Amidst Loans, Deposit Drive, Nine Banks Total Assets Cross N162.45tn

Kayode Tokede 

On the back of hike in loans & advances and deposit growth, a total of nine listed banks on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) recorded a whooping N162.45 trillion total assets  for half year (H1) ended June 30, 2026.

This is about a 6.42 per cent increase over N152.65 trillion reported in the full year ended December 31, 2025.

The nine banks are: Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, First Holdco Plc, Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Pllc (GTCO). Others are:  FCMB Group Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, Jaiz Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc. 

Analysis of the banks result showed that Ecobank Transnational Incorporated recorded N49.21 trillion total assets as of June 2026, a decline of 0.91 per cent from N49.66 trillion reported in 2025, while Zenith Bank total assets reached N32.65trillion, a growth of 3.78 per cent from N31.46 trillion reported in 2025. 

In the period under review,  First Holdco recorded N30.64 trillion total assets, a growth of 12.46 per cent from N27.25 trillion reported in 2025 while GTCO posted N18.62trillion total assets an increase of 4.81 per cent from N17.76 trillion in 2025.  

Commenting, GTCO stated that it strengthened the group’s funding and asset deployment capacity, with customer deposits increasing by 10.3 per cent and total assets expanding by 4.8 per cent from 2025. 

“The 21.9 per cent growth in investment securities reflects continued deployment of the expanded funding base while maintaining  balance-sheet flexibility. Well-diversified asset base structure across all the group’s business verticals with loans accounting for 16.9 per cent, a pointer to future opportunities  for growth; investment securities – 36.9 per cent, cash & cash equivalent – 25.4 per cent, a testament of the Group’s strong liquidity position and robust earning capacity,” GTCO explained  in a presentation,” it said.  

On its part, Stanbic IBTC Holdings posted a 26.59 per cent increase in total assets to N10.9 trillion; FCMB Group reported 9.53 per cent growth in total assets to N8.4trillion; Wema Bank declared 13.52 per cent appreciation in total assets to N5.76 trillion. Also, Sterling Financial Holdings Company saw its total assets up by 19.30 per cent to N4.67trillion and Jaiz Bank announced 27.01 per cent raise in total assets to N1.64trillion.  

The banks audited/ unaudited H1 2026 showed a growth in deposit that contributed 72 per cent of the N162.45 trillion total assets as of June 30, 2026.   

Among the nine banks’ results and accounts posted on NGX, Ecobank  leads others with the  deposit, declaring N37.3 trillion, about 2.27 per cent increase over N36.44 trillion in 2025.  

It was followed by Zenith Bank that closed the period under review at N26.35trillion, a 8.29 per cent increase over N24.33 trillion in 2025.  

Commenting, the Vice President, Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adnori said, “The substantial N162.45trillion total assets by the nine commercial banks as of June 30, 2026 underscores the banking sector’s robust growth and resilience. This asset expansion highlights the strength of Nigeria’s banking industry, which plays a pivotal role in Nigeria, and other regions’ economic stability. Factors contributing to this growth include increased capital inflows, enhanced lending strategies, and ongoing recapitalisation efforts within the sector.”