Ecobank Ghana PLC recorded stronger earnings in the first half of 2026, supported by growth in net interest income, higher fee and commission income, lower impairment charges and a significant reduction in operating expenses.

The bank’s consolidated profit after tax increased to GH¢868.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared with GH¢763.5 million during the same period in 2025. This represents a year-on-year increase of approximately 13.8%.

Profit before tax also rose by 15.5%, from GH¢1.17 billion to GH¢1.35 billion. The figures are based on Ecobank Ghana’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, with the original amounts reported in thousands of Ghana cedis.

Revenue Climbs to GH¢2.31 Billion

Ecobank Ghana’s consolidated revenue increased by approximately 5% to GH¢2.31 billion, up from GH¢2.20 billion in the first half of 2025.

Net interest income remained the largest contributor to the bank’s earnings. It increased by 7.3% to GH¢1.65 billion, compared with GH¢1.54 billion a year earlier.

Net fee and commission income also rose by 12.6%, from GH¢273.9 million to GH¢308.4 million, reflecting stronger income generated from banking transactions and other financial services.

However, net trading income declined by about 9.1% to GH¢351.4 million, while other operating income fell sharply from GH¢173.6 million to GH¢48.5 million.

As a result, total operating income declined slightly by 0.6% to GH¢2.36 billion, despite the increase in core revenue.

Lower Impairment and Operating Costs Support Profit

One of the major drivers of Ecobank Ghana’s improved profitability was the reduction in impairment charges.

The bank recorded a net impairment charge of GH¢127.6 million, down by approximately 27.8% from GH¢176.8 million in the corresponding period of 2025.

Other operating expenses also declined significantly by 31.3%, from GH¢608.1 million to GH¢417.8 million.

However, personnel expenses increased by 10.5% to GH¢410.7 million, while depreciation and amortisation rose to GH¢48.9 million from GH¢40.5 million.

The combination of stronger core income, lower credit impairment charges and reduced operating expenses helped lift the group’s profit before tax above GH¢1.3 billion.

Assets Expand to GH¢56.11 Billion

Ecobank Ghana’s consolidated total assets increased by 31.4% to GH¢56.11 billion as of June 2026, compared with GH¢42.70 billion in June 2025.

Loans and advances to customers rose strongly by 41.8%, from GH¢9.67 billion to GH¢13.72 billion. This indicates that the bank expanded its lending activities considerably during the period.

Customer deposits also increased by 30.1% to GH¢37.75 billion, compared with GH¢29.01 billion a year earlier.

Deposits from other banks rose to GH¢7.37 billion from GH¢4.83 billion, while borrowings declined from GH¢475.0 million to GH¢307.1 million.

The group’s total liabilities stood at GH¢48.48 billion, up from GH¢36.64 billion.

Shareholders’ Equity Reaches GH¢7.63 Billion

Ecobank Ghana’s total shareholders’ equity increased by 25.8% to GH¢7.63 billion, compared with GH¢6.06 billion in June 2025.

Retained earnings grew to GH¢4.86 billion, while the statutory reserve increased to GH¢1.16 billion.

The bank also paid dividends of GH¢390.3 million during the period, significantly higher than the GH¢109.7 million paid in the first half of 2025.

Despite the dividend payment, retained earnings remained strong due to the profit generated during the six-month period.

Earnings Per Share Improves

Ecobank Ghana’s consolidated basic and diluted earnings per share increased to 5.38 Ghana pesewas, up from 4.73 pesewas in the comparable period of 2025.

This represents an increase of approximately 13.7%, broadly in line with the growth recorded in profit attributable to shareholders.

Profit attributable to the parent company rose to GH¢868.4 million from GH¢763.4 million.

Non-Performing Loan Ratio Improves

Ecobank Ghana also reported an improvement in the quality of its loan portfolio.

The bank’s non-performing loan ratio declined from 24.86% in June 2025 to 14.44% in June 2026. Although the ratio remains relatively high, the sharp reduction suggests an improvement in credit quality and loan recovery.

The capital adequacy ratio strengthened to 18.83%, compared with 16.90% a year earlier, while the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio increased from 14.90% to 16.83%.

The leverage ratio also improved to 9.68% from 7.70%.

However, the bank’s liquid ratio declined from 85.40% to 64.26%, partly reflecting increased deployment of funds into loans and other earning assets.

What This Means for Investors

Ecobank Ghana delivered a solid financial performance in the first half of 2026. Profitability improved despite a slight decline in total operating income, largely because of lower impairment charges and better control over operating expenses.

The strong growth in loans and customer deposits shows that the bank is expanding its balance sheet and attracting more funds from customers. The improvement in the non-performing loan ratio and capital adequacy position is also positive for investors.

However, investors should continue to monitor the rapid growth in loans, the decline in liquidity and whether the improvement in credit quality can be sustained.

Overall, Ecobank Ghana entered the second half of 2026 with higher profits, stronger capital, a larger balance sheet and improved earnings per share.