a loan insurer. In accordance with the NHA-MBS Program, the Bank advances the funds required to cover late payments and, if necessary, obtains reimbursement from the insurer that insured the loan. The NHA-MBS and CMB programs do not use liquidity guarantee arrangements. The Bank uses these securitization programs mainly to diversify its funding sources. In accordance with IFRS, because the Bank retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the mortgage loans transferred to CHT, the derecognition criteria are not met. Therefore, the insured mortgage loans securitized under the CMB Program continue to be recognized in Loans on the Bank's Consolidated Balance Sheet, and the liabilities for the considerations received from the transfer are recognized in Liabilities related to transferred receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For additional information, see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

Credit Card Receivables

In April 2015, the Bank set up Canadian Credit Card Trust II (CCCT II) to continue its program of securitizing credit card receivables on a revolving basis . The Bank uses this entity for capital management and funding purposes. The Bank acts as the servicer of the receivables sold and maintains the client relationship. Furthermore, it administers the securitization program and ensures that all related procedures are stringently followed and that investors are paid according to the provisions of the program.

As at October 31, 2022, the credit card receivables portfolio held by CCCT II represented an amount outstanding of $2.1 billion. CCCT II issued notes to investors, $0.1 billion of which is held by third parties and $1.3 billion is held by the Bank. CCCT II also issued a bank certificate held by the Bank that stood at $0.7 billion as at October 31, 2022. New receivables are periodically sold to the structure on a revolving basis to replace the receivables reimbursed by clients.

The different series of notes are rated by the Fitch and DBRS Morningstar (DBRS) rating agencies. From this portfolio of sold receivables, the Bank retains the excess spread, i.e., the residual net interest income after all the expenses related to this structure have been paid, and thus provides first-loss protection. Furthermore, second-loss protection for issued series is provided by notes subordinated to the senior notes, representing 5.8% of the total amount of the series issued. The Bank controls CCCT II and thus consolidates it.

Securitization of Third-Party Financial Assets

The Bank administers multi-seller conduits that purchase financial assets from clients and finance those purchases by issuing commercial paper backed by the acquired assets. Clients use these multi-seller conduits to diversify their funding sources and reduce borrowing costs while continuing to service the financial assets and providing some amount of first-loss protection. Notes issued by the conduits and held by third parties provide additional credit loss protection. The Bank acts as a financial agent and provides administrative and transaction structuring services to these conduits. The Bank provides backstop liquidity and credit enhancement facilities under the commercial paper program. These facilities are presented and described in Notes 26 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements. The Bank has concluded derivative financial instrument contracts with these conduits, the fair value of which is presented on the Bank's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Bank is not required to consolidate these conduits, as it does not control them.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Bank uses various types of derivative financial instruments to meet its clients' needs, generate trading activity revenues, and manage its exposure to interest rate, foreign exchange and credit risk as well as other market risks. All derivative financial instruments are accounted for at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Transactions in derivative financial instruments are expressed as notional amounts. These amounts are not presented as assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. They represent the face amount of the contract to which a rate or price is applied to determine the amount of cash flows to be exchanged. Notes 1 and 16 to the consolidated financial statements provide additional information on the types of derivative financial instruments used by the Bank and their accounting basis.

Guarantees

In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into various guarantee contracts. The principal types of guarantees are letters of guarantee, backstop liquidity and credit enhancement facilities, certain securities lending activities, and certain indemnification agreements. Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements provides detailed information on these guarantees.

Credit Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into various off-balance-sheet credit commitments. The credit instruments used to meet the financing needs of its clients represent the maximum amount of additional credit that the Bank could be required to extend if the commitments were fully drawn. For additional information on these off-balance-sheet credit instruments and other items, see Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements.

Financial Assets Received as Collateral

In the normal course of business, the Bank receives financial assets as collateral as a result of transactions involving securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements, securities borrowing and lending agreements, and derivative financial instrument transactions. For additional information on financial assets received as collateral, see Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements.

Capital Management

Capital management has a dual role of ensuring a competitive return to the Bank's shareholders while maintaining a solid capital foundation that covers the risks inherent to the Bank's business activities, supports its business segments, and protects its clients.

Capital Management Framework

The Bank's capital management policy defines the guiding principles as well as the roles and responsibilities of its internal capital adequacy assessment process. This process aims to determine the capital level that the Bank needs to maintain to pursue its business activities and accommodate unexpected losses arising from extremely adverse economic and operational conditions. The Bank has implemented a rigorous internal capital adequacy assessment process that comprises the following procedures:

   --     conducting an overall risk assessment; 

-- measuring significant risks and the capital requirements related to the Bank's financial budget for the next fiscal year and current and prospective risk profiles;

-- integrating stress tests across the organization and executing sensitivity analyses to determine the capital buffer above minimum regulatory levels (for additional information on enterprise-wide stress testing, see the Risk Management section of this MD&A);

-- aggregating capital and monitoring the reasonableness of internal capital compared with regulatory capital;

-- comparing projected internal capital against regulatory capital levels, internal operating targets, and competing banks;

   --     attesting to the adequacy of the Bank's capital levels. 

