SIBU: Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd (Bank Rakyat) is on track to achieve its 2012 target of RM2 billion in pre-tax profit and zakat.

Chairman Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik said the optimism was based on the bank's nine-month performance ended Sept 30, 2012 of RM1.62 billion.

This was an increase of 8.1 per cent over the same period in 2011 where it posted RM1.5 billion, he said at the bank's appreciation night for customers and depositors here yesterday.

He said the bank had assets now totalling RM77 billion up to September last year.

"Our sterling performance has been acknowledged by the Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia(AIBIM) and we have been recognised as the most profitable Islamic bank for the year 2010/2011.

"In conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2012, Bank Rakyat has also won the Most Outstanding Islamic Retail Banking Award," he added.

Sabbaruddin said that in the "Banker 1,000 Outstanding World Banks 2012 Report", Bank Rakyat is the country's top bank in respect of Return On Assets(ROA).

"I hope we will continue with this proud tradition and splendid performance in the years to come with the strong support of all concerned," he added.

Meanwhile, he said Bank Rakyat would launch its mobile bank programme in Sabah and Sarawak, within this year.

He said the first mobile bank was launched in Felda Bukit Mendi, Bera in Pahang, in early January this year.

"We have now three such facilities in Peninsular Malaysia and these will be increased to seven," he added.

Sabbarudin said Bank Rakyat had now 140 branches nationwide, with 14 in Sarawak.

Bank Rakyat has more than 600 Automated Teller Machines(ATM) and Cash Deposit Machines(CDM) Machines besides 38 Ar-Rahnu(pawn broking) X'Change.-- Bernama