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First Bank Plans Aggressive Debt Recovery to Boost Dividend Payout

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FBN Holdings shareholders

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

It is longer news that First Bank has the highest non-performing loans (NPL) ratio among its tier-one peers in the banking industry, above 20 percent, but the management of the company has assured that it would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that it is brought down to a single digit by the end of 2019 financial year.

Speaking at the 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FBN Holdings Plc in Lagos at the weekend, Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr Adesola Adeduntan, informed shareholders that recovery efforts on all accounts provisioned were in progress.

According to him, the bank will ensure that no kobo would be left in the hands of third party, noting that the bank would work harder to resolve the entire legacy NPLs.

He also told shareholders of the financial institution that the number of banking agents had increased to 20,000, adding that the figure processed through agency banking platform reached N1 trillion as at last week.

On his part, Chairman of FBN Holdings, Mr Oba Otudeko, assured the shareholders that the company had mapped out strategies aimed at ensuring enhanced value creation for the future.

Mr Otudeko said that the board and management would work together to create shareholder value and build strong foundation for the future.

“We are not resting on our laurels, and our renewed approach to synergy and innovation will be major drivers to unlocking earnings potential for our group.

“We believe that our efforts to integrate our offerings and provide end-to-end solutions for our customers will create a competitive advantage in our markets,” he said.

Group Managing Director FBN Holdings, Mr Urum Kalu Eke, in his address, said that the company was committed to greater exploits in the future in its drive to deliver value to its shareholders.

“I would like to reiterate our promise to you and the entire market that 2019 represents for us the year of inflection.

“All leading indicators, derived from our numbers, point to the commencement of growth across businesses, markets and indices.

“As we transition to a new strategic planning cycle post-2019, we are confident that the focused execution of our strategy, investment in future-enabling technologies, development of our talents and our re-engineered processes to repositioning the group for ultimate benefit of the shareholders,” Mr Eke said.

He also commended the shareholders for their unwavering support to the group over the years.

He assured the shareholders that the board and management had restructured the entire group for more sustainable growth.

“For liquidity perspective, you have a strong institution that would pay dividend on a regular basis.

“We have built capital buffet at the commercial bank and the other entities are well capitalised also.

“2019 promises to be a much better year than 2018; all operating entities are in safe hands with good management teams.

“NPL ratio should be at single digit by end of 2019, we will pursue recovery and when it happens the commercial bank will contribute to dividend payment,” he stated.

Mr Eke noted that significant growth in the bottom line was due to several factors including the improved risk management processes which endured that impairment changes dropped year-on-year.

He also attributed the growth to implementation of servers cost containment initiatives during the period.

The shareholders at the meeting approved a total dividend of N9.3 billion, which translated to 26 kobo per share.

The company for the period under review posted a profit after tax of N59.7 billion compared with N45.5 billion achieved in the comparative period of 2017, an increase of 31.4 percent.

Profit before tax stood at N65.3 billion against N54.5 billion recorded in 2017, representing a growth of 19.7 percent.

Gross earnings stood at N583.5 billion compared with N595.4 billion in 2017, a decrease of two percent.

Its total assets rose by 6.3 percent from N5.2 trillion in 2017 to N5.6 trillion during the review period.

Similarly, customers’ deposits expanded by 10.9 percent from N3.1 trillion in 2017 to N3.5 trillion in 2018.

The year also recorded reduction in impairment charges which declined to N87.3 billion from N150.4 billion, representing 42 percent drop and a proof to the improving loan book of the commercial bank.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Banking

AG Mortgage Bank N3.97bn Commercial Paper Closes June 18

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AG Mortgage Bank

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The N3.97 billion commercial paper issuance of AG Mortgage Bank Plc will close on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The sale of the debt instrument by the real estate lender commenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

It is under the N5 billion commercial paper issuance programme of the lending firm aimed to support its short-term working capital and funding requirements.

The company is selling the papers in two series, with Series 2 offered at a discounted rate of 19.2895 per cent for 270 days, and Series 3 at a discounted rate of 19.3651 per cent for 364 days.

The minimum subscription is N5 million, and subsequent additions of N1 million.

AG Mortgage Bank is a leading primary mortgage bank in Nigeria with over two decades of experience in providing affordable mortgage financing and housing finance solutions.