Assessing capital adequacy is an integral part of capital planning and strategy. The Bank sets internal operating targets that include a discretionary cushion in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements, which provides a solid financial structure and sufficient capital to meet management's business needs in accordance with its risk appetite, along with competitive returns to shareholders, under both normal market conditions and a range of severe but plausible stress testing scenarios. The internal capital adequacy assessment process is a key tool in establishing the Bank's capital strategy and is subject to quarterly reviews and periodic amendments.

Risk-adjusted return on capital and shareholder value added (SVA), which are obtained from an assessment of required economic capital, are calculated quarterly for each of the Bank's business segments. The results are then used to guide management in allocating capital among the various business segments.

Structure and Governance

Along with its partners from Risk Management, the Global Funding and Treasury Group, and Finance, the Capital Management team is responsible for maintaining integrated control methods and processes so that an overall assessment of capital adequacy may be performed.

The Board oversees the structure and development of the Bank's capital management policy and ensures that the Bank maintains sufficient capital in accordance with regulatory requirements and in consideration of market conditions. The Board delegates certain responsibilities to the Risk Management Committee (RMC), which in turn recommends capital management policies and oversees application thereof. The Board, on the recommendation of the RMC, assumes the following responsibilities:

   --     reviewing and approving the capital management policy; 

-- reviewing and approving the Bank's risk appetite, including the main capital and risk targets and the corresponding limits;

-- reviewing and approving the capital plan and strategy on an annual basis, including the Bank's internal capital adequacy assessment process;

-- reviewing and approving the implementation of significant measures respecting capital, including contingency measures;

   --     reviewing significant capital disclosures, including Basel capital adequacy ratios; 
   --     ensuring the appropriateness of the regulatory capital adequacy assessment. 

The Senior Leadership Team is responsible for defining the Bank's strategy and plays a key role in guiding measures and decisions regarding capital. The Enterprise--Wide Risk Management Committee oversees capital management, which consists of reviewing the capital plan and strategy and implementing significant measures respecting capital, including contingency measures, and making recommendations with respect to these measures.

Basel Accord and Regulatory Environment

Basel Accord

The Basel Accord proposes a range of approaches of varying complexity, the choice of which determines the sensitivity of capital to risks. A less complex approach, such as the Standardized Approach, uses regulatory weightings, while a more complex approach uses the Bank's internal estimates of risk components to establish risk-weighted assets and calculate regulatory capital.

As required under Basel, risk-weighted assets (RWA) are calculated for each credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. The Bank uses the Advanced Internal Ratings-Based (AIRB) Approach for credit risk to determine minimum regulatory capital requirements for a majority of its portfolios. The credit risk of certain portfolios considered to be less significant is weighted according to the Basel Standardized Approach. The simple risk-weighted method is used to calculate the charge related to banking book equity securities. This method requires proactive management of the capital allocated to portfolios with banking book equity securities, since, beyond a certain investment threshold, the cost of regulatory capital becomes prohibitive. As for operational risk, the Bank uses the Standardized Approach. Market risk-weighted assets are primarily determined using the Internal Model-Based Approach, while the Standardized Approach is used to assess interest-rate specific risk.

With respect to the risk related to securitization operations, the capital treatment depends on the type of underlying exposures and on the information available about the exposures. The Bank must use the Securitization: Internal Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-IRBA) if it is able to apply an approved internal ratings-based model and has sufficient information to calculate the capital requirements for all underlying exposures in the securitization pool. Under this approach, RWA is derived from a combination of supervisory inputs and inputs specific to the securitization exposure, such as the implicit capital charge related to the underlying exposures, the credit enhancement level, the effective maturity, the number of exposures, and the weighted average loss given default (LGD).

If the Bank cannot use the SEC-IRBA, it must use the Securitization: External Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-ERBA) for the securitization exposures that are externally rated. This approach assigns risk weights to exposures using external ratings. The Bank uses the ratings assigned by Moody's, Standard & Poor's (S&P), Fitch, Kroll Bond Rating Agency, or DBRS or a combination of these ratings. The Bank uses the Securitization: Internal Assessment Approach (SEC-IAA) for unrated securitization exposures relating to the asset-backed commercial paper conduits it sponsors. The SEC-IAA rating methodologies used are mainly based on criteria published by the above-mentioned credit rating agencies and consider risk factors that the Bank deems relevant to assessing the credit quality of the exposures. The Bank's SEC-IAA includes an assessment of the extent by which the credit enhancement available for loss protection provides coverage of expected losses. The levels of stressed coverage the Bank requires for each internal risk rating are consistent with the requirements published by the rating agencies for equivalent external ratings by asset class. If the Bank cannot apply the SEC-ERBA or the SEC-IAA, it must use the supervisory formula under the Securitization Standardized Approach (SEC-SA). Under this approach, RWA is derived from inputs specific to the securitization exposure, such as the implicit capital charge related to the underlying exposures calculated under the standardized credit risk approach as well as credit enhancement and delinquency levels.

If none of the above approaches can be used, the securitization exposure must be assigned a risk weight of 1,250%. The Bank can apply a reduced capital charge for securitization exposures that meet the criteria of the Simple, Transparent and Comparable (STC) framework.

