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Access Bank Ghana Posts Impressive Growth in Income, Assets
L-R: Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director, Access Bank Ghana; Ama S. Bawuah, Board Chair, Access Bank Ghana, and Helen Decardi Nelson, Company Secretary, Access Bank Ghana, at the 16th Annual General Meeting of Access Bank Ghana held at its head office in Accra… yesterday.
Access Bank Ghana Plc held its 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at its head office, marking a year of exceptional performance and growth. The Board Chairperson of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, Ms. Ama S. Bawuah, presented the financial statements, highlighting the Bank’s impressive performance despite the challenging macroeconomic environment. Access Bank Ghana’s total assets grew to 22.3 per cent, from GHS 10.057 billion to GHS 12.30 billion, while operating income increased by 40 per cent from GHS1.150 billion to GHS 1.613 billion. The Bank’s Loans and Advances rose by 42.81 per cent. Ms. Bawuah said, “In 2023, Ghana’s economy was characterised by macroeconomic instability, escalating inflation, and dwindling investor confidence stemming from both domestic imbalances and external pressures. Against the backdrop of global and national economic uncertainties, I am pleased to share that your bank successfully applied valuable insights and industry best practices to achieve substantial growth across key areas in the past year.”“These achievements underscore our steadfast dedication to navigating challenges and fostering sustainable growth, reaffirming our pledge to serve you with excellence and integrity,” Bawuah added.Access Bank’s commitment to expansion, innovation, and customer convenience was also showcased, with the implementation of several digital products and services such as the virtual relationship management (VRM) tool to augment customer service support. The Bank also established priority desks to cater to a specific demographic and facilitate the smooth running of business in those areas. These include the Chinese, German, Lebanese, French, and Turkish desks.Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director, Access Bank Ghana Plc, reiterated the Bank’s resilience and stability. “Despite the prevailing uncertainties, Access Bank maintained a robust performance across key financial metrics, a testament to our prudent financial management and unwavering dedication to our mission. We observed substantial growth in deposits, surging from GHS7.399 billion to GHS9.130 billion, marking a notable 23 per cent increase.”He added that the Bank achieved a remarkable turnaround by resuming tax remittances to the government. This reversal from a negative contribution of GHS102 million to an impressive 509 per cent increase to GHS419 million underscores our commitment to fiscal responsibility and sustained growth. Concurrently, shareholders’ funds experienced substantial growth, from GHS1.014 billion to GHS1.403 billion, attributed to the transformative strategies implemented in the Bank’s business management practice. Olatunji thanked shareholders for their support and emphasised the Bank’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. “We are proud of our achievements and recognise the trust our customers and shareholders have placed in us. We will continue to innovate, expand our reach, and support Ghana’s economic growth,” he noted.Mr. Sampson Ashong, the General Secretary of the shareholders praised the Bank’s performance and initiatives citing its resilience and growth potential. “I am thoroughly impressed with the bank’s commitment to sustainability initiatives and employee capacity building. The dedication to creating a positive impact on the environment and society, while investing in the growth and development of their staff is truly commendable. This is evidence that Access Bank is not just focused on financial returns, but also on making a positive difference in the world,” he said. Shareholders approved all resolutions on the agenda, which included among other things, also saw the re-election of the members of the Board of Directors and one retirement. The event was a celebration of the Bank’s dedication to its stakeholders and its contribution to Ghana’s financial landscape. As Access Bank Ghana continues to grow and expand its operations, it remains committed to promoting financial inclusion and supporting the country’s economic development.Since 2009, Access Bank Ghana has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable business practices driving profitable, sustainable growth that is environmentally responsible and socially relevant. These have contributed to the Bank being recognised with various awards in 2023. These include the 2023 Best Bank by Euromoney Awards, Best Retail Bank by Global Brands Awards, Best Digital Bank in Ghana by Digital Banker Africa Awards; and Best SME Banking and Best Bank for CSR by Euromoney Awards.Photo Caption: L-R: Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director, Access Bank Ghana; Ama S. Bawuah, Board Chair, Access Bank Ghana, and Helen Decardi Nelson, Company Secretary, Access Bank Ghana, at the 16th Annual General Meeting of Access Bank Ghana held at its head office in Accra… yesterday.###About Access Bank PLC Access Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning 3 continents, 22 countries and over 60 million customers. The Bank employs over 28,000 people in its operations in Africa and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the UAE.Access Bank’s parent company, Access Holdings Plc, has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1998. The Bank is a diversified financial institution which combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management and capital management capabilities. The Bank services its various markets through three key business segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Retail Banking. The Bank has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last 18 years, becoming one of the continent’s largest retail banks.As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.
