Banking
GTBank Grows Deposits from Customers to N4.0trn in One Year
By Dipo Olowookere
Tier-one banking institution in Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, has continued to grow stronger, maintaining its position as one of the most formidable financial organisations in the country.
Over the week, the company released its audited financial statements for the year 2021 and from the analysis, most people rely on the firm for their financial transactions.
Business Post observed that GTCO increased its deposits from customers by 14.3 per cent in the period under review to N4.0 trillion from N3.5 trillion in the 2020 fiscal year, while the loan book jumped to N1.8 trillion from N1.7 trillion.
However, the bottom-line of the results was not impressive as the profit before tax dipped by 7.0 per cent to N221.5 billion from N238.1 billion, while the profit after tax went down by 13.2 per cent to N174.8 billion from N201.4 billion.
As for the top-line, it was a similar situation as the interest income dropped to N251.5 billion from N288.3 billion achieved a year earlier and with an interest expense of N46.3 billion versus N47.1 billion in 2020, GTCO closed December 31, 2021, with a net interest income of N220.6 billion as against N253.7 billion it posted in the corresponding year.
It was observed that with the support of account maintenance charges, e-business income and others, the lender was able to raise revenue from fee and commission to N74.1 billion from N53.2 billion in the same period of 2020, while the fee and commission expenses rose to N8.5 billion from N6.3 billion mainly due to bank charges and loan recovery costs.
Personnel costs, however, were pruned to N33.4 billion from N37.6 billion, while other operating expenses increased to N93.5 billion from N78.7 billion.
In the results filed to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited and the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the Full Impact Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained very strong, closing at 23.8 per cent while asset quality was sustained with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 6.0 per cent based on IFRS (6.92 per cent based on CBN Prudential Guidelines), representing a marginal improvement over IFRS 6.4 per cent impaired ratio and a slight increase over FY 2020 6.86 per cent CBN Prudential Guideline NPL ratio, with the Cost of Risk improving to 0.5 per cent from 1.2 per cent during the same period.
In terms of significant performance metrics, the group maintained a decent showing with post-tax Return on Equity (ROAE) of 20.6 per cent, post-tax Return on Assets (ROAA) of 3.4 per cent and Cost to Income Ratio (CIR) of 42.3 per cent.
Speaking on the results, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Mr Segun Agbaje, said: “Our performance reflects the strength of our franchise and underscores our ability to deliver long-term value for our stakeholders in spite of the challenges in the business environment and shifting economic conditions. As a Group, we have continued to explore newer ways to connect with our customers and better our communities by offering greater and more rewarding experiences.”
He further added, “2021 presented a crucial opportunity as we took strategic steps to reorganize our business and advance our position as a leading financial services company.
“With the recent addition of Pension Fund and Wealth Management businesses to the Group, we are well on our way to rapidly scale our operations and strengthen our foothold in these key industry segments.
“Our goal is to consolidate our place at the top of Africa’s financial services value chain by leveraging technology to provide end-to-end financial solutions to more people and businesses across Africa.”
GTCO Plc is a fully-fledged financial services group with banking operations across West and East Africa and the United Kingdom as well as non-banking businesses in several key industry segments including Payment, Funds Management and Pension Fund Management.
With over 25 million customers and more than 10,000 employees, the Group remains one of the most profitable and best managed financial services companies out of Nigeria.
Its leadership in the banking industry and efforts at empowering people and communities has earned it many prestigious awards over the years including Africa’s Best Bank and the Best Bank in Nigeria at the 2021 Euromoney Awards for Excellence. It also retained its position as Africa’s Most Admired Financial Services Brand in the 2021 ranking of The Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The sum of N427.96 million has been disbursed to more than 1,000 enrollees as surplus by Noor Takaful Insurance Limited and Noor Health Limited.
The payment of surplus is a demonstration of gratitude, accountability, reflection, and celebration of promises made and kept.
At the 2024 Surplus Distribution and Claims Celebration Ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, a total of 22 participants were given surplus payments by Noor Takaful, while 2 enrollees received surplus payments from Noor Health.