Capital ratios are calculated by dividing capital by risk-weighted assets. Credit, market, and operational risks are factored into the risk-weighted assets calculation for regulatory purposes. Basel rules apply at the consolidated level of the Bank. Assets of non-consolidated entities for regulatory purposes are therefore excluded from the risk-weighted assets calculation.

The definition adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) distinguishes between three types of capital. Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital consists of common shareholders' equity less goodwill, intangible assets, and other CET1 capital deductions. Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital consists of eligible non-cumulative preferred shares, limited recourse capital notes (LRCN), and other AT1 capital adjustments. The sum of CET1 and AT1 capital forms what is known as Tier 1 capital. Tier 2 capital consists of eligible subordinated debts and certain allowances for credit losses. Total regulatory capital is the sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital.

OSFI is responsible for applying the Basel Accord in Canada. As required under the Basel Accord, OSFI requires that recognized regulatory capital instruments other than common equity must have a non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) clause to ensure that investors bear losses before taxpayers should the government determine that it is in the public interest to rescue a non-viable financial institution. As at October 31, 2022, all of the Bank's regulatory capital instruments, other than common shares, have an NVCC clause. Furthermore, in the regulations of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) Act and the Bank Act (Canada), the Government of Canada has provided detailed information on conversion, issuance, and compensation regimes for bail-in instruments issued by Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) (collectively the Bail-In Regulations) . Pursuant to the CDIC Act, in circumstances where OSFI has determined that the Bank has ceased, or is about to cease, to be viable, the Governor in Council may, upon a Minister of Finance recommendation indicating that he or she believes that it is in the public interest to do so, grant an order directing CDIC to convert all or a portion of certain shares and liabilities of the Bank into common shares (a "Bail-In Conversion").

The Bail-In Regulations governing the conversion and issuance of bail-in instruments came into force on September 23, 2018, and those governing compensation for holders of converted instruments came into force on March 27, 2018. Any shares and liabilities issued before the date that the Bail-In Regulations came into force are not subject to a Bail-In Conversion, unless, in the case of a liability, the terms of said liability are, on or after that day, amended to increase its principal amount or to extend its term to maturity, and the liability, as amended, meets the requirements to be subject to a Bail-In Conversion.

The Bail-In Regulations prescribe the types of shares and liabilities that are subject to a Bail-In Conversion. In general, any senior debt securities with an initial or amended term-to-maturity greater than 400 days that are unsecured or partially secured and have been assigned a Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP), an International Securities Identification Number (ISIN), or similar identification number are subject to a Bail-In Conversion. However, certain other debt obligations of the Bank, such as structured notes (as defined in the Bail-In Regulations), covered bonds, deposits and certain derivative financial instruments, are not subject to a bail-in conversion.

The Bank and all other major Canadian banks have to maintain the following minimum capital ratios established by OSFI: a CET1 capital ratio of at least 10.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 12.0%, and a Total capital ratio of at least 14.0%. All of these ratios are to include a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% established by the BCBS and OSFI, a 1.0% surcharge applicable solely to D-SIBs, and a 2.5% domestic stability buffer established by OSFI. The domestic stability buffer, which varies from 0% to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, consists exclusively of CET1 capital. A D-SIB that fails to meet this buffer requirement is not subject to automatic constraints to reduce capital distributions but must provide a remediation plan to OSFI. The banks also have to meet the capital floor that sets the regulatory capital level according to the Basel II Standardized Approach. If the capital requirement under Basel III is less than 70% of the capital requirement as calculated under Basel II, the difference is added to risk-weighted assets. OSFI requires Canadian banks to meet a Basel III leverage ratio of at least 3.0%. The leverage ratio is a measure independent of risk that is calculated by dividing the amount of Tier 1 capital by total exposure. Total exposure is defined as the sum of on-balance-sheet assets (including derivative financial instruments exposures and securities financing transaction exposures) and off--balance-sheet items. The assets deducted from Tier 1 capital are also deducted from total exposure.

OSFI's Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC) Guideline, which applies to all D-SIBs under the federal government's bail-in regulations, is to ensure that a D-SIB has sufficient loss-absorbing capacity to support its recapitalization in the unlikely event it becomes non-viable. Available TLAC includes total capital as well as certain senior unsecured debts that satisfy all of the eligibility criteria of OSFI's TLAC guideline. Since November 1, 2021, OSFI has been requiring D-SIBs to maintain a risk-based TLAC ratio of at least 24.0% (including the domestic stability buffer) of risk-weighted assets and a TLAC leverage ratio of at least 6.75%. The TLAC ratio is calculated by dividing available TLAC by risk--weighted assets, and the TLAC leverage ratio is calculated by dividing available TLAC by total exposure. As at October 31, 2022, outstanding liabilities of $13.9 billion ($11.9 billion as at October 31, 2021) were subject to conversion under the Bail-In Regulations.

