Ecobank posts $594 million profit amid surging returns in 2025

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the Lomé-headquartered parent company of Ecobank Group, led by CEO Jeremy Awori, delivered a strong financial performance in 2025, reporting profit of $594 million, driven by revenue growth, cost efficiency, diversification and focused execution.

The lender also posted net revenue of $2.45 billion, up 17% year-on-year. In comparison, earnings per share rose 23% to $0.017, supported by strong growth across its corporate and investment banking (CIB) and consumer and commercial banking (CCB) divisions.

Driving growth through diversification

Ecobank’s performance reflects the success of its Growth, Transformation and Returns (GTR) strategy, anchored on geographic diversification and disciplined execution. Revenues from CIB rose 21%, while CCB grew 14%, highlighting balanced expansion across business lines.

Payment revenue climbed 14% to $305 million, driven by increased transaction volumes, while digital transaction value surged 30% to $133 billion, reinforcing the bank’s digital push.

Awori noted that the group’s diversified footprint across 34 African countries continues to provide resilience, enabling it to capture opportunities across multiple markets while managing localized risks.

“We increased revenues by 17% to $2.45 billion, with strong contributions from all business segments, while profit before tax rose 21% to $801 million,” Awori said.

Efficiency gains and capital strength

The bank improved operational efficiency, with its cost-to-income ratio declining to a record 48.3% from 52.8% in 2024. This reflects disciplined cost management alongside sustained investment in technology, staff, and customer experience.

Customer deposits rose by $4.9 billion to $25.3 billion, while loans expanded by $2.3 billion to $12.8 billion, driven by growth in trade finance, SME lending, and digitally enabled consumer loans. Ecobank’s capital position remained robust, with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.7%, significantly above regulatory thresholds, providing a strong buffer to support future growth.

Regional performance and Nigeria pressure

Across regions, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa (CESA) emerged as the strongest performer, posting a 52% rise in profit before tax to $450 million. Anglophone West Africa also delivered solid growth, with profit increasing 28% to $402 million.

However, Nigeria remained a weak spot, recording a pre-tax loss of $31 million, largely due to a surge in non-performing loans following the exit from the Central Bank’s forbearance regime.

Despite this, Ecobank said it has met the N200 billion ($148.8 million) minimum capital requirement for its Nigerian subsidiary and is executing a capital restoration plan to strengthen its balance sheet.

Shareholder returns and outlook

Total assets expanded 14.68% from N43.3 trillion ($32.23 billion) to N49.66 trillion ($36.96 billion), while retained earnings rose 62.77% from N1.4 trillion ($1.31 billion) to N2.5 trillion ($2.13 billion). The bank proposed a dividend payout of $0.0016 per share, equivalent to $40 million, marking a 42.86% increase from its previous distribution, subject to shareholder approval.

Looking ahead, Ecobank expects continued momentum in 2026, supported by improved macroeconomic conditions across Africa, including easing inflation and currency stability.

While acknowledging risks from global geopolitical tensions, the group says it remains focused on disciplined execution, cost control, and strengthening its balance sheet as it deepens its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.