Hot on the heels of DBS Group Holdings’ (SGX: D05) full-year earnings release, a second local bank, OCBC Ltd (SGX: O39), has also released its full-year financial report card. Banks provide a window into how economies are doing as they keep a close eye on businesses’ financial health. Reading the commentaries from bank CEOs gives investors insights into how companies are coping with the pandemic and whether they are still under stress. Like DBS, OCBC also shouldered the weight of increased allowances that eroded its bottom line. Another shared opinion with DBS was OCBC’s expectation that 2021 may turn out better than expected. Here are five highlights that investors should take note of for the bank’s full-year earnings. Weaker revenue and profit before allowances With lower global interest rates, OCBC’s net interest income fell by 5.8% year on year to around S$6 billion. Non-interest income came in at S$4.2 billion, 8.1% lower compared to a year ago, leading to a 6.7% year...