Requirements - Regulatory Capital, Leverage, and TLAC Ratios

 
                                                                      As at October 31, 2022 
 =========  =======   ============   =======   =========   ================================= 
 
                                                                                     Minimum 
                                                                                      set by 
                                                                                    OSFI (1) 
                                                                                 , including 
                                                           Minimum    Domestic           the 
                           Capital   Minimum                set by   stability      domestic 
                      conservation    set by       D-SIB      OSFI      buffer     stability 
            Minimum         buffer      BCBS   surcharge       (1)         (2)        buffer 
----------  -------   ------------   -------   ---------   -------   ---------   ----------- 
 
Capital 
ratios 
 
 CET1           4.5  %         2.5  %    7.0  %      1.0  %    8.0  %      2.5  % 10.5     % 
 
 Tier 1         6.0  %         2.5  %    8.5  %      1.0  %    9.5  %      2.5  % 12.0     % 
 
 Total          8.0  %         2.5  %   10.5  %      1.0  %   11.5  %      2.5  % 14.0     % 
 ---------  -------   ------------   -------   ---------   -------   ---------   -----  ---- 
Leverage 
 ratio          3.0  %        n.a.       3.0  %     n.a.       3.0  %     n.a.     3.0     % 
----------  -------   ------------   -------   ---------   -------   ---------   -----  ---- 
 
TLAC ratio     21.5  %        n.a.      21.5  %     n.a.      21.5  %      2.5  % 24.0   % 
----------  -------   ------------   -------   ---------   -------   ---------   -----  ---- 
TLAC 
 leverage 
 ratio         6.75  %        n.a.      6.75  %     n.a.      6.75  %     n.a.    6.75   % 
==========  =======   ============   =======   =========   =======   =========   =====  ==== 
 
   n.a.     Not applicable 

(1) The capital ratios and the TLAC ratio include the capital conservation buffer and the D-SIB surcharge.

(2) On June 22, 2022, OSFI confirmed that the domestic stability buffer was being maintained at 2.5%.

The Bank ensures that its capital levels are always above the minimum capital requirements set by OSFI, including the domestic stability buffer. By maintaining a strong capital structure, the Bank can cover the risks inherent to its business activities, support its business segments, and protect its clients.

Other disclosure requirements pursuant to Pillar 3 of the Basel Accord and a set of recommendations defined by the EDTF are presented in the Supplementary Regulatory Capital and Pillar 3 Disclosure report published quarterly and available on the Bank's website at nbc.ca. Furthermore, a complete list of capital instruments and their main features is also available on the Bank's website.

Regulatory Context

The Bank closely monitors regulatory developments and participates actively in various consultative processes. In response to the impact of the COVID--19 pandemic, on March 27, 2020 OSFI had announced a series of regulatory adjustments to support the financial and operational resilience of banks. The measures announced by OSFI that have continued to have an impact on the Bank for the year ended October 31, 2022 are described below. Also presented below are brief descriptions of ongoing regulatory projects.

COVID-19 relief measures still in effect as at October 31, 2022:

-- Treatment of regulatory capital for expected credit loss accounting purposes: OSFI introduced transitional arrangements applicable to the ECL provisioning method set out in the Basel framework. Under the arrangements, a portion of allowances that would otherwise have been included in Tier 2 capital is included in CET1 capital. The increased amount is adjusted for tax effects and multiplied by a scaling factor that decreases over time. The scaling factor was set at 70% for fiscal 2020, at 50% for fiscal 2021, and at 25% for fiscal 2022. These arrangements ceased to apply on November 1, 2022.

-- Capital floor: OSFI lowered the floor factor from 75% to 70%, which will stay in place until the domestic implementation of the Basel III capital floor comes into effect in the second quarter of 2023.

-- Leverage ratio: OSFI is continuing to allow banks to temporarily exclude exposures from central bank reserves for leverage ratio purposes. On September 13, 2022, OSFI announced that this temporary exclusion will cease to apply on April 1, 2023.

Basel III Reform

In December 2017, the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), which oversees the BCBS, endorsed the outstanding Basel III post-crisis regulatory reforms. The purpose of the approved reforms, set out in Basel III: Finalising Post-Crisis Reforms, is to reduce excessive variability in risk-weighted assets and improve comparability and transparency among bank capital ratios.

On March 27, 2020, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , GHOS announced a postponement to the implementation of the Basel III international capital standard reform. OSFI therefore postponed, until the first quarter of 2023, the implementation of the Standardized Approach and Advanced IRB Approach to credit risk, the revision of the operational risk framework and of the leverage ratio framework, and the introduction of a more risk-sensitive capital floor. Implementation of the Pillar 3 financial disclosure requirements finalized by the BCBS in December 2018 was also postponed until at least the first quarter of 2023. On November 29, 2021, OSFI postponed the implementation of the above-mentioned Basel III reform items to the second quarter of 2023. Lastly, implementation of the final set of revisions to the new market risk framework, entitled Fundamental Review of the Trading Book and published in January 2019, and implementation of the revised credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk framework are being postponed to the first quarter of 2024.

On January 31, 2022, OSFI released its final capital and liquidity rules that incorporate the final Basel III reforms, and o n February 7, 2022, OSFI published corresponding changes to the regulatory returns, i.e., the Basel Capital Adequacy Return (BCAR) and the Leverage Requirements Return (LRR).

