Banking
Fitch Sees Improvement in Ecobank Nigeria’s Profitability
By Dipo Olowookere
Ecobank Nigeria is expected to record a moderate improvement in profitability, a notable rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has submitted.
The rating firm made this submission based on the receding asset-quality pressures and lower loan impairment charges (LICs) of the financial institution.
In a statement to announce affirming the lender’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B-‘ with a stable outlook, Fitch said Ecobank’s loans have declined in recent years and it does not see a high risk of the largest Stage 2 loans, which are concentrated within the oil and gas sector, of becoming impaired.
It noted that its asset-quality assessment is positively influenced by a substantial amount of non-loan assets, largely comprising government securities and cash reserves at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also, the rating company simultaneously upgraded the bank’s National Short-Term Rating to ‘F2(nga)’ from ‘F3(nga)’, noting that the IDRs of Ecobank Nigeria are driven by its standalone creditworthiness, as expressed by its Viability Rating (VR) of ‘b-‘.
It stated that the bank has a moderate market share of Nigeria’s banking-sector assets but its franchise benefits from being a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a large pan-African banking group with operations spanning 33 countries across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
In the statement, Fitch said it observed that Ecobank’s total capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 19.6 per cent at the end of the first quarter of 2021 maintains a comfortable buffer above the 10 per cent regulatory requirement for a bank with a national licence and the bank’s tangible leverage ratio of 10.7 per cent at the end of the first quarter of 2021 which compares favourably with that of peers.
Impaired loans net of specific loan loss allowances represented a significant 46 per cent of Fitch Core Capital at end of the first quarter of last year but risks to capital are mitigated by strong collateral coverage and recovery expectations of the two large upstream impaired loans.
The bank’s low gross loans/customer deposits ratio of 67 per cent at the end of 2021 largely reflects a small loan book.
“Large cash reserves at the CBN, net interbank placements and unpledged central-government securities represented 33 per cent of total assets and 50 per cent of customer deposits at the end the first quarter of 2021 providing healthy liquidity coverage.
“Our funding and liquidity assessment also considers the benefits of ordinary liquidity support from ETI,” the statement said.
Fitch’s view of support for Ecobank Nigeria considered the high propensity of ETI to provide support, given the former’s importance to the parent’s pan-African strategy as its largest subsidiary and it is operating in sub–Saharan Africa’s largest economy.
It also considers the material reputational damage to ETI that would accompany Ecobank’s default, the 100 per cent ownership, a high degree of management and operational integration and a record of capital support.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The proposed acquisition of South African financial institution, Bidvest Bank by a Nigerian lender, Access Bank Plc, has hit a brick wall.
Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of the Nigerian bank, had announced on December 12, 2024, its intention to completely takeover Bidvest Bank.
Talks regarding the 100 per cent stake acquisition began between the two banks and January 26, 2026, was fixed as the long-stop date by which all conditions required for the completion of the deal.
However, the day has come and gone with the conclusion of the transaction still hanging, according to Access Bank in a statement on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The company disclosed that certain conditions, including regulatory requirements, were not fully met as of the expiration of the long-stop date.
While Access Bank thanked the board and management of Bidvest for their patience and support throughout this process, it noted that the brick wall experienced in the transaction “reflects the complexities and extended timelines associated with multi-jurisdictional regulatory and transactional processes.”
However, the chief executive of Access Bank, Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the organisation remains “constructively engaged with stakeholders on this transaction towards finding a potential path to closure.”
“This initial outcome does not diminish our confidence in South Africa’s financial ecosystem,” he declared, pointing out that the lender remains “focused on building Africa’s most respected financial institution, strengthening our trade finance capabilities and delivering long-term value to customers, partners and communities across all our markets.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Bank of Industry (BoI) has secured regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to offer Non-Interest Banking (NIB) services, marking a major expansion of its financing framework.
The approval was disclosed in a statement by the BoI Managing Director, Mr Olasupo Olusi, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The move is expected to strengthen the bank’s role in promoting sustainable industrial development and improving access to finance for underserved and high-impact business segments across Nigeria.
With the approval, BoI is authorised to commence non-interest banking operations, providing ethical, asset-backed financing options that prohibit interest and promote risk-sharing.
The initiative aligns with growing demand for alternative financing structures that support inclusive growth and social development objectives.
Mr Olusi described the approval as a significant milestone in the bank’s growth and long-term development agenda, adding that it positions BoI to deepen its contribution to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive through tailored financial solutions.
“This development marks a significant milestone in the Bank of Industry’s growth and long-term development agenda,” Olusi said.
“It positions the bank to further advance Nigeria’s sustainable and inclusive industrial development through tailored financial solutions for underserved and high-impact business segments.”
“Under this framework, BoI will be able to finance assets and raw materials for customers using approved non-interest banking products,” he added.
Mr Olusi noted that the approval underscores the CBN’s confidence in BoI’s governance and commitment to responsible financing.
He said the licence would allow the bank to scale its operations, introduce innovative financing solutions, deepen support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and reach a new category of borrowers who were previously unable to access BoI’s funding.
Reconstructed in 2001 from the former Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) Limited, BoI was originally incorporated in 1959 to transform the country’s industrial sector by providing long-term, low-interest financing and advisory support to various enterprises.
The introduction of a non-interest banking window is expected to broaden BoI’s financing toolkit and attract new pools of ethical and faith-based capital.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Group Chief Economist and Managing Director for Research and Trade Intelligence at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Mr Yemi Kale, has been pencilled down to deliver the keynote address at the second Ecobank Customer Forum.
The programme, themed Strengthening Regional Integration for Economic Transformation, will take place at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.
The forum, organised by the bank’s Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (FICC) Business (Treasury), is designed to examine critical issues shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic outlook in 2026, with particular focus on trade, financial markets, foreign exchange liquidity and regional integration, especially as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement enters a strategic phase of implementation.
The Regional Treasurer for Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr Olumide Adebayo, said the one-day programme reinforces the lender’s role as a trusted financial partner and customer-focused institution, with the intention to foster dialogue, support informed decision-making, and deeper regional economic integration across Africa.
According to him, the seminar will open with welcome remarks by the Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Lawal, who will underscore the bank’s commitment to supporting customers and driving inclusive growth through strategic dialogue, innovation and pan-African collaboration.
The keynote address, titled The Future of Trade in Africa: Harnessing the AfCFTA for Economic Transformation, will be delivered by Mr Kale and will provide insights into Africa’s trade prospects and the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.
The forum will feature two high-level panel discussions: Balancing the Risk between Interest Rate and Exchange Rate: Business Expectations and Outlook in 2026, and Export Proceeds, Oil Receipts and Remittances in 2026: Exploring Options that Best Support FX Liquidity and Flows in Nigeria.
The event would be moderated by Messrs. Aruoture Oddiri, Host and Producer of Global Business Report on Arise News and Barnabas Vajeh of Ecobank Nigeria Limited.
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