Guaranty Trust Holding Company, GTCO Plc has grown total assets to N18.37 trillion in the third quarter of 2026, up 3.5% from N17.76 trillion at the end of December 2025, according to results filed with the Nigerian Exchange Group and London Stock Exchange. The company posted a Profit Before Tax of N879.9 billion, though this represented a 2.3% decline from N900.8 billion in the same quarter of 2025, partly due to a N87.9 billion fair value loss recognised during the period.
Despite the overall profit moderation, GTCO's core earnings showed resilience. Interest income grew 5.0% year-on-year, fees and commission income rose 1.4%, and trading income increased 3.1%, demonstrating strength across the company's main revenue streams. Shareholders' funds reached N3.5 trillion as of the quarter end.
The bank's balance sheet remained robust. The Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 34.2%, well above regulatory requirements, while asset quality improved significantly. Stage 3 loans, those classified as credit-impaired under IFRS 9 accounting standards, fell to 4.0% at the group level from 5.0% at the end of 2025, and stood at 3.4% at the bank level. The Cost of Risk metric improved to 0.9% from 2.2% over the same period, and coverage for credit-impaired loans increased to 130.7% from 106.9% in 2025.
Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer, stated that the results reflected the strength of the franchise, adding that despite a challenging operating environment and significant fair value losses, the deposit base expanded strongly, cost efficiency remained among the best in the industry, and the balance sheet stayed strong, liquid and well capitalised. He indicated the company would continue to optimise risk-free returns and pursue arbitrage opportunities as market conditions changed, without compromising asset quality.
For savers and depositors, GTCO's improved asset quality and strong capital position mean the bank has better capacity to absorb losses and continue operations reliably, while borrowers benefit from a lender with improved lending standards and reduced credit risk exposure.