Ecobank posts N584.02bn H1 2026 profit before tax, up 16% in Q2

Ecobank Transnational posted a pre‑tax profit of N584.02 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2026, down from N620.23 billion in the same period of 2025. Second‑quarter profit before tax rose to N313.79 billion, up 16.1% from the first quarter’s N270.24 billion. Basic earnings per share were N11.11, compared with N12.27 a year earlier. Total assets stood at N49.21 trillion at end‑June, down 0.9% from end‑December 2025, while loans to customers fell 6.2% to N15.90 trillion. Customer deposits rose 2.3% to N37.27 trillion and cash balances jumped 38.8% to N11.44 trillion. Interest income grew modestly, but non‑interest revenue slipped 4.3% and credit impairment charges jumped 24.5% to N328.66 billion, outweighing gains in net interest income. The bank’s share price closed at N88.95 on 27 July 2026, up 112% year‑to‑date but down 6.6% month‑to‑date. The mixed results show that while Ecobank’s lending business is shrinking and loan losses are rising, its deposit base and liquidity are strengthening, giving it a buffer against further asset‑quality stress. For investors, the diverging trends signal a need to watch impairment trends and loan‑book recovery; for borrowers, tighter lending standards may emerge; for depositors, the bank’s strong cash position suggests safety of funds. Would you keep Ecobank shares given rising loan impairments, or look for lenders with stronger loan‑growth prospects?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/07/28/eti-reports-pre-tax-profit-of-n584-01-billion-in-h1-2026/