Heartland lifts annual profit 12% on expanding loan book

Heartland lifts annual profit 12% on expanding loan book
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Aug. 14 (BusinessDesk) - Heartland Bank boosted annual profit 12 percent as the country's only locally-owned and listed bank managed to maintain relatively wide margins while expanding its loan book across all three of its main target sectors.  Net profit rose to $60.8 million, or 12 cents per share, in the 12 months ended June 30 from $54.2 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. That was in line with analysts' expectations with First NZ Capital predicting profit of $60.2 milli...