Access Holdings H1 2026 Profit Before Tax Rises 29.2%

In Short

Access Holdings Plc released unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

The group reported profit before tax of ₦414.1 billion, up from ₦320.6 billion in H1 2025.

It said Access Bank, its flagship subsidiary, contributed 96.8% of group profit before tax.

What Happened

Access Holdings said the 29.2% increase in profit before tax was driven by a 70.0% reduction in impairment charge and a 51.1% increase in net fee and commission income.

Gross earnings were ₦2.614 trillion, up 4.6%. Net interest income was ₦999.6 billion, up 1.5%. Operating expenses rose 12.1% to ₦906.7 billion.

On the balance sheet, total assets grew 6.8% to ₦55.2 trillion as at 30 June 2026, from ₦51.7 trillion as at 31 December 2025. Customer deposits increased 7.9% to ₦37.3 trillion. Loans and advances to customers grew 5.9% to ₦14.1 trillion.

Access Holdings reported profit after tax of ₦266.7 billion, up 23.5%.

The group’s cost-to-income ratio rose to 65.2% in H1 2026 from 51.7% in FY 2025. It said this was due to higher personnel expenses as it continued to invest in talent and growth initiatives.

Group Managing Director and CEO Innocent C. Ike said the results reflect progress in “translating the strength and scale of Access Holdings into sustainable value for shareholders.”

Why It Matters

Access Holdings highlighted improved earnings quality, with impairment charge down sharply and fee and commission income rising.

The results also show how concentrated group earnings are in Access Bank, which accounted for 96.8% of group profit before tax.

The higher cost-to-income ratio and lower annualised return on average equity, 18.3% pre-tax and 11.8% post-tax in H1 2026, signal pressure on efficiency as the group invests in staff and growth across its markets.