……Reaffirms Support for Women Entrepreneurs
Tier One Lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has commenced the disbursement of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) MSME Intervention Funds, administered by the Bank of Industry (BOI), to qualified SMES with a strategic focus on empowering women-owned businesses across the country.
The FGN MSME Intervention Fund is designed to provide accessible financing to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across all 36 states of the federation.
The intervention aligns with Fidelity Bank’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and its long-standing support for Nigeria’s SME sector. In this phase of the disbursement, the bank is prioritizing women entrepreneurs, reinforcing its belief in the catalytic role of women-led enterprises in driving sustainable development and job creation.
Speaking on the development, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc, said, “As a bank deeply committed to the growth of SMEs, we are proud to partner with the Federal Government and the Bank of Industry on this critical intervention. For this phase, we are placing women at the forefront because we recognize their resilience, innovation, and pivotal contributions to wealth creation and employment generation in Nigeria.”
Fidelity Bank has also put in place a robust structure to ensure seamless onboarding and fund disbursement. Leveraging its nationwide branch network, digital banking platforms, and experienced relationship managers, the bank is poised to reach and support entrepreneurs across urban and rural communities.
The bank’s emergence as a critical player in the disbursement of the FGN MSME intervention Fund strongly aligns with its ongoing initiatives as the leading supporter of SMEs in Nigeria. Recently, the Fidelity SME Empowerment Programme (FSEP) was launched at its Gbagada SME Hub in Lagos.
This flagship initiative provided 100 growth-ready SMEs with ERPRev-enabled POS systems, business software, receipt printers, barcode scanners, inventory support, bookkeeping and branding training, three-day masterclasses, and six months of post-installation monitoring—all at no cost.
Earlier in May 2025, Fidelity Bank also signed an MoU with SMEDAN, Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, to deliver SME-friendly low-interest financing, capacity-building support, and market access for SMEs referred under the agreement.
“Our vision goes beyond financing. We are building an ecosystem of support for SMEs by offering capacity-building programs, mentorship opportunities, and market access. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, will benefit from a larger share of the fund as part of our broader strategy to promote gender inclusion,”Ede added.
The FGN MSME Intervention Fund will further advance the bank’s commitment to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises by expanding access to affordable financing and strategic support. Through this fund, Fidelity Bank aims to deepen its impact on Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem, fostering sustainable growth, job creation, and economic resilience across the country.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.
Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
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Access Holdings and Coronation on Group Unite to Champion Landmark Nigerian Art Exhibition on at Tate Modern
Access Holdings Plc and Coronation on Group Ltd, under the leadership of Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, are proud to announce their joint support of Nigerian Modernism, the “rst major UK exhibition on to trace the trajectory of modern art in Nigeria. Opening at Tate Modern in London this October, the exhibition brings together over 250 works from more than 50 artists, spotlights ng Nigeria’s extraordinary arsc legacy from the 1940s to the turn of the century. This uniquely curated exhibion places Nigeria’s creave legacy “rmly at the centre of global art history.For the two “nancial instuons, this partnership represents more than corporate patronage. It is a strategic investment in cultural restoraon and identy. By acvely supporng Nigerian Modernism, Access Holdings and Coronaon Group rea7rm their belief that Africa’s future will be shaped not only by innovaon in boardrooms and markets, but by imaginaon in studios, classrooms and museums.Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, Chairman of both instuons and a Member of Tate Modern’s Internaonal Council, brings a deeply personal commitment to this cause as one of Africa’s foremost patrons of the arts.“The modernist movement in Nigeria tells a story not just of art, but of the cultural awakening of a people who, even in mes of transon and turmoil, used creavity to assert dignity above circumstance and retain their authenc cultural identy,” he said.This commitment re:ects Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede’s philanthropic vision to build enduring African instuons. For him, culture is not separate from progress, rather central to it.