The bank has grown its asset base to over N33 billion and remains a key participant in major housing intervention programmes, including the National Housing Fund Scheme and other government-backed mortgage initiatives.

Supported by a diversified product offering, strong institutional credibility, and an experienced management team, AG Mortgage Bank continues to deliver solid financial performance.

For FY 2025, interest income increased by 28.1 per cent to N3.65 billion, while profit after tax rose by 130.0 per cent to N1.05 billion, reflecting strong earnings growth, operational efficiency, and prudent risk management.

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Banking

Access Holdings Earnings Capacity Remains Strong—Aig-Imoukhuede

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access holdings Aig-Imoukhuede

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has reaffirmed the organisation’s long-term commitment to shareholders, expressing confidence in the company’s strategic positioning, which he said is underpinned by disciplined execution, a diversified business model, a strengthened capital base, and a clear focus on sustainable value creation.

Speaking at the 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the firm on Wednesday, he explained that the temporary suspension of dividend distributions was a consequence of regulatory compliance requirements rather than any deterioration in the group’s financial performance.

Mr Aig-Imoukhuede reaffirmed that the financial institution’s earnings capacity remains strong and that the board’s position reflects adherence to supervisory expectations and prudent capital management principles.

He assured shareholders of the board’s commitment to resuming dividend payments as soon as the relevant regulatory conditions are satisfied, noting that, “Our approach is clear: capital retained today must translate into greater value tomorrow and sustainable returns for our shareholders.”

The Chairman reiterated the strategic imperative underpinning the company’s next phase of growth, saying, “Our strategy, From Scale to Value, reflects the natural evolution of our journey. Scale created opportunity; value creation is how we fully realise it.”

He noted that while the organisation continues to generate strong returns, ensuring that earnings per share consistently exceed the cost of capital remains central to unlocking sustainable shareholder value.

The retired banker also acknowledged the significant unrealised value embedded within the firm’s international subsidiaries and reiterated management’s focus on improving market recognition of that intrinsic value over time.

Commenting on the financial performance of the group in 2025, he said Access Holdings accelerated provisions on legacy and regulatory forbearance credit exposures, resulting in elevated impairment charges.

He explained that the group consciously prioritised balance sheet strength and long-term resilience over short-term earnings optimisation.

“Periods of economic uncertainty often reveal more about an institution than periods of uninterrupted growth. Our focus remains on building a business that is not only growing, but improving in the quality, resilience, and sustainability of its earnings,” he stated.

Last year, the financial services organisation delivered pre-tax profit of N1.007 trillion, underscoring the strength of its diversified platform and expanding earnings base across key markets. Total assets increased to N51.56 trillion, while customer deposits grew strongly, reflecting sustained franchise momentum and deepening customer trust.

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Banking

HabariPay Unveils ‘HabariPay Impact Report 2025’

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HabariPay Impact Report 2025

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A new report highlighting the transformation from a newly established fintech venture into one of Nigeria’s leading payment infrastructure providers has been launched by HabariPay Limited.

The report, known as the HabariPay Impact Report 2025, provides stakeholders with a comprehensive evolution, innovation journey, business performance, and impact of the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc on the digital payments landscape.

The company’s contributions to enabling digital commerce, supporting businesses, strengthening payment infrastructure, and expanding financial access through technology-driven solutions were also captured in the piece.

The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 also highlights the organisation’s strong financial and operational performance, the growth of the Squad platform, and the development of infrastructure that powers payment acceptance, switching, transfers, merchant services, and value-added solutions.

The publication further explores the role of innovation, talent development, and ecosystem partnerships in driving the company’s success.

It showcases HabariPay’s investments in innovation through initiatives such as the Take on Squad Hackathon and the Squad Hackademy, both of which are helping to develop future technology talent and accelerate the creation of practical solutions to real-world challenges.

“As a technology-driven company, we believe that impact extends beyond financial performance. It is reflected in the businesses we enable, the merchants we support, the infrastructure we build, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of innovators.

“The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 captures this journey and demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and the broader economy,” the Managing Director of HabariPay, Ms Eduofon Japhet, said.

“The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 represents more than a reflection on our achievements; it is a testament to the deliberate investments we have made in building sustainable payment infrastructure, empowering businesses, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders.

“As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our capabilities, deepening our impact, and shaping the future of digital payments through technology-driven solutions that are secure, scalable, and inclusive,” she added.

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