Ecobank Ghana Profit Climbs 14% as Credit Expansion and Lower Bad Loans Drive First-Half Earnings

Ecobank Ghana delivered a robust first-half performance, posting double-digit profit growth as rapid loan expansion, lower credit losses and resilient core banking income outweighed weaker trading and other operating revenue.

The lender reported a 13.78% increase in profit after tax to GH¢868.63 million for the six months ended June 30, while profit before tax rose 15.50% to GH¢1.35 billion, underscoring the strength of its core banking franchise amid Ghana’s improving macroeconomic environment.

Growth was primarily driven by higher net interest income, which advanced 7.25% to GH¢1.65 billion as funding costs eased, alongside a 12.60% rise in net fee and commission income to GH¢308.41 million. These gains offset declines in trading income and other operating revenue, leaving total operating income broadly unchanged at GH¢2.36 billion.

A sharp reduction in loan-loss provisions provided the biggest boost to profitability. Net impairment charges fell 27.83% to GH¢127.62 million, reflecting improved asset quality, while operating expenses also declined despite higher staff costs and depreciation.

The balance sheet expanded aggressively during the period. Total assets grew 31.39% to GH¢56.11 billion, supported by a 41.82% increase in customer loans to GH¢13.72 billion and a 30.14% rise in customer deposits to GH¢37.75 billion. The faster pace of lending lifted the bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio to 36.34%, though liquidity levels remained comfortably above regulatory requirements.

Asset quality also strengthened significantly. Ecobank’s non-performing loan ratio declined to 14.44% from 24.86%, while its capital adequacy ratio improved to 18.83%, reinforcing the bank’s capacity to sustain future lending growth.

Shareholders also benefited from stronger cash returns, with dividend payments surging to GH¢390.29 million, more than tripling from a year earlier, even as retained earnings continued to increase on the back of solid profitability.

The results position Ecobank among Ghana’s stronger-performing lenders in the first half of 2026, demonstrating that disciplined cost control and improving credit quality can sustain earnings growth even as non-core income moderates. The next test for the bank will be maintaining asset quality and margins as credit expansion accelerates in an environment of gradually easing interest rates.