May 03, (THEWILL) — Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc experienced significant assets growth in 2025, propelled by various key balance sheet components, including a 10.4 percent increase in lending to customers, which rose to N16.9 trillion from N15.3 trillion in 2024. This highlights the bank’s dedication to fostering rapid economic development through targeted lending to strategic sectors.
A detailed examination of the Group’s financial statements submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) indicated that ETI’s robust balance sheet improved by 14.6 percent, increasing from N43.3 trillion in the previous year to N49.6 trillion in 2025. Loans and advances to customers remained the largest asset class at N16.9 trillion, followed by investment securities of N12.7 trillion and cash and bank balances of N8.4 trillion.
The Loans and Advances to Customers, which surged to N16.9 trillion during the year, up from N15.3 trillion in 2024, constitutes a growth of 10.49 percent, underscoring the bank’s consistent focus on supporting businesses that contribute to the nation’s GDP growth.
“The bank’s growing loan portfolio reflects its dedication to fostering economic development in Nigeria. The prevailing high interest rates have pushed the real sector, including manufacturing and agriculture, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), out of the banks’ lending focus. “Additionally, the overall bleak economic forecast has further diminished the banks’ willingness to generously expand credit, given the associated risks,” Mike Akannor, an investment analyst, remarked, adding that Ecobank’s N1.8 trillion loan portfolio, is praiseworthy.
The financial statements showed that customer deposits, indicative of the growing trust in the leading Pan African Bank, increased to N36.4 trillion from N31.6 trillion in 2024, representing a 15 percent rise. Total liabilities stood at N45.5 trillion, compared to N40.5 trillion in 2024, with customer deposits accounting for about 80 percent (at N36.4 trillion).
Total equity rose to N4.1 trillion from N2.7 trillion, driven majorly by stronger retained earnings and reserves, which increased to N2.50 trillion from N1.4 trillion.
Emphasizing on the importance of strong asset quality, Professor of Finance and Accounts at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Muhammad Mainoma, had told THEWILL that strong asset base is strategic to the development of any business because an enterprise is handicapped if it trades with a lean balance sheet.
“Strong asset base signifies that a business is strategically positioned to take advantage of its environment. For a bank, there is no time that people will not need money. Once a business is focused and invests in areas that people always need, it will not lose. This explains the continuous growth (in assets) despite the difficult operating environment,” Mainoma, a former president of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), had said.
ETI reported a pre-tax profit of N1.21 trillion for the year ended 31 December 2025, according to its audited results published on the Nigerian Exchange. This performance reflects a 23.60 percent year-on-year growth from N986.6 billion in 2024, supported by strong expansion across both interest and non-interest income streams.
On the interest side, the interest income amounted to N3.19 trillion, primarily driven by loans and advances to customers. Investment securities contributed N743.7 billion, while treasury bills added N656.9 billion. Non-interest income was predominantly influenced by fees and commissions, which reached N1.02 trillion, reflecting a 17 percent increase from N879.4 billion.
Additionally, customer deposits on the balance sheet rose to N36.4 trillion, up from N31.6 trillion. After accounting for fees and commissions expenses of N118.3 billion, trading income of N608.9 billion, net gains on investment securities of N8.3 billion, and other operating income of N51.8 billion, the total non-interest revenue amounted to N1.58 trillion, representing a 16 percent increase from N1.35 trillion. Adding this to net interest income, operating income rose to N3.7 trillion, up 20 percent from N3.1 trillion in the prior year.
The company reported operating expenses of N1.8 trillion, largely made up of staff and other operating costs, leaving operating profit at N1.9 trillion, up 31 percent year-on-year.
After an impairment charge of N707.5 billion is deducted, the operating profit (after impairment) settled at N1.2 trillion, which, when combined with the share of profit from associates of N429.4 billion, yielded a pre-tax figure of N1.21 trillion. With an income tax charge of N305.5 billion deducted, profit after tax settled at N914 billion.
Ecobank Nigeria was among the banks that met the new capital thresholds, with national authorization, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria before the March 31, 2026 deadline.
On the stock market performance, ETI closed its last trading day (Thursday, April 30, 2026) at N80.60 per share on the NGX, recording an 3.3 percent gain over its previous closing price of N78.00.
Ecobank began the year with a share price of N41.90 and has since gained 92.4 percent on that price valuation, ranking it 31st on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance.
“Shareholders can be optimistic about ETI knowing the stock has accrued an outstanding 75 percent over the past four-week period alone—third best on NGX”, the Exchange said.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
