Business
Largest Banks In Nigeria By Total Assets As Of H1 2022
Access Bank, Zenith, and FBN Holdings maintained the top spot as the largest banks in Nigeria based on the value of their total assets as of the first half of 2022.
According to Nairametric,the thirteen commercial banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) with major operations in the country saw their aggregate asset value increase by 8.1% in the first six months of the year to stand at N63.59 trillion as of June 2022 from N58.83 trillion recorded as of the beginning of the year.
The top five banks were the major tier-1 financial institutions typically referred to as the FUGAZ, which is an acronym used to represent First Bank, UBA, GTCO, Access, and Zenith Bank. The top five banks accounted for 80.5% of the total asset of the industry. It is worth noting that Ecobank Transnational Incorporated was not included in the compilation because most of its operations are outside Nigeria.
A further breakdown of the data shows that the increase in the total assets of the banks was largely attributed to rises in customer loans. Although Union Bank recorded a decline in its total assets in the period under review, Stanbic IBTC recorded the highest increase with a 14.8% increase to stand at N3.15 trillion from N2.74 trillion as of the beginning of the year.
The top five banks in Nigeria by total assets are:
#5: GTCO – N5.69 trillion
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) posted a total asset value of N5.69 trillion as of June 2022, which is 4.6% higher than the N5.44 trillion recorded as of December 2021. GTCO accounted for 8.9% of the total assets of the thirteen banks.
The banking giant, which also restructured into a holding company last year saw its cash and bank balances with the Central Bank rise to N1.04 trillion in June 2022 from N933.59 billion as of the end of last year.
Also, loans to customers increased marginally from N1.8 trillion as of December 2021 to N1.83 trillion by the end of June 2022. Meanwhile, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss improved significantly from N104.4 billion to N262.32 billion.
#4: UBA – N8.99 trillion
United Bank for Africa ranks fourth on the list of biggest banks in Nigeria based on total assets with a value of 8.99 trillion, representing a 5.4% increase from N8.54 trillion recorded by the beginning of the year.
UBA accounted for 14.2% of the total asset value of the entire thirteen banks on the list. A further breakdown of the bank’s statement of financial position showed that it’s cash and bank balances improved to N1.98 trillion from N1.82 trillion recorded as of the beginning of the year.
Also, its loans and advances to customers increased to N2.75 trillion from N2.68 trillion, while loans to banks improved to N198.1 billion as of the period under review. Property and equipment stood at N183.6 billion, while investment securities at fair value stood at N1.63 trillion.
Largest banks in Nigeria by total assets as of H1 2022
#3: FBN Holdings – N9.53 trillion
FBN Holdings posted a total asset valuation of N9.53 trillion as of June 2022, representing a 6.6% increase from N8.93 trillion recorded six months earlier. FBN Holdings, which is the parent company for First Bank accounted for 15% of the total aggregate assets for the thirteen banks.
FBN’s asset growth can be attributed to increasing in its cash and balances, loan books, and investment securities. Its cash and balances with Central Bank rose from N1.59 trillion to N1.64 trillion in the six months period.
Also, its loans and advances to customers improved from N2.88 trillion as of December 2021 to stand at N3.38 trillion by the end of June 2022. It is worth adding that its investment securities rose to N2.16 trillion from N1.96 trillion.
On the flip side, its property and equipment declined marginally to N113.79 billion from N115.9 billion recorded as of December 2021.
#2: Zenith Bank – N10.12 trillion
Zenith Bank reported a total asset value of N10.12 trillion as of June 2022, an increase of 7.1% from N9.45 trillion recorded as of December 31st, 2022. Zenith Bank accounted for 15.9% of the total assets of the banks listed on the Exchange.
The increase in its total assets was as a result of improvement in its cash and balance with the Central Bank, treasury bills, loans to customers as well as investment securities.
The bank, which is also the most capitalized bank in the Nigerian equities market, saw its loan books increase to N3.49 trillion as of June 2022 from N3.36 trillion, while investment securities stood at N1.48 trillion.
In the same vein, property and equipment improved, albeit only marginally from N200 billion to N202.3 billion. Investment securities improved from N1.3 trillion recorded as of the beginning of the year to N1.48 trillion by the end of June 2022.
#1: Access Bank – N13.19 trillion
Access Holdings Plc tops the list with a total asset value of N13.19 trillion as of June 2022, representing an increase of 12.5% compared to N11.73 trillion recorded as of the beginning of the year.
The financial institution, which is a newly restructured holding company accounted for 20.8% of the total assets of the thirteen banks under consideration. The uptick in the total asset value of the bank can be attributed to improvements in some of the asset components, especially loans and advances.
Specifically, loans and advances to customers rose to N4.62 trillion as of the period under consideration from N4.16 trillion recorded as of the beginning of the year. This means that Access Bank gave out an additional N458.2 billion in loans to its customers in the first six months of the year.
Also, investment securities rose by N493.6 billion to stand at N2.76 trillion. The value of its property and equipment increased to N261.8 billion from N247.7 billion, having spent N36.7 billion on the acquisition of property and equipment in the same period.
Meanwhile, Access Bank has entered into a binding agreement with Centum Investment Company Plc to acquire its entire 83.4% equity stake held by Centum in Sidian Bank Limited.