Some of the participants that received surplus payments included Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank, Sterling Bank, The Alternative Bank, Payvantage Limited, Integrated Indigo Limited, Smadac Securities, and Taxaide Logistics.
At the event themed Promise Kept: Celebrating Takaful’s Commitment to Shared Reward, the chairman of Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Ambassador Shuaibu Ahmed, explained that the company has proven over the years that surplus distribution is not a theoretical concept but a model that works in practice, as evidenced by its consistent payments to participants. He acknowledged that there is growing acceptance of Takaful, as it is increasingly recognised as a credible and established alternative to conventional insurance.
“At Noor, however, we believe it is more than just an alternative. We believe it is a better alternative. We say this because Takaful is built around values that are fundamental to how financial protection should work: equity, fairness, mutual responsibility, transparency, and shared benefit,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chairman of Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Mr Aminu Tukur, stated that the 2024 surplus distribution was based on the performance of the participants’ risk pool after claims and other obligations had been settled.
Mr Tukur disclosed that the company had grown from a humble beginning of about 60 participants at its inception to approximately 4,000, noting that the company will continue to collaborate with regulators and other stakeholders to promote Takaful and deepen insurance awareness across Nigeria. He added that the company will mark 10 years of operations in 2027.
He explained further that since inception, the company has cumulatively paid N22 billion in claims to beneficiaries/participants, with General Takaful accounting for N7.4 billion and Family Takaful contributing N14.5 billion.
“Our role is to ensure proper management and administration of funds, which includes investments. Secondly, we have a responsibility to ensure that every genuine claim is paid on a timely and stress-free basis,” he stressed.
In his remarks, the chief executive of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Ayo Omosehin, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Insurance, Technical, NAICOM, Mr Usman Jankara, described the payment of surplus to participants as a practical demonstration of the values that define cooperation, shared responsibility, fairness, ethical conduct, and collective prosperity.
He stated that the distribution of surplus by Noor Takaful clearly demonstrates that participants are not merely purchasers of protection but contributors to a system built on cooperation and mutual benefit.
“This has sent a strong message that Takaful can create measurable value while remaining faithful to its ethical foundation,” he added.
Speaking on the recapitalisation exercise for insurance companies recently carried out by NAICOM, he stated that Takaful operators were exempted as they had undergone a similar exercise 4 years ago. According to him, there is no compelling need at the moment for recapitalisation of the Takaful segment of the insurance industry, as all the Takaful operators are well capitalised.
While commending the company for reaching the milestone and promoting participants’ education and engagement, he stressed that NAICOM would continue to support Takaful’s growth while ensuring proper regulatory oversight.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The transaction banking capabilities of Stanbic IBTC Bank have been improved with the upgrade of its software to FinnAxia® 9.0.
This was made possible through the collaboration between the financial institution and Nucleus Software, a leading provider of lending and transaction banking solutions.
The milestone reflects more than a decade of collaboration between both organisations in strengthening transaction banking capabilities and delivering enhanced value to corporate and institutional clients.
As customer expectations continue to evolve and businesses increasingly demand seamless, real-time and digitally enabled banking services, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Nucleus Software remain focused on leveraging technology to improve service delivery, enhance operational efficiency and support business growth.
The advancement to FinnAxia® 9.0 enhances Stanbic IBTC Bank’s transaction banking platform, strengthening its ability to deliver integrated payments, collections, liquidity management and cash management solutions.
The upgrade supports greater agility across operations, improves automation and connectivity, enhances digital experiences for customers, and provides a scalable foundation for future growth and innovation.
Across Africa, transaction banking is entering a new phase of transformation as businesses increasingly seek real-time payments, digital trade services, intelligent liquidity management and connected banking experiences.
Financial institutions are therefore investing in modern technology platforms that enable faster innovation while maintaining resilience, security and customer-centric service delivery.
The adoption of FinnAxia® 9.0 aligns with Stanbic IBTC Bank’s broader strategy of leveraging technology to create value for clients and maintain high standards of operational excellence.
