PremiumTrust Bank receives Dual Credit Rating Upgrades from Agusto & Co. and DataPro.

PremiumTrust Bank has received dual credit rating upgrades from two of Nigeria’s leading rating agencies, Agusto & Co. and DataPro Limited, underscoring the Bank’s financial strength, sound risk management and consistent growth trajectory.

While Agusto & Co. upgraded the Bank’s long-term rating from BBB+ to A- and its short-term rating from A2 to A1, DataPro has upgraded the Bank’s long-term rating from A- to A, while affirming its short-term rating at A1.

A long-term rating in the ‘A’ category reflects a low credit risk profile and a strong capacity to meet financial obligations as they fall due, while an A1 short-term rating denotes the highest capacity for timely settlement of short-term financial commitments. Taken together, the two outcomes represent upgrades from both agencies within the same review cycle mark a further improvement in the Bank’s credit standing since its last assessment.

The agencies cited the Bank’s robust capitalisation, with its capital adequacy ratio rising from 20.8% to 40.8%, alongside a strong liquidity ratio of 71.1% and a net interest margin of 83.3%. Asset quality remained sound, with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 0.2% and a cost of funds of 3.2%, while cost efficiency was reflected in a cost-to-income ratio of 23.2%. Agusto & Co. further noted the Bank’s pre-tax return on equity of 84.6% as the highest in the Nigerian banking industry. The upgrades come against the backdrop of the Bank’s strong underlying performance, having reported a pre-tax profit of ₦177.1 billion and total assets of ₦1.7 trillion in FY2025.

Beyond the numbers, both agencies pointed to the depth of the Bank’s management team, its widening branch network and digital footprint, and the discipline of its governance and compliance framework as factors supporting the improved ratings. Four years into operation, the Bank has grown its network to 33 branches nationwide, with recent additions in Irrua, Edo State; Owerri, Imo State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa state alongside continued investment in digital banking, including an upgraded PremiumTrust Mobile app featuring adaptive banking, AI-powered assistants and personalised lifestyle tools.

Commenting on the ratings, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PremiumTrust Bank, said:

“These upgrades are a strong validation of the fundamentals we have built at PremiumTrust Bank. From inception, we have been deliberate about establishing our presence and building an institution with the financial strength, resilience, and operating discipline to compete in the Nigerian banking industry.

“Our focus now is on converting this momentum into sustained growth. We are strengthening our balance sheet, expanding our physical and digital footprint, and investing in the capacity needed to serve our customers and support the businesses and communities across our markets,” he said.

While the dual credit rating upgrades reinforce PremiumTrust Bank’s position as a growing and increasingly resilient player in Nigeria’s financial services landscape, the Bank remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance, prudent risk management and sustainable growth, in line with its mission to deliver superior value to its customers, shareholders and other stakeholders.