The bank said write-downs were “significantly lower” than in the same three months of 2012, even though they rose slightly compared to the third quarter of 2013.
The improvement was “mainly due to reductions in the shipping and energy segments.”
It reversed collective impairment losses of NOK 200m ($32.23m) in the quarter, “partly reflecting improved conditions in the shipping segment.”
DNB said last year that provisions for marine loans were expected to be below its previously announced range of NOK1bn to NOK 1.5bn for 2013.
The group recorded overall profit of NOK 17.52bn over the whole year, up NOK 3.73bn from 2012.
Net non-performing and doubtful loans and guarantees amounted to NOK 14.9bn, up NOK 1bn from the end of 2012, but down NOK 1.9bn from the end of September last year.
It said: “The changes were mainly attributable to a few large shipping loans which are being closely monitored.
“The situation in the shipping sector remains challenging, though 2013 turned out somewhat better than expected. A cautious upturn is anticipated in the shipping markets over the coming years.”
Bulker and tanker markets have improved, but 2013 was a “challenging” year for boxships due to sluggish growth in exports from Europe and the US, and the situation will probably remain unchanged in 2014, the bank predicted.
