Access Holdings Plc has reported a profit after tax of ₦474.2 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, representing a 5.9 per cent increase compared with the ₦447.5 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The financial services group also recorded an 8.3 per cent rise in profit before tax to ₦667.4 billion, up from ₦616.2 billion a year earlier, according to its unaudited financial results.
The improved performance was supported by stronger interest income, increased fee and commission earnings, and a significant reduction in impairment charges on financial assets.
Interest income rose by 6.9 per cent to ₦3.1 trillion, while net interest income increased by 2.7 per cent to ₦1.29 trillion. Impairment charges fell by 73.5 per cent to ₦92.9 billion from approximately ₦350 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The reduction in impairment charges helped push net interest income after impairment up by 32.1 per cent to ₦1.2 trillion.
Access Holdings also recorded an 8.4 per cent increase in fee and commission income to ₦650.9 billion, while net fee and commission income climbed by 12.4 per cent to ₦534.9 billion.
However, the group faced pressure from rising operating costs, which increased by 11.8 per cent to ₦1.3 trillion. Other operating income also declined by 40.8 per cent to ₦234.5 billion, contributing to a 3.2 per cent drop in total operating income to ₦2.06 trillion.
On the balance-sheet front, total assets grew by 1.7 per cent to ₦52.6 trillion as of 30 September 2026, compared with ₦51.7 trillion at the end of December 2025.
Customer deposits increased by 6.6 per cent to ₦36.85 trillion, while loans and advances to customers rose by 7.4 per cent to ₦14.33 trillion. Shareholders’ funds remained broadly stable at approximately ₦4.49 trillion.
The banking business accounted for 96 per cent of the group’s profit before tax. International operations continued to play a major role, contributing 82.2 per cent of the banking group’s profit before tax, while Nigeria accounted for 17.8 per cent.
Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Innocent C. Ike, said the reduction in impairment charges, alongside growth in net interest income after impairment and net fee and commission income, demonstrated the resilience of the group’s core earnings.
Management said it would continue to prioritise risk management, regulatory compliance, capital discipline and operational efficiency as it seeks to improve earnings quality and deliver sustainable returns to shareholders.
