STB Bank H1 2026: Loans Rise 1.9%, Deposits up 3.7%

In Short

• STB Bank says its balance sheet grew 3.5% in the first half of 2026 to TND 15,901 million.
• Net customer loans rose 1.9% for the half year, compared with 0.3% for the wider banking sector.
• Customer deposits reached nearly TND 13 billion, up 3.7% since 31 December 2025.
• Net banking income fell to TND 314 million from TND 350 million a year earlier.
• Capital strength stayed solid, with Tier 1 at 12.62% and overall solvency at 14.57%.

What Happened

STB Bank, listed on Liners as Société Tunisienne de Banque (STB), published its financial statements for the period ending 30 June 2026. The bank said it saw a return to credit growth in the second quarter after a stable first quarter.

On the asset side, STB pointed to higher customer receivables and a larger securities portfolio. On the liability side, growth was driven mainly by customer deposits.

Net customer loans rose 1.9% over the first half of 2026. STB highlighted that this was faster than the sector’s 0.3% growth, suggesting it is regaining momentum in lending despite a tougher macro environment.

STB also increased its holdings of sovereign securities, up 8% to TND 4,680 million by end-June 2026. These are government bonds, meaning the bank is allocating more of its balance sheet to financing the state.

Deposits grew 3.7% to nearly TND 13 billion. STB said the increase was led by savings deposits and demand deposits, which are everyday current account balances.

Why It Matters

For founders, SMEs, and households, loan growth is an important signal because it can translate into more available credit for working capital, trade finance, and consumer lending.

At the same time, the drop in net banking income to TND 314 million shows pressure on earnings. STB said this was linked to lower interest income on loans, partly due to lower average loan balances and interest being held back on some large relationships under consolidation.

The stronger deposit base helps liquidity, meaning the bank has more stable funding to meet withdrawals and support lending. STB also flagged “comfortable” liquidity ratios, including LCR, a short-term liquidity stress test used by regulators.

Finally, the Tier 1 and overall solvency ratios suggest STB remains well capitalised. That matters for confidence in the bank’s ability to absorb losses while continuing to lend into the Tunisian economy.