Also, the holding company received regulatory approval in August 2022 to acquire a majority equity stake in First Guarantee Pension Limited, in a bid to evolve into a financial service holding company.
Others include
Fidelity Bank – N3.69 trillion
Stanbic IBTC – N3.15 trillion
FCMB – N2.65 trillion
Union Bank – N2.54 trillion
Sterling Bank – N1.81 trillion
Sterling Bank has announced the removal of transfer fees on all local online transactions.
The move was confirmed by the bank on Tuesday in a press release.
The development makes it the first major Nigerian bank to eliminate the contentious charges for digital banking.
The statement noted that the bank reaffirmed its commitment to customer-centric banking, declaring that the zero-transfer-fee policy is real and effective immediately.
The initiative is expected to bring significant relief to individuals and small business owners who conduct frequent transactions.
The bank’s Growth Executive in charge of Consumer and Business Banking, Obinna Ukachukwu, described the decision as a values-driven approach aimed at ensuring fair and inclusive banking.
“We believe access to your own money shouldn’t come with a penalty.
“This is more than a financial decision—it’s about redefining banking to put customers first,” he stated.
Under the new policy, Sterling customers will not be charged for local transfers conducted via the bank’s mobile app.
Ukachukwu emphasised that the bank’s decision is about more than just competitive strategy.
He said, “We’re not yet the biggest bank in Nigeria, but we’ve been the boldest.
Sterling fearlessly believes in the future of Nigeria, and this is us backing Nigerians with more than words.
The Central Bank of Nigeria dismissed a report claiming it had introduced N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes to facilitate cash transactions as false.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, the apex bank described the report as fake and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
“The content is not from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Kindly note that the official website of the CBN is cbn.gov.ng,” the statement read.
A statement from the CBN’s communications department further clarified, “The only official sources for releasing statements to the media are our website or statements from our department. There is also no Deputy Governor by such name. We are investigating the source of this fake content.”
The report quoted one Deputy CBN Governor, Ibrahim Tahir Jr., the move is aimed at reducing cash-handling costs and providing Nigerians with more efficient means of conducting large transactions.
“The introduction of these new high-value denominations aligns with global best practices and will enhance economic activities while reducing the stress associated with carrying large amounts of cash,” the Governor stated. The CBN said there is no such name in its leadership.
“The new N5,000 note will feature the portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, while the N10,000 note will showcase Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, both in recognition of their contributions to Nigeria’s development.
“Additionally, the new notes will incorporate enhanced security features, including color-changing ink, holograms, and anti-counterfeiting technology, making them impossible to replicate,” the fake report stated.
The fake report also said the nationwide rollout would begin on May 1, 2025, with commercial banks instructed to start issuing the new notes via ATMs and over-the-counter transactions.
Mixed reactions have trailed changes in the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and its board by President Bola Tinubu.
The President had on Wednesday reconstituted the board of the NNPC Ltd., removing the Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Malam Mele Kyari.
Tinubu removed all the board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.
The new 11-man board has Mr Bayo Ojulari as thevGroup Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Kida as Non-Executive Chairman.
Some experts have reacted to the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)non Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr Olabode Sowunmi, an Oil and Gas Expert described the development as a calculated effort to put some life and energy into the oil and gas industry.
Sowunmi, CEO, Cabtree, described it as a welcome development.
He said that the NNPC Ltd. was a limited liability company with the
Federal Government as its major shareholder.
“It is a calculated effort to put some life and energy into the industry.
“It is expected that this will mean new thinking, new focus and more results,” he said.
According to Sowunmi, even the proposed Initial Public Offer (IPO) which is targeted at listing NNPC in the stock market, will not have prevented Kyari’s removal, as he is a government appointee.
“The government can remove any government appointee at anytime,” he said.
Yushau Aliyu, an economic expert said the changes were timely, especially when the IPO was underway.
“However, the IPO must be professionally determined by relating to the development in the oil market as well as the willingness of the general public.
“Investment potential with the economic growth targets of Nigeria 2030 should also be considered,” he said.
He said that the President was empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) to dissolve both the NNPC Ltd. board and the CEO.
Another expert, Dr Sand Mba-Kalu, said that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector needed stability and predictability, along with strict adherence to legal standards, to attract sustainable investment and encourage transformation.
According to him, the move represents a bold initiative within the larger framework of aiming to meet our national production and refining targets in the energy sector by 2027 and 2030.
Mr Lawrence Nze, an Economist said that most of the policies introduced under Kyari never solved the challenges in the oil sector.
Nze said that the Naira for crude policy appeared not to be working since it had not resulted to any serious reduction in price.
According to him, Dangote Refinery was gradually achieving that with its slight reduction in ex-depot price which usually affects pump price, but suddenly, authorities in the oil sector cancelled it.
“To me, it looks like a sabotage against the people. Why can we not stop importation? It means that there is a deal that someone or group of people are benefiting from.
“It is not rocket science to get the energy sector working. Nigerians want cheaper petroleum products, is that too much to ask for?
“Only President Tinubu knows why he sacked Kyari, and whatever be the reason, Nigerians should have access to cheaper petroleum products, especially fuel.
“I will advise the president to ensure that the Naira for crude policy works in the country to enable local refineries operate on a cheaper scale,” he said.