The Financial Post reports in its Saturday, Dec. 9, edition that CWB Financial Group raised its dividend as it reported its fourth quarter profit rose compared with a year ago. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that the Edmonton-based bank says it will pay a quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share, an increase of a penny. The higher payment to shareholders came as CWB Financial says its common shareholders' net income totalled $76.8-million or 80 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31. That was up from $67.7-million or 72 cents per diluted share a year earlier. Revenue totalled $291.8-million, up from $279.8-million in the same quarter last year. CWB Financial reported a provision for credit losses of $9.8-million for its fourth quarter compared with $12.2-million in the same quarter a year ago. On an adjusted basis, CWB Financial says it earned 94 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 88 cents per share a year earlier. CWB Financial chief executive officer Chris Fowler said in statement, "We expect to maintain strong financial results in fiscal 2024 against continued volatility in economic and market conditions."