Other Projects

On March 31, 2022, OSFI released, for consultation purposes, a draft guideline entitled Assurance on Capital, Leverage and Liquidity Returns. OSFI relies largely on the regulatory returns produced by financial institutions when assessing their safety and soundness. The purpose of this draft guideline is to better inform auditors and institutions on the work to be performed on regulatory returns in order to clarify and align OSFI's assurance expectations across all financial institutions. On November 7, 2022, OSFI released the final version of this guideline, which notably addresses the assurance that must be provided by external auditors, senior management attestation, the assurance that must be provided by internal auditors, and the effective dates, which will range from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2025.

On June 30, 2022, the BCBS published its second public consultation on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset risk exposures faced by banks. This consultation builds on preliminary proposals from the first consultation published in June 2021 and the responses received. The BCBS plans to finalize the standards by the end of 2022. The Bank is actively participating in this consultation. On August 18, 2022, OSFI released an advisory on interim arrangements for dealing with cryptoassets held by federally regulated financial institutions, which outlines its prudential expectations on cryptoasset holdings and sets exposure limits. OSFI also provided guidance on the regulatory capital and liquidity treatment of cryptoasset exposures. These interim arrangements will take effect in the second quarter of 2023.

Capital Management in 2022

Management Activities

On November 4, 2021, OSFI amended its capital distribution expectations, namely, by permitting financial institutions to increase regular dividends and, subject to OSFI approval, to buy back shares.

On November 30, 2021, the Bank's Board of Directors approved a normal course issuer bid, which began on December 10, 2021, to repurchase for cancellation up to 7,000,000 common shares (representing approximately 2% of its common shares outstanding) over a 12-month period ending no later than December 9, 2022. This normal course issuer bid was approved by OSFI and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on December 8, 2021. During the year ended October 31, 2022, the Bank repurchased 2,500,000 common shares under this program for $245 million, which reduced Common share capital by $24 million and Retained earnings by $221 million.

On July 25, 2022, the Bank issued medium-term notes for an amount of $750 million, bearing interest at 5.426% and maturing on August 16, 2032. As these medium-term notes satisfy the NVCC requirements, they qualify for the purposes of calculating regulatory capital under Basel III.

On August 31, 2022, the Bank redeemed the US$7 million non-NVCC debentures denominated in foreign currency and maturing on February 28, 2087 at a price equal to their nominal value plus accrued interest.

On September 8, 2022, the Bank issued $500 million of LRCN - Series 3 for which noteholder recourse is limited to the assets held by an independent trustee in a consolidated limited recourse trust. The trust's assets consist of $500 million of Series 46 First Preferred Shares issued by the Bank in conjunction with the LRCN - Series 3. The LRCN - Series 3 sell for $1,000 each and bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.50% per annum until November 16, 2027 exclusively and, thereafter, at an annual rate equal to the yield on five-year Government of Canada bonds plus 4.281% until November 16, 2077. Since the LRCN - Series 3 satisfy the NVCC requirements, they qualify for the purposes of calculating regulatory capital under Basel III.

As at October 31, 2022, the Bank had 336,582,124 issued and outstanding common shares compared to 337,912,283 a year earlier. It also had 66,000,000 issued and outstanding preferred shares, unchanged from October 31, 2021. In addition, as at October 31, 2022, the Bank had 1,500,000 LRCN compared to 1,000,000 a year earlier. For additional information on capital instruments, see Notes 15 and 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

Dividends

The Bank's strategy for common share dividends is to aim for a dividend payout ratio of between 40% and 50% of net income attributable to common shareholders, taking into account such factors as financial position, cash needs, regulatory requirements, and any other factor deemed relevant by the Board.

For fiscal 2022, the Bank declared $1,206 million in dividends to common shareholders, which represents 36.8% of net income attributable to common shareholders (2021: 31.7%). The declared dividends are below the target payout range given the interruption to dividend increases prescribed by OSFI at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSFI has only been allowing Canadian banks to make capital distribution decisions, i.e., dividend increases and share buybacks, since November 4, 2021. Given the economic conditions during fiscal 2022, the Bank has taken a prudent approach to managing regulatory capital and remains confident in its ability to increase earnings going forward.

Shares , Other Equity Instruments, and Stock Options

 
                                 As at October 31, 2022 
==========================   ========================== 
                                   Number of 
                              shares or LRCN  $ million 
==========================   ===============  ========= 
 
First preferred shares 
 Series 30                        14,000,000        350 
 Series 32                        12,000,000        300 
 Series 38                        16,000,000        400 
 Series 40                        12,000,000        300 
 Series 42                        12,000,000        300 
 --------------------------  ---------------  --------- 
                                  66,000,000      1,650 
  -------------------------  ---------------  --------- 
Other equity instruments 
 LRCN - Series 1                     500,000        500 
 LRCN - Series 2                     500,000        500 
 LRCN - Series 3                     500,000        500 
 --------------------------  ---------------  --------- 
                                   1,500,000      1,500 
  -------------------------  ---------------  --------- 
                                  67,500,000      3,150 
  -------------------------  ---------------  --------- 
Common shares                    336,582,124      3,196 
--------------------------   ---------------  --------- 
Stock options                     11,861,749 
==========================   ===============  ========= 
 

