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Six major listed Nigerian banking groups recorded combined total assets of ₦195.08 trillion as of September 30, 2026, up from ₦182.79 trillion a year earlier. Their combined profit after tax also rose 7.50 per cent to ₦3.11 trillion from ₦2.90 trillion, according to figures reported by Punch on November 12, 2026 from the lenders’ unaudited financial statements.
Six major listed Nigerian banking groups grew their combined assets by ₦12.29 trillion year-on-year to ₦195.08 trillion as of September 30, 2026, according to figures reported by Punch on November 12.
The asset base was up from ₦182.79 trillion at the comparable point in 2025, representing 6.73 per cent growth.
The banks covered were Access Holdings Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Zenith Bank Plc, First HoldCo Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc.
Combined profit after tax for the reported bank set rose to ₦3.11 trillion from ₦2.90 trillion, a 7.50 per cent increase, based on the lenders’ unaudited financial statements.
Punch said the income and profit comparison was based on five banks with consistent nine-month figures for both years: First HoldCo, Ecobank, Zenith, GTCO and Stanbic IBTC.
The report therefore shows growth in both the size of the balance sheets and bottom-line earnings across the reviewed period, even as the profit comparison did not cover all six banks on a like-for-like basis.
The figures relate to the first nine months of 2026, with the observation date for assets being September 30, 2026.
Why it matters
The update gives a snapshot of how some of Nigeria’s largest listed lenders are expanding. A combined asset base nearing ₦200 trillion underlines the scale of the banking sector’s role in credit, deposits and broader financial intermediation.
The profit increase also matters because bank earnings are closely watched by investors, regulators and customers as indicators of financial strength. However, the brief makes clear that the profit comparison was drawn from five banks with consistent nine-month figures, so readers should note that point when comparing the earnings data with the six-bank asset total.
What it means for your money
For most Nigerians, this report does not by itself change borrowing costs, savings returns or bank charges. It is mainly a corporate performance update, though stronger bank balance sheets and profits are often watched as signs of capacity within the financial system.
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Attention will now shift to subsequent company filings and any full-year 2026 results from the listed lenders. Investors and depositors are also likely to watch whether asset growth and profitability remain on the same path in later disclosures. Any further comparison should be read carefully to see which banks are included on a like-for-like basis.
As of September 30, 2026, six listed Nigerian banks had combined assets of ₦195.08 trillion, up ₦12.29 trillion from a year earlier, while the comparable profit measure rose to ₦3.11 trillion. The numbers point to continued growth in scale and earnings across the reviewed lenders.
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