…core earnings drive strong performance
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has submitted its Unaudited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended March 31, 2026, to both the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE), posting a strong first-quarter performance anchored on growth in its core income streams.
The Group recorded a Profit Before Tax of ₦302.9 billion, supported by solid results across its key earnings lines. Interest income rose year-on-year by 17.5 per cent, while fee income expanded by 7.1 per cent, reflecting sustained business momentum across its operations.
Its earnings strength was further reinforced by a 1.3 per cent increase in the Group’s net loan book, which grew from ₦3.13 trillion in December 2025 to ₦3.17 trillion in March 2026. This was backed by a 6.3 per cent rise in deposit liabilities, which climbed from ₦12.87 trillion to ₦13.69 trillion within the same period.
Total assets closed at ₦18.7 trillion, while shareholders’ funds stood at ₦3.6 trillion. The Group’s Capital Adequacy Ratio remained robust at 39.5 per cent, underlining its strong capital position.
Asset quality also showed improvement, with IFRS 9 Stage 3 Loans declining to 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 5.0 per cent in December 2025. Cost of Risk improved significantly to 0.2 per cent from 2.2 per cent over the same period.
GTCO reported expansion across all asset lines and maintained what it described as a well-structured, healthy, liquid, and diversified balance sheet across the jurisdictions where it operates a banking franchise, as well as within its payments, pension, and funds management businesses.
Speaking on the results, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said the first-quarter performance reflected a meaningful change in the quality and composition of the Group’s earnings.
“Our Q1 2026 results mark a defining shift in the quality and composition of our earnings, with strong underlying performance across our core banking operations and increasing contribution from our ecosystem businesses,” he said.
He noted that the Group had built on the momentum of previous periods, delivering steady growth across its major income lines through disciplined execution and the support of a diversified and resilient balance sheet.
Agbaje added that the company’s strategy remains centred on sustainable earnings growth through deeper customer engagement, accelerated expansion of its ecosystem businesses, and the deployment of technology to provide simpler, faster, and more intuitive financial solutions.
He pointed to significant opportunities across payments, wealth management, and banking, both within Nigeria and in the Group’s West and East African markets, stating that GTCO is positioning itself deliberately to capture these prospects while sustaining long-term value creation.
The Group continues to post some of the strongest financial indicators within Nigeria’s financial services industry, with a Pre-Tax Return on Equity of 34.4 per cent, Pre-Tax Return on Assets of 6.6 per cent, Capital Adequacy Ratio of 39.5 per cent, and a Cost to Income ratio of 31.5 per cent.
GTCO Plc remains one of the leading financial services groups operating across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Widely recognised for its corporate governance standards, innovative financial solutions, and customer-focused service delivery, the Group offers a broad range of banking and non-banking services, including payments, funds management, and pension fund administration.
The company maintains its commitment to delivering long-term value to stakeholders while supporting economic growth and development across its markets.