April 28 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX :
* WESTPAC ANNOUNCES $2.2BN FIRST HALF 2020 IMPAIRMENT CHARGE
* ANNOUNCED THAT IMPAIRMENT CHARGES IN ITS FIRST HALF 2020 (1H20) RESULT ARE EXPECTED TO BE $2,238 MILLION (PRE-TAX)
* CHARGE INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $0.6 BILLION FROM INDIVIDUALLY ASSESSED PROVISIONS AND NET WRITE-OFFS
* 1H20 IMPAIRMENT CHARGE OF $2,238 MILLION EQUATES TO ABOUT 62 BASIS POINTS OF GROSS LOANS (ANNUALISED)
* CET1 CAPITAL RATIO AT 31 MARCH 2020 IS EXPECTED TO BE 10.8%
* SEES ABOUT $1.6 BILLION OF ADDITIONAL IMPAIRMENT CHARGES PREDOMINANTLY RELATED TO COVID-19 IMPACTS
* 1.6 BILLION ADDITION TO IMPAIRMENT CHARGE HAS A RELATIVELY SMALL IMPACT ON COMMON EQUITY TIER 1 CAPITAL RATIO CAPITAL (11 BASIS POINT DECREASE)