He explains that through this partnership with Tate, Access Holdings and Coronaon Group are helping to democrase access to African art, ensuring it is seen, studied and celebrated by the world. “This is how we inspire the next generaon. Not just of arsts, but of Africans who know that our stories ma;er and their voices are heard throughout history. I believe we all carry a sacred duty to protect and share our cultural legacy. The stories told by the artworks are living testaments to our ingenuity and global contribuon as Africans in the modern world,” he said.Tate Modern Director, Karin Hindsbo, said “This landmark exhibion is a powerful celebraon of the arsts who shaped a powerful vision of African Modernism. It brings long-overdue internaonal a;enon to their work and tells a visual story of cultural innovaon and exchange. We’re thrilled to be presenng this show at Tate Modern and to share the richness of Nigeria’s arsc legacy with audiences here in the UK and around the world.”Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede calls Nigerians everywhere, whether at home or part of the country’s vast and vibrant diaspora, to celebrate Nigerian Modernism as a cultural homecoming and a catalyst for conversaons that challenge outdated narraves.“The power of art transcends borders, connecng hearts and minds to inspire and drive change. This exhibion reminds us to reconnect with our roots and invites the world to see us through our own lens: rich, diverse and unapologecally African,” said Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede
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GTCO Plc Releases 2025 Half Year Audited Results ……. Reports Profit Before Tax of ₦600.9billion
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has released its Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2025, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group recorded profit before tax of 600.9billion on the back of strong performance on core earning lines₦ of interest income and fee income, which grew y-o-y by 31.5% and 33.0%, respectively. The strong core-earning performance doused the impact of the 493.01bn fair value gains recognised in H1-2024 which did not₦ recur in H1-2025, thereby narrowing y-o-y dip in PBT to 40%.The Group recorded growth across all its asset lines and continues to maintain a well-structured, de-risked, and diversified balance sheet in all the jurisdictions wherein it operates a Banking franchise, as well as across its Payments, Pension and Funds Management business verticals. Total assets and shareholders’ funds closed at 16.7trillion and 3.0trillion, respectively. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained very robust and strong,₦ ₦ closing at 36.2%. Asset quality also improved as evidenced by IFRS 9 Stage 3 Loans which closed at 3.2% at Bank level and 4.5% % at Group in H1-2025 (Bank -3.5% (Group- 5.2% in December 2024) and Cost of Risk (COR) improved to 1.7% from 4.9% in December 2024. In specific term, the Group’s loan book (net) grew by 20.5% from 2.79trillion position of December 2024 to₦ 3.36trillion in June 2025. Similarly, deposit liabilities grew by 16.6% from 10.40trillion to 12.13trillion during₦ ₦ ₦ the same period. The Board approved an interim dividend of 1.00 per share for H1-2025.₦Commenting on the results, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Our half year performance reflects the strength of our core business and the progress we are making in building a truly diversified financial services ecosystem. Beyond the extraordinary one-off gains of last year, we are now driving sustainable growth with recurring earnings that highlight the resilience and scalability of our model. A key driver of this momentum is our continued investment in technology, particularly the comprehensive upgrade of our core banking systems, which is already delivering stronger uptime, greater efficiency, and increased capacity to scale as our customer base grows.”He added: “Across Banking, Funds Management, Pension, and Payments, we are leveraging a fully de-risked balance sheet to reinforce our market position while maintaining strategic flexibility for growth. This foundation positions us to take advantage of emerging opportunities and deliver lasting value for all stakeholders.”Overall, the Group continues to post one of the best metrics in the Nigerian Financial Services industry in terms of key financial ratios i.e., Pre-Tax Return on Equity (ROAE) of 60.4%, Pre-Tax Return on Assets (ROAA) of 10.6%, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 36.2% and Cost to Income ratio of 30.1%. Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc) is a leading financial services group with operations across Africa and the United Kingdom. Renowned for its strong corporate governance, innovative financial solutions, and customer-centric approach, GTCO Plc provides a wide range of banking and non-banking services including payments, funds management, and pension fund administration. The Group is committed to delivering long-term value to stakeholders while driving growth and development across its markets.
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