Access Holdings’ digital banking income rises 14% to ₦173bn in nine months

Access Holdings Plc reported ₦172.9 billion in revenue from its electronic banking and e-business services in the first nine months of 2026, a 14.2% increase from ₦151.3 billion during the same period last year. This growth is attributed to the bank’s electronic banking and card-related services, which have become increasingly important for generating income.

The reported figure comes from a mix of revenue sources, including electronic channels and card products. These services allow customers to transfer money, make payments, shop online, and perform banking tasks without going to a physical branch.

For Access Holdings, these offerings aren’t just convenient; they also create opportunities to earn fees and commissions whenever customers utilise their payment channels and electronic banking services.

It’s important to note that the ₦172.9 billion does not reflect earnings from transfers exclusively. Access Holdings groups these figures and does not provide a detailed breakdown of income from mobile banking, card payments, transfers, POS, or other electronic channels.

The group spends less on e-banking, but transfer charges rise

Access Holdings has seen an increase in e-business income, which coincided with a drop in some electronic banking costs. For the nine months leading up to September 2026, the company’s e-banking expenses decreased by 10.9%, falling to ₦98.5 billion from ₦110.6 billion during the same period in 2025.

These expenses include services linked to alternative banking platforms and debit and credit cards. The company’s financial reports detail costs related to internet banking, mobile banking, online purchases, and card services.

However, not all digital transaction costs decreased. Charges for bank and electronic transfers rose by 25.3%, reaching ₦17.4 billion, up from ₦13.9 billion. It’s important to note that these charges represent costs for the company rather than income from customer transfers. Thus, while overall e-banking expenses dropped, the cost of bank and electronic transfer services increased.

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In total, the group’s fee and commission income grew by 8.4%, rising to ₦650.9 billion from ₦600.4 billion. This figure encompasses income from various banking services beyond just electronic channels.

Access Holdings’ overall earnings and profit grow

The banking group reported growth in its earnings for the first nine months of 2026, reaching ₦3.99 trillion, up from ₦3.90 trillion in the same period last year. This increase in gross earnings reflects the revenue generated from the company’s activities before accounting for operational costs.

A significant part of this revenue comes from interest earned on loans and other financial assets, as well as fees and commissions. Interest income rose to ₦2.95 trillion, compared to ₦2.74 trillion the previous year, while interest expenses also increased from ₦1.65 trillion to ₦1.81 trillion, mainly due to costs associated with deposits and funding.

After accounting for these expenses, Access Holdings achieved a net interest income of ₦1.29 trillion, slightly up from ₦1.26 trillion the year before. This figure shows the difference between what the bank earns in interest and what it pays for its funding.

The company also saw a significant drop in impairment charges on financial assets, which fell to ₦92.9 billion from ₦350 billion. This reduction indicates fewer expected losses on loans, providing a boost to the bank’s profit.

As a result, profit before tax climbed 8.3% to ₦667.4 billion, up from ₦616.2 billion, while profit after tax increased by 5.9% to ₦474.2 billion from ₦447.5 billion. Profit before tax represents the earnings after deducting operating costs and expenses but before tax payments, while profit after tax is what’s left after taxes are paid.

The results highlight that electronic banking and e-business services are becoming increasingly important for generating fee income for Access Holdings. However, the bank’s overall profitability continues to rely on its lending operations, funding costs, and impairment charges.

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