Banking
High Credit Risk, FX Income Dominate GTBank Performance
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the foremost financial firms in Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) delivered an impressive performance in FY 2016, inspite of the low pace of credit expansion that characterized the year amid the heightened credit risk environment.
The bank, since its inception, has been dominating the sector in Nigeria, growing its customers’ base and delivery impressive performances.
After reviewing the FY 2016 earnings release and the expected performance of the bank, Wstc Financial Services Limited assigned a BUY rating on the stock, with a fair value of N29.74 implying that the current market price is trading at a 19.4 percent discount to fair value.
GTBank currently trades at a forward P/E multiple of 6.34x and P/B of 1.36x
Gross earnings grew by 37.4 percent to N415 billion (FY 2015: N301 billion), primarily on account of a significant FX revaluation gain of N87 billion (FY 2015: N5 billion) recorded in the year.
This was characteristic of the industry and akin to other players with foreign currency net asset exposure, in the light of the currency depreciation recorded in Q2 & Q3 2016.
Interest income grew by 14.5 percent to N262 billion (FY 2015: N229 billion), reflecting the impact of the elevated interest rate environment, while Interest expense declined by 3.2 percent to N67 billion (FY 2015: N69 billion).
GTBank recorded a lower interest expense which primarily resulted from the early redemption of $500 million out of the outstanding November 2013 $902 million 5-year Eurobond.
A sinking fund has also been set up towards the redemption of the remaining $402 million with no plans of refinancing, according to guidance from management. A combination of the remarkable growth in interest income and contraction in interest expense led to a 22.2 percent growth in Net interest income to N195 billion (FY 2015: N160 billion).
The deterioration in the macro environment stressed asset quality and caused a sharp rise in non-performing loan (NPL) to N61 billion (FY 2015: N45 billion) with an NPL ratio of 3.66 percent (FY 2015: 3.21 percent).
Consequently, the bank recorded a significant impairment charge of N65 billion, representing a 426.0 percent surge from FY 2015 levels of N12 billion. The bulk of the impairment charge reported was largely driven by increase in provision on FX denominated facilities due to the currency depreciation.
In line with the elevated inflationary environment, operating expense (Opex) increased by 17.9 percent to N114 billion (FY 2015: N96 billion). The key Opex drivers were fuel cost & translation differences from foreign subsidiaries.
In tandem with the impressive performance from top line, profit before tax increased by 36.8 percent to N165 billion (FY 2015: N120 billion), while profit after tax increased by 33.0 percent to N132 billion (FY 2015: N99 billion).
The Bank proposed a total dividend of N2.00, representing a payout ratio of 43 percent (FY 2015: 51 percent).
Wstc Financial Services Limited says it expects high yield on government securities to continue to support growth in interest income in FY 2017, as it expects a marginal expansion in loan book size.
Also, barring significant volatility in the FX market, the firm said it does not expect the level of FX gains recorded in FY 2016 to recur in FY 2017.
“Thus, we expect a 12.6 percent decline in gross earnings in FY 2017.
“We expect cost of funds to increase in reflection of the high interest rate environment. Also, we believe the newly introduced FGN savings bond may somewhat crowd-out the bank’s retail deposits and impact negatively on interest expense,” Wstc Financial Services Limited said.
In view of the bank’s significant loan book exposure to the oil & gas sector and the weak outlook of oil price as well as management’s recent disclosure that the Etisalat Nigeria loan (N42 billion) is expected to be restructured sometime in Q2 2017, and Wstc Financial Services Limited still expects a high impairment charge on risk assets to be recorded in FY 2017.
“Thus, we estimate that the bank’s ROAE will decline to 22.5 percent by FY 2017 (from 29.1 percent in FY 2016) as the cost to income ratio increases to 45.1 percent from 40.8 percent which resulted from FX income in FY 2016.
“We expect a FY 2017 PBT of N142 billion (more conservative than management’s guidance of N168 billion),” it added.
In estimating the fair value of GTBank, Wstc Financial Services Limited adopted a blended valuation methodology using the residual income and dividend discount valuation approaches.
Its initial year cost of equity (COE) estimate of 21.3 percent was computed using a 10-yr risk-free rate of 15.89 percent, beta of 0.74 (relative to the NSE ASI) and an equity risk premium of 5.69 percent.
Wstc Financial Services Limited says it arrived at a Fair value estimate of N29.74 per share, pointing out that its fair value estimate implies justified forward P/E multiple of 7.57x and P/BV multiple of 1.62x, while the current market price is at an 19.4 percent discount to its fair value; “hence, we rate the company’s stock a BUY.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled the fourth edition of its Foreign Exchange Manual as part of efforts to deepen liquidity, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the country’s foreign exchange market.
Speaking at the launch of the revised manual in Abuja on Friday, the Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, said the document will take effect from June 1, 2026.
He said it was developed after extensive consultations with banks, exporters, importers, corporates, regulators and development partners.
He said the new framework reflects the apex bank’s commitment to modernising the country’s foreign exchange administration in line with international best practices.
Mr Cardoso described the foreign exchange market as a critical pillar of any open economy, noting that effective governance of the sector is essential for sustaining macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.
“Foreign exchange is more than a financial instrument. It anchors price stability, facilitates the flow of goods and capital, and shapes investor sentiment,” he said.
The CBN governor stressed that the revised manual became necessary due to changing global economic realities, domestic reforms and the need for a more coherent and forward-looking regulatory framework.
According to him, the last edition of the FX manual was issued in 2018, making the latest review both timely and necessary.
Mr Cardoso disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange market has witnessed significant improvement in liquidity since the current administration began reforms in the sector.
He added that daily turnover in the FX market increased from an average of about $100 million in the early days of the administration to between $400 million and $600 million daily.
The CBN Governor added that the market had also recorded transactions of up to $1 billion per day on several occasions in recent months.
“We have gone from a situation where it was more or less a one-way market, where the central bank came in, intervened and went away, to a much more dynamic market,” he stated.
The apex bank boss noted that the reforms were gradually restoring confidence among investors and market participants, encouraging freer entry and exit in the market without unnecessary restrictions.
He also maintained that the nation’s foreign reserves should not be used as the primary tool for funding the foreign exchange market.
“Reserves are reserves. They are not what you look to fund a market,” he said.
The CBN Governor assured stakeholders that the revised manual would be distributed free of charge to authorised dealers while the bank strengthens monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance, fairness and accountability across the foreign exchange market.
On his part, the Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Mr Muhammad Abdullahi, said the review formed part of broader reforms initiated by Mr Cardoso to restore confidence, improve transparency and deepen liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
Mr Abdullahi explained that the revised manual introduces several changes aimed at improving ease of doing business and reducing transaction bottlenecks.
Among the notable changes, he noted, are provisions allowing unfettered access to export proceeds, the introduction of non-resident investment accounts and operational guidelines for Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) transactions to support regional trade.
Mr Abdullahi added that the manual also contains new provisions on service exports, revised documentation requirements and updated operational procedures designed to align Nigeria’s FX market with global standards.
He said the apex bank deliberately adopted an ease of doing business approach during the review process to eliminate inefficiencies and ambiguities identified by stakeholders.
“The revised manual is not a stand-alone exercise but part of a broader institutional reform effort designed to strengthen the integrity, credibility and effectiveness of Nigeria’s foreign exchange system,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the appointment of Mr Julius Omodayo-Owotuga to the board of First Bank of Nigeria Limited as an executive director.
A statement from the company said the appointment of Mr Omodayo-Owotuga became effective on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
He was appointed to the board of the subsidiary of First Holdco Plc to further strengthen its leadership capacity across strategic finance, governance, risk management, and institutional transformation.
Before now, he served on the board of First Holdco as a non-executive director between 2021 and 2026.
The appointee brings to the board 24 years of experience spanning banking and financial services, infrastructure finance, power, oil & gas, and audit and consulting.
His appointment, according to the notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to strong governance, disciplined execution, financial resilience, and sustainable long-term growth.
He most recently served as deputy chief executive of Geregu Power Plc, Nigeria’s first listed power generation company, where he played a pivotal role in institutional transformation, governance strengthening, capital market positioning, operational optimisation, and major financing initiatives, including the company’s landmark listing on NGX.
Mr Omodayo-Owotuga previously served as group executive director, Finance & Risk Management at Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc), where he was instrumental in the company’s financial and operational transformation, leading strategic restructuring, capital raising, treasury optimisation, enterprise risk management, and governance improvement initiatives that strengthened long-term shareholder value.
His professional career also includes roles at Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, KPMG Professional Services and MBC International Bank (Now First Bank Nigeria Limited), providing him with deep experience in institutional finance, treasury management, financial controls, regulatory engagement, and corporate advisory.
Mr Omodayo-Owotuga is a CFA Charter Holder, KPMG-trained Accountant, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria and a Certified Management Accountant.
He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is an alumnus of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, IE Business School, Geneva Business School, and the University of Lagos.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In recognition of its strategic leadership in advancing the growth and resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has been honoured by the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON).
The lender was rewarded by the group for its suite of solutions designed to enable business expansion and long-term value creation.
At the Nigeria National SME Business Awards, held recently in Lagos, Union Bank was given the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award for 2025.
The ceremony was organised by ASBON in partnership with the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment.
The event convened stakeholders from the public and private sectors to recognise individuals and organisations driving meaningful impact across Nigeria’s SME ecosystem.
Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, its Head of SME Segment, Mr Ayokunnumi Abraham, described the recognition as a strong endorsement of the organisation’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects Union Bank’s continued commitment to helping SMEs grow by making banking simpler, faster, and more accessible.
“Through enhancements to our specialised platforms such as Union360, we have meaningfully reduced the time it takes for businesses to come on board and begin transacting.
“These improvements have shortened onboarding, increased digital adoption among our SME customers, and supported the acquisition of new business clients. Our focus remains on delivering practical solutions that help Nigerian businesses thrive,” he stated.
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