Access Holdings posts N1tn PBT, equity hits N4.33tn

Access Holdings Plc’s audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025 revealed a fortress-like balance sheet, with shareholders’ funds climbing 15 per cent to N4.33tn, signalling a definitive shift in its corporate evolution, moving away from a decade of aggressive expansion towards a model centred on “value over scale”.

The Group’s Profit Before Tax crossed the N1tn threshold for the first time, settling at N1.01tn. This 16.2 per cent increase from the previous year highlights a resilient performance despite a transitional and often volatile global operating environment.

While the banking subsidiary remains the primary engine, contributing 97 per cent of total revenue, the 2025 results highlight a significant deepening of the Group’s ecosystem. Net fees and commission income surged 40.9 per cent to N585.1bn, a testament to the success of its non-banking verticals.

The Group also demonstrated sharper operational teeth, successfully driving down its cost-to-income ratio from 56.7 per cent in 2024 to 51.7 per cent in 2025.

The leadership team and the report itself offer a clear narrative of an institution transitioning from “growth at all costs” to “disciplined value creation”.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Holdings, Innocent Ike, said, “We have now entered a more deliberate optimisation phase, with a stronger emphasis on returns on capital, earnings quality, and long-term value creation. Our 2025 performance reflects both the resilience of the Access franchise and the strength of the institution we have built over time.”

“This growth highlights not only the scale of the Group’s operations but also the deepening trust of customers, counterparties, and investors. Total assets increased 24.3 per cent to N51.57tn, while customer deposits grew 53.4 per cent to N34.56tn,” an official statement, Access Holdings 2025 Audited Report, stated.

It further read, “Africa remains one of the most compelling long-term growth frontiers globally. Our role is not only to participate in that growth but also to help shape and finance it. At Access Holdings, we have built an institution designed to endure, anchored on strong governance, disciplined execution, and a clear strategic direction. Our focus remains on delivering consistent, high-quality, risk-adjusted returns while building a financial institution that will stand the test of time.”

The Group’s performance was bolstered by an improving Nigerian economy. With national GDP growth strengthening to 3.9 per cent and foreign exchange reserves rising above $45bn, the environment provided a fertile ground for credit expansion and capital market activity. This was mirrored in the NGX All Share Index, which gained over 51 per cent during the period.

As Access Holdings looks towards the 2026 fiscal year, the mandate is clear: maintain the N1tn momentum while ensuring that every naira of capital deployed returns maximum value to the shareholders who have now built a N4.33tn equity base.