- A stress test conducted by a Dubai-based international investment bank, Arqaam Capital, has indicated that seven Nigerian banks are undercapitalized to the tune of N1tn ($3.2bn).
- The investment bank said the Nigeria’s banking industry “is experiencing a full-blown financial crisis” as failed fiscal and monetary policies had led to a credit crunch.
- The stress test identified the undercapitalized banks as First Bank of Nigeria, Unity Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc.
- In an emailed note on Monday, analysts at the investment bank and brokerage, Jaap Meijer and Tarek Sleiman, said capital adequacy ratios in Nigerian banks were set to worsen because of the depreciation of the naira and huge non-performing loans, Bloomberg reported.
- “Our acid test reveals seven undercapitalized banks” with a deficit of as much as N1tn ($3.2bn) in the financial system,” Meijer and Sleiman said. “Unity Bank and Skye Bank are close to being insolvent, while lenders, FBN Holdings Plc and Sterling Bank Plc, will need a dilutive capital hike,” they added.
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Seven Banks Are Undercapitalized, Says Report
