Access Holdings’ crosses N1tn profit mark for the first time

Access Holdings Plc has crossed the N1 trillion profit mark in the Nigerian banking industry in its full-year 2025 results.

According to the audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2025, released on Friday, the holding company reported a pre-tax profit of N1.007 trillion, rising from N867.02 billion in 2024, representing a 16 percent increase.

Also, its profit after tax (PAT) rose to N742 billion from N642.22 billion, with the tax charge increasing to N232.69 billion alongside higher taxable income, while minimum tax also increased to N31.39 billion.

Meanwhile, the group’s gross earnings increased by 13.3 percent year-on-year to N5.53 trillion from N4.88 trillion, driven by strong growth in interest income, which increased by 3.2 percent year-on-year to N3.2 trillion from N3.1 trillion.

Net interest income also increased by 7.14 percent year-on-year to N1.3 billion in 2025 from N1.26 billion in 2024.

Net impaired charge on financial assets rose to N523 billion from N245 billion, while total impaired loans rose to N468.04 billion from N368.22 billion, and the ratio of impaired loans to gross risk assets declined to 2.68 percent from 2.76 percent, indicating that asset growth outpaced the increase in non-performing exposures.

Complementing this performance was a growth in net fees and commission income, which increased by 40.9 percent year-on-year to N585 billion from N415 billion in 2024.

In contrast, other operating income fell to N177.8 billion from N459 billion.

As inflationary pressure bites, operating expenses increase to N1 trillion from N960 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, signaling high cost environment impacting business expansion. Personnel expenses grew to N504 billion from N381 billion, consistent with inflationary adjustments and workforce optimization.

Key balance sheet indicators remain strong with total assets, customer deposits, loans and advances, and shareholders’ equity closing at N51.5 trillion, N34.5 billion, N13.3 trillion, and N4.32 trillion, respectively.

Access Holdings reported significant gains in 2025, driven by strong performance across its banking and non-banking subsidiaries, including Access ARM Pensions, Actis Golf, Oxygen X, Hydrogen Payments, Access Insurance Brokers, and Oxygen X.

Access Insurance Brokers posted an operating profit of N1.84 billion and a profit after tax of N952 million.

Oxygen X Finance, the group’s digital lending subsidiary, reported N12.9 billion in operating income and a profit after tax of N4.3 billion.

Hydrogen Payments’ operating profit fell by percent year-on-year to N7. 89 billion from N10 billion, and a profit after tax of N1.6 billion.

As of May 1st, Access Holdings was trading on the NGX with a share price of N27.

Access Holdings Plc is currently the 23rd most valuable stock on the NGX with a market capitalisation of N1.47 trillion, which makes about 0.941 percent of the Nigerian Stock Exchange equity market.

Commenting on the results, Innocent C. Ike, group managing director/chief executive officer, said: “Our 2025 performance reflects both the resilience of the Access franchise and the strength of the institution we have built over time. Despite a dynamic operating environment, we delivered strong earnings supported by diversified income streams, disciplined execution, and a continued focus on balance sheet optimisation.”

“We have now entered a more deliberate optimisation phase, with a stronger emphasis on returns on capital, earnings quality, and long-term value creation,” he added.

Looking ahead, Access Holdings expects macroeconomic conditions to continue stabilising, creating opportunities for credit expansion, increased transaction volumes, and higher levels of activity across the financial system. The Group intends to maintain its focus on disciplined execution, improved capital efficiency, and sustainable growth across its diversified platform.

Ike noted: “Africa remains one of the most compelling long-term growth frontiers globally. Our role is not only to participate in that growth, but 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.”