December 23, (THEWILL) — Wema Bank and Access Bank emerged among Nigerian lenders with the fastest asset growth in 2025, underscoring how scale, digital banking adoption, and balance-sheet resilience shaped performance across the banking sector during a volatile economic year.
Wema Bank recorded strong asset growth on the back of sustained customer deposit growth, rising transaction volumes, and increased adoption of its digital platform, ALAT. The lender continued to deepen its retail and SME banking footprint, benefiting from higher interest income and improved cost efficiency amid elevated benchmark rates.
Access Bank’s asset growth, meanwhile, was supported by its extensive pan-African operations, strong corporate and commercial banking franchise, and robust deposit mobilisation across key markets. Analysts also point to the revaluation of foreign-currency assets, following naira adjustments, as a significant contributor to balance-sheet expansion in 2025.
Industry data indicate that asset growth across the banking sector was uneven, with larger and more diversified lenders outperforming peers. Banks with strong capital buffers, effective risk management, and diversified income streams were better positioned to grow assets while managing rising funding costs and credit risks.
Market watchers caution that while rapid asset growth signals strength, it also increases exposure to asset-quality pressures, particularly in an environment of high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. As a result, investors are expected to closely monitor non-performing loans, capital adequacy, and liquidity ratios as they enter 2026.
Overall, the performance of Wema Bank and Access Bank highlights the growing importance of digital capability, geographic diversification, and disciplined balance-sheet management in Nigeria’s evolving banking landscape.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze
