Access Bank records 58% profit growth in 2018

Access Bank Plc has reported an impressive performance in its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2018 showing an increase of 58 percent in Profit after Tax (PAT) to N95 billion from N60.1 billion in the corresponding period of 2017.

The Bank’s audited results which was released to The Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday also showed that Gross Earnings rose 15 percent to N528.7 billion in full year 2018, compared to N459.1 billion in 2017, with interest and non-interest income contributing 72 percent and 26 percent respectively.  Profit before Tax (PBT) for the period was N103.2 billion, showing 32 percent growth from N78.2 billion in 2017 while Return on Average Equity (ROAE) stood at 19.0 percent with a Return on Asset of 2.1 percent in full year 2018. The Bank has proposed a final dividend of 25 kobo per share bringing total dividend for the year to 50 kobo per share.

The asset base of the Bank remained strong and diversified with growth of 21 percent year till date in total assets to N4.95 trillion in December 2018 from N4.10 trillion in December 2017. Loans and Advances totaled N2.14 trillion as at December 2018 (December 2017: N2.06 trillion). Customer deposits increased by 14 percent to N2.57 trillion in December 2018, from N2.25 trillion in December 2017. Capital Adequacy (CAR) remained adequate at 20.8 percent, taking into consideration the regulatory transitional arrangement of IFRS 9 implementation. On a full impact basis, CAR stood at 19.9 percent. Similarly, Liquidity ratios of 50.9 percent (December 2017: 47.2 percent), remained well above regulatory requirements.

Commenting on the Bank’s performance during the period, Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe said, “2018 marked a significant year of progress for the Bank amidst an unfavourable macro climate. We made solid progress throughout 2018 in line with our 2018-2022 five-year strategy, and we remain committed to the achievement of our strategic imperatives going forward; as we continue to invest in our people and technology in order to improve operational efficiency and service touch points with earnings growth in 2019.”

According to him, the contribution of the Bank’s subsidiaries to Group profits grew 116 percent to N27.9 billion, underlined by the effective implementation of overall strategy.

“In pursuit of our vision to be one of the leading Banks in Nigeria, we took accelerated strides in the last quarter of the year towards achieving our overall retail strategy. The merger with Diamond Bank will enable us to fully entrench ourselves in the retail market with a view to lowering our funding cost. This transaction is anticipated to be completed by April 2019, resulting in the creation of an enlarged, efficient and digitally led tier 1 retail banking franchise” he stated.