As at November 25, 2022, there were 336,734,809 common shares and 11,714,314 stock options outstanding. NVCC provisions require the conversion of capital instruments into a variable number of common shares should OSFI deem a bank to be non-viable or should the government publicly announce that a bank has accepted or agreed to accept an injection of capital. If an NVCC trigger event were to occur, all of the Bank's preferred shares, LRCNs, and medium-term notes maturing on February 1, 2028 and August 16, 2032, which are NVCC capital instruments, would be converted into common shares of the Bank according to an automatic conversion formula at a conversion price corresponding to the greater of the following amounts: (i) a $5.00 contractual floor price; or (ii) the market price of the Bank's common shares on the date of the trigger event (10-day weighted average price). Based on a $5.00 floor price and including an estimate for accrued dividends and interest, these NVCC capital instruments would be converted into a maximum of 1,093 million Bank common shares, which would have a 76.5% dilutive effect based on the number of Bank common shares outstanding as at October 31, 2022.

Regulatory Capital Ratios, Leverage Ratio and TLAC Ratios

As at October 31, 2022, the Bank's CET1, Tier 1, and Total capital ratios were, respectively, 12.7 %, 15.4 % and 16.9 %, compared to ratios of, respectively, 12.4%, 15.0% and 15.9% as at October 31, 2021. All of the capital ratios have therefore increased since October 31, 2021, essentially due to net income net of dividends and to common share issuances under the Stock Option Plan. These factors were partly offset by growth in RWA, common share repurchases, and the impact of the transitional measures applicable to ECL provisioning, of which the scaling factor decreased from 50% to 25%. The increase in the Tier 1 capital ratio was also due to the $500 million issuance of limited recourse capital notes, i.e., Limited Recourse Capital Notes (LRCN) - Series 3, on September 8, 2022. The increase in the Total capital ratio was also due to the $750 million issuance of medium-term notes on July 25, 2022. As at October 31, 2022, the leverage ratio was 4.5 % compared to 4.4 % as at October 31, 2021. The growth in Tier 1 capital was partly offset by growth in total exposure, which will continue to benefit, until April 1, 2023, from the temporary measure permitted by OSFI with respect to the exclusion of exposures from central bank reserves.

As at October 31, 2022, the Bank's TLAC ratio and TLAC leverage ratio were, respectively, 27.7% and 8.1%, compared with 26.3% and 7.8%, respectively, as at October 31, 2021. The increase in the TLAC ratio was due to the same factors as those provided for the Total capital ratio and to the net TLAC instrument issuances during the period. The increase in the TLAC leverage ratio was due to the same factors as those provided for the leverage ratio and to the net TLAC instrument issuances.

During the year ended October 31, 2022, the Bank was in compliance with all of OSFI's regulatory capital, leverage, and TLAC requirements.

Regulatory Capital (1) , Leverage Ratio (1) and TLAC (2)

 
As at October 31 
 (millions of Canadian dollars)                          2022                            2021 
=================================      ========       =======       ===========       ======= 
                                       Adjusted 
                                            (3)                     Adjusted(3) 
 ================================      ========       =======       ===========       ======= 
 
Capital 
 CET1                                    14,763        14,818            12,866        12,973 
 Tier 1                                  17,906        17,961            15,515        15,622 
 Total                                   19,727        19,727            16,643        16,643 
 ------------------------------------  --------       -------       -----------       ------- 
 
Risk-weighted assets                    116,840       116,840           104,358       104,358 
                                       --------       -------       -----------       ------- 
Total exposure                          401,780       401,780           351,160       351,160 
---------------------------------      --------       -------       -----------       ------- 
 
Capital ratios 
 
 CET1                                      12.6   %      12.7   %          12.3%         12.4% 
 
 Tier 1                                    15.3   %      15.4   %          14.9%         15.0% 
 
 Total                                     16.9   %      16.9   %          15.9%         15.9% 
 ------------------------------------  --------       -------       -----------       ------- 
 
 
Leverage ratio                              4.5   %       4.5   %           4.4%          4.4% 
---------------------------------      --------       -------       -----------       ------- 
Available TLAC (2)                       32,351        32,351            27,492        27,492 
 
TLAC ratio (2)                             27.7   %      27.7   %          26.3%         26.3% 
 
TLAC leverage ratio (2)                     8.1   %       8.1   %           7.8%          7.8% 
=================================      ========       =======       ===========       ======= 
 

(1) Capital, risk-weighted assets, total exposure, the capital ratios, and the leverage ratio are calculated in accordance with the Basel III rules, as set out in OSFI's Capital Adequacy Requirements Guideline and Leverage Requirements Guideline.

(2) Available TLAC, the TLAC ratio, and the TLAC leverage ratio are calculated in accordance with OSFI's Total Loss Absorbing Capacity Guideline.

(3) Adjusted amounts are calculated in accordance with the Basel III rules, as set out in OSFI's Capital Adequacy Requirements Guideline, and exclude the transitional measure for provisioning expected credit losses.

