Access Holdings Posts Over ₦1 Trillion Profit Before Tax, Signals Shift From Expansion to Value Creation

Access Holdings has posted over ₦1 trillion Profit Before Tax and signalled a shift from expansion to value creation.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Access Holdings Plc has reported a profit before tax (PBT) of over ₦1 trillion for the 2025 financial year, marking a major milestone in the Group’s corporate evolution as it shifts focus from aggressive expansion to long-term value creation and operational efficiency.

 

According to its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, the financial services group recorded a PBT of ₦1.01 trillion, representing a 16.2 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

 

The Group said the performance reflects the resilience of its business model, improved earnings quality, and disciplined execution despite operating in a challenging economic environment.

 

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Net interest income rose to ₦1.36 trillion, while net fees and commission income climbed by 40.9 per cent to ₦585.1 billion, highlighting the growing diversification of the Group’s revenue streams.

 

Overall operating income after impairment also increased by 23.9 per cent to ₦3.17 trillion.

 

Access Holdings further improved cost efficiency during the period, with its cost-to-income ratio declining to 51.7 per cent from 56.7 per cent recorded in 2024.

 

The Group posted a return on average equity of 18.4 per cent and a return on average assets of 1.6 per cent, reinforcing what management described as strong earnings quality and sustainable financial performance.

 

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Innocent C. Ike, said the company’s performance demonstrates the strength of the Access franchise and the institution’s long-term strategy.

 

“Our 2025 performance reflects both the resilience of the Access franchise and the strength of the institution we have built over time,” he said.

 

According to him, the Group has now entered a deliberate optimisation phase with greater emphasis on returns on capital, earnings quality, and long-term shareholder value.

 

The Group’s balance sheet also recorded significant growth during the year.

Total assets rose by 24.3 per cent to ₦51.57 trillion, while customer deposits increased by 53.4 per cent to ₦34.56 trillion, driven by strong customer confidence and deposit mobilisation efforts.

 

Shareholders’ funds also grew by 15 per cent to ₦4.33 trillion, supported by retained earnings and continued investor confidence.

 

Access Holdings noted that the broader economic environment showed gradual improvement in 2025, with Nigeria’s GDP growth strengthening to about 3.9 per cent, inflation moderating, and foreign exchange reserves rising above $45 billion.

 

The company added that the Nigerian stock market also witnessed renewed investor confidence, with the NGX All Share Index gaining more than 51 per cent during the year.

 

While banking operations remain the Group’s primary revenue driver, contributing about 97 per cent of total income, Access Holdings said it is steadily diversifying into investment management, insurance, and digital financial services.

 

Its subsidiaries, including Access ARM Pensions and Access Insurance Brokers, continue to provide stable recurring income, while technology-driven platforms such as Oxygen X Finance and Hydrogen Payment Services are expanding the Group’s digital finance footprint.

 

Looking ahead, Access Holdings said it expects improving macroeconomic conditions to support credit growth, higher transaction volumes, and broader financial system activity.

 

The company reaffirmed its commitment to disciplined execution, capital efficiency, and sustainable long-term growth across its diversified operations.