Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has released its audited consolidated and separate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, delivering a solid performance anchored on strong core earnings growth and disciplined balance sheet management.
The Group reported a profit before tax (PBT) of N1.23 trillion, driven largely by expansion in its core income lines. Interest income rose by 23.2 per cent year-on-year, while fee and commission income grew by 25.9 per cent, reflecting sustained business momentum across its banking and non-banking operations.
Although the 2025 PBT came slightly below the N1.27 trillion recorded in 2024, that prior-year figure was significantly boosted by N517.5 billion in fair value gains that did not recur in the current year. Stripping out those one-off gains, GTCO’s latest performance underscores the resilience and sustainability of its earnings base.
Profit after tax (PAT) stood at N865.75 billion, compared to N1.02 trillion in 2024. The decline was primarily attributed to recent fiscal policy changes, particularly the introduction of withholding tax on short-term investment securities. Despite this impact, the Group maintained strong underlying profitability, supported by robust operating income growth.
GTCO’s balance sheet remained solid and well-diversified across its banking, payments, pension, and funds management businesses. Total assets expanded to N17.8 trillion, while shareholders’ funds closed at N3.4 trillion, reinforcing the Group’s financial strength.
Key prudential metrics also showed notable improvement. The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained exceptionally strong at 43.8 per cent, providing a significant buffer for growth and risk absorption.
Asset quality improved, with IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans declining to 3.4 per cent at the bank level and 5.0 per cent at the Group level, compared to 3.5 per cent and 5.2 per cent, respectively, in 2024. Similarly, the cost of risk dropped sharply to 2.2 per cent from 4.9 per cent, reflecting better risk management and credit performance.
The Group’s loan book (net) grew by 12.4 per cent to N3.13 trillion, up from N2.79 trillion in December 2024, while deposit liabilities surged by 23.8 per cent to N12.87 trillion, highlighting strong customer confidence and funding capacity.
Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the performance reflects the Group’s resilient business model and strategic focus on sustainable earnings.
“Our 2025 result underscores the resilience and depth of our earnings capacity. Following a record 2024, which included significant fair value gains, our focus has been on strengthening the sustainability of our earnings by driving growth across our core banking and ecosystem businesses,” he said.
He added that the strength of GTCO’s underlying earnings, despite a stronger naira and tighter regulatory conditions, demonstrates the quality of its franchise and execution discipline. According to him, the Group’s record dividend payout signals confidence in its long-term earnings outlook.
Looking ahead, Agbaje said GTCO will continue to scale its financial services ecosystem, deepen innovation, and deliver consistent, high-quality returns to shareholders.
The Group maintained some of the strongest profitability ratios in Nigeria’s financial services industry, including a post-tax Return on Equity (ROAE) of 28.3 per cent, Return on Assets (ROAA) of 5.3 per cent, and a Cost-to-Income Ratio of 27.9 per cent.
With operations spanning Africa and the United Kingdom, GTCO continues to position itself as a leading financial services provider, leveraging strong corporate governance, digital innovation, and a customer-focused strategy to drive long-term value creation.
Leave a comment