Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank, has posted strong third-quarter results for 2025, with growth in its core banking operations propelling the group to gross earnings of N3.9 trillion over the nine-month period.

Analysis of the results for the period ending September 30, 2025, showed a 14.1% increase in gross earnings from N3.4 trillion in Q3 2024. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, earnings surged 56.2% from N2.5 trillion at half-year 2025, reflecting accelerating growth momentum.

The group’s top-line performance was driven by interest income and fees and commission income, underscoring that its banking operations remain the foundation of profitability and market leadership.

• Interest income rose 21.1% to N2.9 trillion, supported by loan book expansion and disciplined portfolio management.
• Net interest income jumped 48.9% to N1.3 trillion, reflecting a focus on higher-yield, quality assets.
• Fee and commission income grew 44.3% to N476 billion, fueled by higher transaction volumes and customer activity across digital and payment channels.

Although non-interest income dipped 8.1% to N872 billion, the strength of core banking activities pushed operating income up 18.8% to N2.13 trillion.

Cost management also contributed to performance, with operating expenses rising just 6.7% to N1.2 trillion, improving the cost-to-income ratio to 54.6% from 60.8% the previous year.

Profitability:

• Profit before tax: N616 billion (10.4% increase from N558 billion in Q3 2024)
• Net profit: N447 billion, more than doubling from the half-year figure

While loan impairments rose to N350 billion from N145 billion in Q3 2024, earnings strength absorbed the increase, demonstrating the resilience of the balance sheet.

Return metrics:

• ROE: 15.4%
• ROA: 1.3%

Balance sheet growth:

• Total assets: N52 trillion (up 25.8% from N41.5 trillion in 2024)
• Customer deposits: N33.1 trillion (47% growth)
• Loans and advances: N15.6 trillion (19.7% growth)

Geographic diversification continues to strengthen the group, with more than half of earnings contributed by non-Nigerian subsidiaries, offsetting macroeconomic and regulatory headwinds in Nigeria.

Non-banking subsidiaries also performed strongly:

• Access-ARM Pensions: Revenue up 29.9%, PBT up 65.1%, ROE 48.1%
• Hydrogen Payments: Revenue up 40.5%, PBT surged 273%, processed N41.1 trillion in transactions
• Access Insurance Brokers: Gross written premiums up 125%, PBT up 161%
• Oxygen X (digital lending): Revenue N5.4 billion, PBT N2.2 billion

These subsidiaries illustrate Access Holdings’ strategy to build an integrated financial services ecosystem, anchored by Access Bank’s scale, liquidity, and market trust.

“Our performance reaffirms the strength of our core banking operations and the resilience of our diversified business model. We remain committed to delivering sustainable value to shareholders, customers, and communities,” the group said.

With N52 trillion in assets and N33 trillion in deposits as of September 2025, Access Holdings’ growth is underpinned by strong fundamentals, core banking excellence, and expanding non-banking operations—highlighting a disciplined, diversified, and value-driven approach in Africa’s evolving financial landscape.