Access Holdings PLC has released its unaudited group financial results for the Q1 ended March 31, 2026
According to the released results, the Group’s pre-tax profit grew by 22.19% to N272.210 billion, driven by strong growth in non-interest income.
The group’s interest income declined by 9% to N895.034, while non-interest income grew by19% to N444.683 billion
Key highlights (Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025)
- Interest income: N895.034 billion; -8.73% YoY
- Interest expenses: N556.172 billion; +1.91% YoY
- Net interest income: N383.711 billion; -26.68% YoY
- Impairment charges: N73.810 billion; +239.04% YoY
- Net interest income after impairment: N262.052 billion; +33.57% YoY
- None-interest income: N444.683 billion; 19.03% YoY
- Total operating expenses: N411.268 billion; 26.16% YoY
- Profit after tax: N146.623 billion; -22.77% YoY
- Earnings per share: N3.69; -24.49% YoY
What is driving the number
Access Holdings Plc reported a decline in interest income in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025.
- Notes to the financial statements indicate that this was largely driven by a decline in interest income from loans and advances to customers, as well as from investment securities classified at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI).
- While interest income from loans and advances to customers declined by 27% YoY to N429 billion, income from securities classified as FVOCI declined by 59% to just N67 billion from N164 billion in Q1 2025
On the expense side, interest expenses, which declined, were driven by the decline in interest expenses paid on customers’ deposit to N388 billion from N447 billion. This is despite the N392 billion increase in customers’ deposits, now at N34.954 trillion.
- Interest paid on deposits from other financial institutions and interest on debt securities issued also declined
Notwithstanding, net interest income after impairment charge grew by 34% YoY to N265 billion, but was lower than the net non-interest income of N444.683 billion
- Driving the non-interest income is the profit the bank made from movements in exchange rates on its foreign currency positions that are not protected (hedged), amounting to N176 billion.
The non-interest income, combined with the net interest income after impairment of N265.052 billion, brought the bank’s total income to N709.735 billion.
With total operating expenses, including depreciation and amortization, amounting to N437.525 billion (about 62% of total income), profit before tax stood at N272.210 billion.
Balance sheet
On the balance sheet side, total assets grew by about 4%, driven largely by customers’ deposits, which accounted for over 65% of total assets.
- A further breakdown shows that investment in securities, which increased by 3.11%, is now 31% of total assets, while loans and advances to customers, which grew more slowly at 1.55%, accounted for 25.33% of total assets.
On the liabilities side, the bank met the CBN’s new minimum capital requirement as share capital and share premium account stood at N616.021 billion; up 3.55% compared to the N594.903 billion as of December 2025.
Retained earnings increased by 19.36% or N324 billion to N1.997 trillion pushing shareholders’ funds N4.397 trillion from N4.326 trillion as of December 2025
Market performance
On market performance, Access shares were priced at N27 per share as of the close of trading in April 2026. The stock started the year at N21, reflecting a 28.6% gain year-to-date (YtD).
This marks a better performance compared to last year’s 12% YtD loss.
The Access Holdings Profit after tax is 216 billion Naira not 146 billion naira a mistake
Why is it that up till today 2nd of May 2026:the Board of directors of Access bank…Access Holdings have not declared dividends for the shareholders for the 2025;full financial year while the shareholders of GTCO have gotten their robust dividends …while those of Zenith Bank are getting theirs on Tues 5 th of May 2026 for the same period in question ..
What is wrong with Access bank..nay Access Holdings ?