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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₦302.9 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, driven by solid growth in interest and fee-based income, alongside improvements in asset quality and cost efficiency.

The Group disclosed its unaudited consolidated and separate financial statements to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE), highlighting a strong start to the financial year.

GTCO recorded a 17.5 percent year-on-year increase in interest income and a 7.1 percent growth in fee income, underscoring the resilience of its core earnings lines. The performance was supported by a 1.3 percent expansion in its net loan book, which rose from ₦3.13 trillion in December 2025 to ₦3.17 trillion in March 2026. Deposit liabilities also grew significantly by 6.3 percent within the same period, increasing from ₦12.87 trillion to ₦13.69 trillion.

The Group’s total assets stood at ₦18.7 trillion, while shareholders’ funds closed at ₦3.6 trillion, reflecting continued balance sheet strength. Its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained robust at 39.5 percent, well above regulatory thresholds.

Asset quality improved during the period, with IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans declining to 4.4 percent from 5.0 percent in December 2025. Similarly, the Cost of Risk (COR) dropped sharply to 0.2 percent from 2.2 percent, indicating stronger credit risk management.

GTCO also reported growth across all asset lines, maintaining a diversified and liquid balance sheet across its banking operations as well as its payments, pension, and funds management businesses.

Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the Q1 performance reflects a shift in the quality and composition of the Group’s earnings, driven by strong core banking operations and increasing contributions from its ecosystem businesses.

He noted that the Group remains focused on sustaining earnings growth by deepening customer relationships, scaling its ecosystem offerings, and leveraging technology to deliver seamless financial solutions. According to him, GTCO is strategically positioned to tap into emerging opportunities across payments, wealth management, and banking markets in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The Group continues to rank among the top performers in Nigeria’s financial services sector, posting key ratios including a Pre-Tax Return on Equity (ROAE) of 34.4 percent, Return on Assets (ROAA) of 6.6 percent, and a Cost-to-Income ratio of 31.5 percent.

GTCO operates across Africa and the United Kingdom, offering a broad range of financial services spanning banking, payments, pension administration, and asset management, with a strong emphasis on corporate governance and innovation.