“Our relationship with Nucleus Software has spanned a decade and forms part of our broader commitment to continuously strengthening the solutions and services we provide to clients.
“As transaction banking continues to evolve, we remain focused on investing in capabilities that help businesses operate with greater speed, visibility and confidence.
“The advancement to FinnAxia® 9.0 enhances our transaction banking platform and strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, efficient and customer-focused solutions in a rapidly changing environment,” the Executive Director of Corporate and Transaction Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Eric Fajemisin, stated.
Also speaking on the development, the Head of Transaction Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Jesuseun Fatoyinbo, said, “Transaction banking today is about delivering intelligent, seamless and responsive experiences for customers. This enhancement further strengthens our ability to simplify customer journeys, improve operational efficiency and introduce new capabilities more rapidly. It reflects our continued commitment to supporting clients with solutions that evolve alongside their business needs and growth ambitions.”
Speaking on the milestone, the chief executive of Nucleus Software, Parag Bhise, said, “We value our long-standing relationship with Stanbic IBTC Bank and are pleased to support the Bank’s continued efforts to enhance its transaction banking capabilities.
“FinnAxia® 9.0 has been designed to help financial institutions respond to evolving customer expectations through improved automation, connectivity and operational efficiency.”
The advancement to FinnAxia® 9.0 represents the latest step in the ongoing collaboration between Stanbic IBTC Bank and Nucleus Software to strengthen transaction banking capabilities and deliver innovative solutions that support the evolving needs of businesses.
By combining Stanbic IBTC Bank’s customer-centric approach with Nucleus Software’s technology expertise, the partnership continues to drive greater efficiency, agility and value for corporate and institutional clients.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Standard Chartered has launched its ninth sub-fund under its Variable Capital Company (VCC) platform, partnering with Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI) as the sub-manager to provide eligible clients with access to a gold-focused investment strategy.
The new Signature Select Enhanced Gold Income Fund combines exposure to gold with an enhanced income-generation strategy. The fund invests in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and uses a covered call strategy to seek regular income while allowing investors to participate in the potential long-term appreciation of gold.
Standard Chartered said gold could help diversify investment portfolios because of its relatively low correlation with traditional asset classes and its potential to provide resilience during periods of geopolitical, monetary and market uncertainty.
The fund is available from this month to Accredited and Professional Investors across the Bank’s Priority, Priority Private and Private Banking segments in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jersey, Kenya and Nigeria. Taiwan is expected to be added later in 2026.
AllianzGI, which has more than 700 investment professionals globally as of March 31, 2026, will provide investment management expertise for the fund.
Its Global Multi Asset Team will be responsible for options selection and the day-to-day management of the portfolio, drawing on its experience in portfolio construction, derivatives implementation, risk management and multi-asset investing across different market cycles.
Mr Sumeet Bhambri, Global Head, Advisory and Managed Investments, Wealth Solutions, Standard Chartered, said the partnership with AllianzGI would strengthen the bank’s latest VCC fund and provide clients with a differentiated investment strategy.
“As clients seek greater diversification amid an increasingly uncertain market environment, the fund provides access to a differentiated strategy that combines gold’s portfolio diversification benefits with enhanced income potential,” Mr Bhambri said.
He added that the launch reflected Standard Chartered’s commitment to expanding its wealth platform through strategic partnerships and delivering innovative investment solutions to clients.
On his part, Mr Marc Gualandi, Head of Global Banks at Allianz Global Investors, said the fund was designed to give investors exposure to gold’s long-term value proposition while generating income through an active options strategy.
“We believe gold can play an important role as a long-term allocation within a well-diversified portfolio,” Mr Gualandi said.
He said AllianzGI would leverage its expertise in income strategies, portfolio construction and risk management to help investors pursue income and long-term portfolio resilience.
Standard Chartered established its VCC platform in June 2024 to combine the expertise of leading fund managers with its global asset-class specialists and provide clients with access to customised investment strategies.
The latest launch brings the total number of sub-funds on the platform to nine and marks Standard Chartered’s fourth fund launch in 2026.
