Access Holdings Plc crossed a major milestone in 2025, posting over ₦1 trillion in profit before tax, but the strong performance came with growing pressure from regulatory fines, legal disputes, and rising costs.
A review of the group’s audited results shows gross earnings rose to ₦5.53 trillion, while profit after tax climbed to ₦743 billion.
Despite this growth, shareholders saw lower returns as earnings per share dropped, largely due to an increase in the number of shares.
The company also did not pay any dividend for the year, a sharp shift from 2024, as it chose to retain earnings to meet stricter capital requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
At the same time, Access Holdings faced mounting challenges, Pinnacle Daily can further report.
The group paid ₦1.82 billion in regulatory fines, including a ₦1 billion penalty for breaching financial holding company guidelines and other sanctions linked to compliance lapses.
It is also dealing with lawsuits worth about ₦1.05 trillion, alongside a governance dispute involving some shareholders who are demanding leadership changes.
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The bank was also hit by new tax measures, including a ₦23.7 billion windfall levy on foreign exchange gains, pushing its total tax bill to ₦264 billion for the year.
Loan losses added to the pressure, as the group wrote off about ₦321.7 billion in loans, mostly from corporate borrowers, after determining they were unlikely to be recovered.
However, loans granted to directors and top management remained performing and were not part of the write-offs.
Despite these issues, the company continued to expand its international footprint, completing acquisitions in Gambia, Tanzania, and Mauritius, while restructuring parts of its South African business to meet local rules.
Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer Innocent Ike said, “Our 2025 performance reflects both the resilience of the Access franchise and the strength of the institution we have built.
“In a dynamic operating environment, we delivered strong earnings supported by diversified income streams, disciplined execution, and a continued focus on balance sheet optimisation.
“We have now entered a more deliberate optimisation phase, with a stronger focus on returns on capital, earnings quality, and long-term value creation.”
Analysts say the results show a company balancing strong growth with rising risks, as it navigates tighter regulation, higher taxes, and a complex operating environment.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X