Access Holdings Leads Nigerian Banks In Asset Quality, Ranks High In Proshare’s Tier 1 Report

Access Holdings PLC has emerged as the top-performing Tier 1 bank in Nigeria for asset quality, boasting the lowest Non-Performing Loan Ratio (NPLR) at 2.76 per cent, according to Proshare’s recently released 2025 Tier 1 Banking Report.

This achievement demonstrates Access Holdings’ dedication to credit discipline, strong risk management, and responsible lending practices.

The comprehensive report, titled “The Class of 2025: Getting Bigger, Bolder, and Dominant,” evaluated leading Nigerian banks on various performance indicators.

While Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) took the top overall position with a perfect percentile score of 100, Access Holdings came in second with a 91st percentile ranking, ahead of Zenith Bank (73%), FirstHoldco (82%), UBA (64%), and GTCO (55%).

Crucially, Access Holdings’ NPLR of 2.76% outperformed its peers, which included Zenith Bank (3.54%), GTCO (4.07%), UBA (3.80%), ETI (6.25%), and FirstHoldco (6.70%).

This demonstrates the Group’s outstanding asset quality management and operational discipline in a volatile market.

“This ranking is more than just a measure of our financial health; it reflects the strength of our governance, the quality of our decision-making, and the emphasis we place on long-term value creation,” said Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group CEO of Access Holdings PLC. “It demonstrates the discipline of our people and the efficacy of our pan-African strategy.”

Agbede also emphasised the Group’s commitment to long-term success, saying, “At Access Holdings, we believe that long-term success is achieved by balancing growth with resilience.

“We will continue to execute with precision, build with purpose, and innovate with integrity as we grow our presence in Africa and beyond.”

The 2025 edition of the Proshare Bank Strength Index (PBSI) features a revised framework that considers the ongoing recapitalisation of Nigeria’s banking sector.

Beyond traditional financial metrics, the model takes into account capital adequacy and scale, asset quality and long-term growth, digital transformation and earnings diversification, governance quality and board diversity, as well as profitability and cost-efficiency.

Access Holdings demonstrated strong fundamentals across all parameters. In 2024, the Group’s assets totalled ₦41.5 trillion, with a loan book of ₦13.1 trillion.

Its capital adequacy ratio was 20.46 per cent, with asset growth at 55.49 per cent. Furthermore, the Group maintained a 1.25 per cent cost of risk, a 6.80 per cent net interest margin, and an impressive 88.05 per cent earnings growth rate.

At the launch event, Olufemi Awoyemi, Chairman of Proshare, emphasised the importance of the report as well as Access Holdings’ performance.

“Access Holdings has established itself as a strong and adaptable institution. Its strong capital base, successful fundraising, and efforts to expand across continents demonstrate that the organisation is not only growing but evolving.

“As recapitalisation reshapes the banking landscape, institutions such as Access Holdings will continue to shape Africa’s financial future.”

Awoyemi also explained ETI’s top ranking, emphasising its unique pan-African structure and less stringent regulatory exposure in Nigeria than locally regulated groups.

According to the report, Access Holdings, Zenith, UBA, FirstHoldco, GTCO, and ETI are the dominant players in Nigeria’s banking landscape.

Access Holdings distinguishes itself by combining low risk, high growth, and strategic vision.

As Nigeria’s financial sector prepares for increased competition and integration, Access Holdings is committed to developing a strong, innovative, and inclusive financial services ecosystem in Africa and beyond.