Bank of Kigali has registered growth of 15.3 per cent in its gross loans and a 31.1 per cent quarter on quarter and year on year respectively to Rwf 172.0 billion, a move that pushed up net interest income by 36.2 per cent.  BK Chief Finance Officer John Bugunya said that the gross loan book increased by 62 per cent year to date to Rwf 55.4 per cent due to increased mortgage and consumer lending, while corporate gross loan book increased by 20.7 per cent to Rwf 116.6 billion in September 2012. "The last nine months have been good for us in terms of performance balance sheet growth and return to shareholders,” he told Business Times on Friday.  Accordingly, net loans increased by 15.5 per cent quarter on quarter as of September this year,  while year on year growth registered 31.5 per cent  to Rwf 164.7 per cent with net loans/ total assets  ratio growing to 52.9 per cent at the same period up from 45.8 per cent in September last year.Bugunya noted, "What we take pride in is that we are growing and remain profitable, which is not the case with many companies.” He added that despite this growth, the bank has been able to earn profits for its shareholders.The bank also registered net income of Rwf 8.9 billion by September 2012 with net interest income growth of 36.2 per cent year on year to Rwf 15.8 billion in the first nine months of the year."We are pleased with the bank’s performance to date as well as our performance this quarter…..this is a step towards realisation of our universal banking strategy,” James Gatera, chief Executive Officer  told Business Times. Meanwhile, net interest margin grew to 8.6per cent in the month of September this year up from 8.0 per cent at the same period in 2011.  At the same period under review, the bank launched VISA classic credit cards for the mass market further expanding its focus on the retail market."We have aggressively invested in the distribution channel, expanded in terms of head count; so the bank has significantly grown,” he added.Total operating costs increased by 28.7 per cent year on year to Rwf 13.9 billion resulting to an increase in the cost/income ratio to 52.5 per cent in September 2012 compared to 47.3 per cent during the same period last year.He said that client balances and deposits reached Rwf 203.0 billion declining by 3.2 per cent quarter on quarter before going up 17.4 per cent year on year while shareholders’ equity  equaled Rwf 66.0 billion up 4.4 per cent quarter  on quarter and up to 14.7 per cent  year on year  in the month of September this year.Liquid assets divided by total deposits stood at 49.2 per cent as of September 2012, down from 58.8 per cent in June, this year, while net fee and commission income amounted to Rwf 4.4 billion up 51.7 per cent.Net fee and commission income to total operating income (revenue) improved to 16.4 per cent in September 2012, up from 13.8 per cent in the same period 2011.The growth in loans, experts say, indicates that the banking sector has increased lending to private sector, an outlook that is likely to translate into access to finance  needed to boost the country’s growing economy.