Movement in Regulatory Capital (1)

 
Year ended October 31 
(millions of Canadian dollars)                                    2022     2021 
=============================================================  =======  ======= 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital 
Balance at beginning                                            12,973   11,167 
 Issuance of common shares (including Stock Option Plan)            54       93 
 Impact of shares purchased or sold for trading                    (1)      (1) 
 Repurchase of common shares                                     (245)        - 
 Other contributed surplus                                          16       11 
 Dividends on preferred and common shares and distributions 
  on other equity instruments                                  (1,325)  (1,089) 
 
 Net income attributable to the Bank's shareholders and 
  holders of other equity instruments                            3,384    3,140 
 Common share capital issued by subsidiaries and held 
  by third parties                                                   -        - 
 Removal of own credit spread net of income taxes                (733)     (20) 
 Other                                                             448      496 
 
 Movements in accumulated other comprehensive income 
  Translation adjustments                                          333    (190) 
  Debt securities at fair value through other comprehensive 
   income                                                        (105)     (30) 
  Other                                                            (2)        - 
 
 Change in goodwill and intangible assets (net of related 
  tax liability)                                                  (67)     (73) 
 Other, including regulatory adjustments and transitional 
  arrangements 
  Change in defined benefit pension plan asset (net of 
   related tax liability)                                          145    (402) 
  Change in amount exceeding 15% threshold 
   Deferred tax assets                                               -        - 
   Significant investment in common shares of financial 
    institutions                                                     -        - 
  Deferred tax assets, unless they result from temporary 
   differences (net of related tax liability)                      (5)        7 
  Other deductions of regulatory adjustments to CET1 
   implemented by OSFI(2)                                         (52)    (136) 
  Change in other regulatory adjustments                             -        - 
  -----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Balance at end                                                  14,818   12,973 
-------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Additional Tier 1 capital 
Balance at beginning                                             2,649    2,945 
 New Tier 1 eligible capital issuances                             500      500 
 Redeemed capital                                                    -    (800) 
 Change in non-qualifying Additional Tier 1 capital subject 
  to phase-out                                                       -        - 
 Other, including regulatory adjustments and transitional 
  arrangements                                                     (6)        4 
 ------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Balance at end                                                   3,143    2,649 
-------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Total Tier 1 capital                                            17,961   15,622 
-------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Tier 2 capital 
Balance at beginning                                             1,021    1,055 
 New Tier 2 eligible capital issuances                             750        - 
 Redeemed capital                                                    -        - 
 Change in non-qualifying Tier 2 subject to phase-out                -        - 
 Tier 2 instruments issued by subsidiaries and held by 
  third parties                                                      -        - 
 Change in certain allowances for credit losses                     21       20 
 Other, including regulatory adjustments and transitional 
  arrangements                                                    (26)     (54) 
 ------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Balance at end                                                   1,766    1,021 
-------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Total regulatory capital                                        19,727   16,643 
=============================================================  =======  ======= 
 

(1) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

(2) This item includes the transitional measure applicable to expected credit loss provisioning implemented during the second quarter of 2020.

RWA by Key Risk Drivers

Risk-weighted assets (RWA) amounted to $116.8 billion as at October 31, 2022 compared to $104.4 billion as at October 31, 2021, a $12.4 billion increase resulting mainly from organic growth in RWA and from foreign exchange movements, partly offset by improvement in the credit quality of the loan portfolio and of exposures to derivative financial instruments, and by model updates and methodology and policy changes. Changes in the Bank's RWA by risk type are presented in the following table.

Risk-Weighted Assets Movement by Key Drivers (1)

 
Quarter ended 
                                         October  July 31,      April    January    October 
(millions of Canadian dollars)          31, 2022      2022   30, 2022   31, 2022   31, 2021 
=====================================  =========  ========  =========  =========  ========= 
                                           Total     Total      Total      Total      Total 
  ===================================  =========  ========  =========  =========  ========= 
 
Credit risk - Risk-weighted assets 
at beginning                              91,229    88,878     88,889     87,213     85,914 
 Book size                                 2,405     2,500      1,780      1,002      1,944 
 Book quality                                 93      (59)    (1,397)       (22)      (430) 
 Model updates                               300        13      (666)         29        (7) 
 Methodology and policy                      339         -          -          -          - 
 Acquisitions and disposals                    -         -          -          -          - 
 Foreign exchange movements                1,775     (103)        272        667      (208) 
 ------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Credit risk - Risk-weighted assets 
at end                                    96,141    91,229     88,878     88,889     87,213 
-------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
Market risk - Risk-weighted assets 
at beginning                               5,696     4,453      3,498      3,770      4,072 
 Movement in risk levels (2)                 329     1,243        542      (272)      (302) 
 Model updates                                 -         -        413          -          - 
 Methodology and policy                        -         -          -          -          - 
 Acquisitions and disposals                    -         -          -          -          - 
 ------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Market risk - Risk-weighted assets 
at end                                     6,025     5,696      4,453      3,498      3,770 
-------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
Operational risk - Risk-weighted 
 assets at beginning                      14,452    14,147     13,781     13,375     13,153 
 Movement in risk levels                     222       305        366        406        222 
 Acquisitions and disposals                    -         -          -          -          - 
 ------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Operational risk - Risk-weighted 
 assets at end                            14,674    14,452     14,147     13,781     13,375 
-------------------------------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
Risk-weighted assets at end              116,840   111,377    107,478    106,168    104,358 
=====================================  =========  ========  =========  =========  ========= 
 

(1) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

   (2)       Also includes foreign exchange rate movements that are not considered material. 

