Access Holdings Plc recorded a profit before tax of ₦667.36 billion in the nine months ended September 2026, representing an 8.29 per cent increase from ₦616.25 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The financial holding company also posted a strong quarterly recovery, with its third-quarter profit before tax rising 78.43 per cent to ₦253.23 billion from ₦141.92 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
However, the Q3 performance remained 14.35 per cent below the ₦295.68 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025.
The figures were contained in the group’s combined half-year and nine-month financial results released on Monday, November 2, 2026.
Access Holdings’ profit after tax increased by 5.95 per cent to ₦474.17 billion from ₦447.55 billion in the nine-month period of 2025.
Its third-quarter profit after tax also surged by 313.41 per cent to ₦207.45 billion, compared with ₦50.18 billion in the preceding quarter, although it declined by 10.44 per cent from ₦231.63 billion recorded in Q3 2025.
The group’s interest income rose by 6.91 per cent to ₦3.10 trillion from ₦2.90 trillion, while fee and commission income increased by 8.40 per cent to ₦650.87 billion, compared with ₦600.40 billion a year earlier.
Net interest income, however, grew moderately by 2.74 per cent to ₦1.29 trillion from ₦1.26 trillion, as rising funding costs moderated the gains from higher interest income.
Interest expenses increased by 10.09 per cent to ₦1.81 trillion, outpacing the growth in interest income. Interest paid on customer deposits rose to ₦1.25 trillion from ₦805.62 billion.
A major boost to the group’s earnings came from a significant reduction in impairment charges, which fell by 73.45 per cent to ₦92.91 billion from ₦349.99 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.
The reduction lowered impairment expenses by ₦257.08 billion, providing substantial support for profitability.
Net fee income also strengthened by 12.40 per cent to ₦534.94 billion, supported by higher fee and commission earnings and a decline in related expenses.
Despite the improvement in earnings, operating costs remained elevated, with personnel expenses rising by 20.51 per cent to ₦432.12 billion, while other operating expenses increased by 6.03 per cent to ₦757.26 billion.
The group’s total assets stood at ₦52.60 trillion as of September 2026, compared with ₦52.20 trillion a year earlier.
Meanwhile, debt securities and interest-bearing borrowings declined by 37.44 per cent to ₦2.05 trillion from ₦3.28 trillion, while cash and cash equivalents dropped by 27.54 per cent to ₦6.53 trillion from ₦9.01 trillion.
On the Nigerian Exchange, Access Holdings shares traded flat at ₦28.60 in early trading on Monday, according to market data cited in the report.
The stock had gained 39 per cent year-to-date but declined by 5.25 per cent over the preceding month.
The group did not propose an interim dividend in the reported results.
Source: Nairametrics
