Banking
GCR Affirms A-(NG) Rating on First Bank With Stable Outlook
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos Nigeria, 11 September 2017 — Global Credit Ratings has affirmed the national scale ratings assigned to First Bank of Nigeria Limited of A-(NG) and A1-(NG) in the long term and short term respectively; with the outlook accorded as Stable. The ratings are valid until August 2018.
RATING RATIONALE
Global Credit Ratings (“GCR”) has accorded the above credit ratings to First Bank of Nigeria Limited1 (“FirstBank” or “the Bank”) based on the following key criteria:
The ratings of FirstBank are supported by its established franchise and systemically important status, with likelihood of strong support from the Federal Government of Nigeria in the event that such support is required. Offsetting these key rating drivers is the Bank’s moderated profitability in recent years, primarily due to the level of loan impairment charges.
Asset quality remains a key rating concern, with the Bank’s gross non-performing loan (“NPL”) ratio escalating to 24.2% at FY16 (FY15: 17.8%). This was largely driven by rising delinquent loans, particularly within the troubled oil and gas sector, where the Bank remains highly exposed. While management efforts towards revamping the risk management framework and architecture are noted, additional impairment pressure is expected, as the exposure within the oil and gas sector remains substantial (constituting 38.6% of gross loans at 1H FY17), with the likelihood of offsetting the full impact of recovery efforts at FY17. Based on the unaudited results for 1H FY17, gross NPLs stood at 21.8% of total gross loans.
The Bank remains adequately capitalised reporting a risk weighted capital adequacy ratio of 17.8% at FY16 FY15: 17.1%), above the prudential threshold of 15%. The position is not expected to change imminently, given management’s muted loan growth prospects, with focus on organic growth through earnings accretion.
FirstBank has a robust funding structure, supported by its strong franchise, and diversified deposit book, though largely short-dated on contractual basis. Liquidity risk is considered low, with regulatory liquidity ratio of 52.7% at FY16 (for FirstBank Nigeria only), well above the prudential minimum of 30%.
The Bank’s exposure to foreign currency risk remains a concern. At FY16, about 51% of gross loans were denominated in foreign currency, the bulk of which remains within the troubled oil and gas sector. Additionally, exposure exists within borrowings and deposits. While FirstBank is taking necessary mitigating measures (including portfolio realignment), the volatility in the foreign exchange market remains a significant risk.
Although FirstBank’s net-interest income of N294.3bn stood above its peers, its bottom-line earnings were considerably weakened, due to high loan impairment charges. Thus, pre-tax profit remained low around N10.7bn (FY15: N9.7bn) in FY16, far below the peer average. According to management, the Bank will continue to enhance its risk management processes and operational efficiency in order to improve operating performance in the coming years.
While the challenging operating environment has heightened uncertainties across all forward looking scenarios, positive rating momentum is dependent on a rebound to strong asset quality and profitability, with markedly improved competitive positioning. Conversely, sustained negative trends in asset quality and profitability, coupled with a significant deterioration in the Bank’s liquidity and capital ratios could result in negative rating action.
1 First Bank of Nigeria Limited is the commercial banking group of FBN Holdings Plc. All figures are for the commercial banking group except where stated otherwise.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, says Nigeria anticipates remittances from citizens living abroad to increase by two-thirds in 2026 as it seeks to bolster its foreign-exchange reserves to $1 billion monthly.
“We are expecting that by the end of the year, we will hit about a billion Dollars a month from diaspora remittances,” he said at the 14th Annual BusinessDay CEO Forum in Lagos on Thursday, themed From Stability to Shared Prosperity.
Mr Cardoso said remittances are expected to be boosted from more than $600 million currently, banking on the CBN’s deliberate target at remittances to diversify reserve sources beyond oil earnings.
According to him, the apex bank engaged Nigerians abroad, banks and international partners to identify barriers to official remittance flows.
He said the lender subsequently reviewed policies to ensure easier movement of funds into and out of the country.
Mr Cardoso described the approach as providing free entry and free exit for foreign exchange.
He said the reforms helped double diaspora inflows within one year and exceeded initial expectations, also projecting annual remittances could reach about $8 billion if the current momentum was sustained, adding that the development reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and foreign exchange market.
Mr Cardoso said reforms introduced by the apex bank had restored stability in the foreign exchange market and improved investors’ confidence.
He identified exchange rate unification as one of the central bank’s major achievements under the reforms programme.
According to him, replacing multiple exchange rate windows with a market-driven system eliminated distortions and improved transparency.
Mr Cardoso said improved foreign exchange liquidity and stronger reserves were among the gains from the reforms.
He said Nigeria’s net external reserves had risen from about $3 billion at the start of the reforms to above $40 billion currently, noting that gross external reserves had grown to about $52 billion, representing about 10 months of import cover.
According to him, the reserves are designed to shield the economy from external shocks and excessive market volatility.
He said the reserves were not meant for routine interventions or day-to-day exchange rate management.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The flagship banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Limited, has been announced as the winner of Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank award at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.
The lender clinched this accolade at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 ceremony, held on July 17, 2026, at The Peninsula London, England, for its outstanding performance, innovation, customer service, and leadership.
GTBank’s recognition as Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank reflects its continued leadership in digital innovation and its commitment to delivering seamless, secure, and customer-centric financial solutions.
As the banking franchise of GTCO, GTBank has consistently set industry benchmarks in digital transformation, pioneering solutions that have redefined how individuals and businesses access, manage, and experience financial services.
Over the years, GTBank has transformed the banking experience through a suite of innovative digital platforms, including the GTWORLD mobile app and solutions that provide millions of customers with seamless, secure, and convenient access to financial services.
The bank continues to strengthen its digital capabilities by introducing products and services that meet evolving customer needs while maintaining the highest standards of security, reliability, and service excellence.
This latest recognition underscores the company’s position as a market leader and reflects its sustained investment in technology, operational excellence, and innovation.
“This recognition is a testament to the legacy upon which GTBank was built and the vision that continues to guide us today.
“From inception, our goal has been to deliver on the Group’s vision to make end-to-end financial services accessible to everyone by leveraging technology to remove barriers, simplify experiences, and create meaningful value for our customers,” the chief executive of GTBank, Mrs Miriam Olusanya, stated.
“While we are honoured by this recognition, we see it as an acknowledgement of what we have achieved and a motivation to do even more.
“We remain focused on raising the bar for digital banking, investing in innovative solutions, and delivering exceptional experiences that create lasting value for our customers.
“As the financial services landscape continues to evolve, we will continue to innovate, adapt, and lead with the same commitment to excellence that has defined our franchise for decades,” she added.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 convened leading financial institutions, industry executives, and policymakers from across the globe to celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in the financial services sector.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