The table above provides the risk-weighted assets movements by key drivers underlying the different risk categories.

The Book size item reflects organic changes in book size and composition (including new loans and maturing loans). RWA movements attributable to book size include increases or decreases in exposures, measured by exposure at default, assuming a stable risk profile.

The Book quality item is the Bank's best estimate of changes in book quality related to experience, such as underlying customer behaviour or demographics, including changes resulting from model recalibrations or realignments and also including risk mitigation factors.

The Model updates item is used to reflect implementations of new models, changes in model scope, and any other change applied to address model malfunctions. During the year ended October 31, 2022, the Bank updated the models used for retail lines of credit, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and certain non-retail exposures. It also changed the SVaR period of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) to the 2020 COVID-19 period at the start of the second quarter of 2022 and then returned to the 2008 GFC period towards the end of the same quarter. Lastly, the Bank transitioned a retail loan portfolio from the Standardized Approach to the Advanced Internal Ratings-Based (AIRB) Approach for measuring credit risk.

The Methodology and policy item presents the impact of changes in calculation methods resulting from changes in regulatory policies or from new regulations. During the year ended October 31, 2022, the Bank decided to early adopt the Basel III reform requirements related to risk parameter floors for certain exposures calculated using the Internal Ratings-Based Approach for credit risk.

Allocation of Economic Capital and Regulatory RWA

Economic capital is an internal measure that the Bank uses to determine the capital it needs to remain solvent and to pursue its business operations. Economic capital takes into consideration the credit, market, operational, business, and other risks to which the Bank is exposed as well as the risk diversification effect among them and among the business segments. Economic capital thus helps the Bank to determine the capital required to protect itself against such risks and ensure its long-term viability. The by-segment allocation of economic capital and regulatory RWA was carried out on a stand-alone basis before attribution of goodwill and intangible assets. The method used to assess economic capital is reviewed regularly in order to accurately quantify these risks.

The Risk Management section of this MD&A provides comprehensive information about the main types of risk. The "Other risks" presented below include risks such as business risk and structural interest rate risk in addition to the benefit of diversification among types of risk.

Allocation of Risks by Business Segment

As at October 31, 2022

(millions of Canadian dollars)

 
 
 
 
 
       Business               Personal                Wealth Management               Financial                             U.S. Specialty                                 Other 
       segments            and Commercial                                              Markets                                Finance and 
                                                                                                                             International 
 
          Major        Banking services             Full-service                Equities,                   U.S. Specialty                                       Treasury 
     activities         Credit services              brokerage                   fixed-income,               Finance                                              activities 
                        Financing                    Private banking             commodities                  *    Credigy                                        Liquidity 
                        Investment                   Direct brokerage            and foreign                                                                      management 
                        solutions                    Investment                  exchange                                                                         Bank funding 
                        Insurance                    solutions                   Corporate                   International                                        Asset and 
                                                     Administrative              banking                      *    ABA Bank (Cambodia)                            liability 
                                                     and trade                   Investment                                                                       management 
                                                     execution                   banking                                                                          Corporate 
                                                     services                                                 *    Minority interests in emerging markets         units 
                                                     Transaction                                                                                                  Fintech services 
                                                     products                                                                                                      *    Flinks 
                                                     for advisors 
                                                     Trust and 
                                                     estate services 
                      -----------------------      ----------------------      ----------------------      -----------------------------------------------      -------------------------- 
 
       Economic 
        capital 
        by type 
        of risk        Credit           3,120       Credit             74       Credit          2,686       Credit                                   1,177       Credit                134 
    Market                                  -        Market             -        Market           324        Market                                      -        Market              (91) 
    Operational                           459        Operational      299        Operational      350        Operational                               134        Operational         (56) 
    Other                                            Other                       Other                       Other                                                Other 
     risks                                282         risks           475         risks           765         risks                                     72         risks             (557) 
  ----------------------------------               -------------               -------------               -------------------------                            ------------- 
   Total                                3,861       Total             848       Total           4,125       Total                                    1,383       Total               (570) 
  ----------------------------------  -------      -------------  -------      -------------  -------      -------------------------  --------------------      -------------  ----------- 
 
       Credit                          41,500       Credit          1,529       Credit         32,557       Credit                                  14,199       Credit              6,356 
    Market                                  -        Market             -        Market         5,891        Market                                      -        Market               134 
                         Operational    5,661        Operational    3,711        Operational    4,321        Operational                             1,677        Operational        (696) 
                       -------------               -------------               -------------               -------------------------                            ------------- 
       Risk-weighted 
              assets 
                 (1)    Total          47,161       Total           5,240       Total          42,769       Total                                   15,876       Total          5,794 
                       -------------  -------      -------------  -------      -------------  -------      -------------------------  --------------------      -------------  ----------- 
 

(1) See the Financial Reporting Method section on pages 16 to 21 for additional information on capital management measures.

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