Fitch Reaffirms Stanbic IBTC’s AAA(nga) Rating

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The AAA (nga) rating assigned to Stanbic IBTC Holdings by Fitch Ratings has been reaffirmed, extending the financial services company’s place at the top of Nigeria’s National Long-Term Rating scale for over a decade.

The reputable global rating agency also gave the Nigerian company a stable outlook due to its comfortable liquidity coverage in both local and foreign currency.

Stanbic IBTC’s loans-to-deposits ratio fell to 63 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from 100 per cent in 2023, with deposit growth continuing to outpace lending, and operating profit reaching a record 12.8 per cent of risk-weighted assets in the same quarter.

Its capital position also strengthened, with the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio rising to 18.7 per cent following a N147 billion rights issue completed in 2025.

Fitch also cited the strategic backing of parent company Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, which holds a 68.46 per cent stake in Stanbic IBTC.

“A rating reflects whether an institution does what it says it will do, year after year. Holding the highest national rating from Fitch for over a decade tells us our approach to risk, governance, and how we run Stanbic IBTC has remained sound through very different economic cycles. It gives our clients and partners a clear, independent reference point as they choose who to bank with,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr Chuma Nwokocha, said.