First National Bank Ghana delivered a sharp improvement in financial performance in 2025, posting results that point not only to a stronger earnings base but also to a more solid balance sheet.

The bank reported profit after tax of GH¢106.8 million for the year ended December 2025, up from GH¢18.2m in 2024, as stronger interest income, trading income and fee generation helped drive a broad-based improvement in operating performance. Profit before tax rose to GH¢110.4 million from GH¢30.9 million, while operating income increased to GH¢605.6 million from GH¢431.3 million.

For industry watchers, the numbers suggest that FNB Ghana is moving into a more stable and better-capitalised phase of growth, with stronger profitability beginning to translate into greater balance sheet strength.

A key driver of the improved performance was the bank’s core income engine. Net interest income climbed to GH¢353.8 million from GH¢248.1 million, reflecting a stronger contribution from lending and interest-bearing assets.

Net fees and commission income rose to GH¢77.2m from GH¢67.4m, while net trading income increased markedly to GH¢180.9m from GH¢123.5m. Together, these gains show a bank benefiting from a more diversified revenue profile.

The balance sheet also improved in important areas. Total assets rose to GH¢6.48bn from GH¢6.18bn, underlining continued expansion in the bank’s franchise.

Customer deposits increased to GH¢4.1billionn from GH¢3.86 billion, providing a stronger funding base, while cash and cash equivalents rose to GH¢1.99 billion from GH¢1.80 billion. Investment securities also increased to GH¢1.84 billion from GH¢1.35 billion.

The growth in deposits is particularly notable. In banking, a rising customer deposit base is more than a funding metric—it is also a measure of market trust. For FNB Ghana, the increase suggests the bank is deepening customer relationships while strengthening the liability side of its balance sheet.

Just as encouraging was the sharp reduction in borrowings, which fell to GH¢271.8 million from GH¢636.4 million. That shift points to lower reliance on external borrowings and improved flexibility as the bank positions itself for further growth.

Capital strength was another standout feature of the results. Total equity rose to GH¢1.00 billion from GH¢537.7 million, supported by both retained profit and a GH¢358.6m issue of ordinary shares during the year. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio strengthened sharply to 34.08% from 24.68%. That level of capitalisation provides a stronger cushion against shocks and leaves the lender better placed to support business growth.

There were also signs of improvement in asset quality. Gross loans stood at GH¢1.38 billion, down from GH¢1.48 billion, while non-performing loans declined to GH¢168.8 million from GH¢199.7 million.

The NPL ratio improved to 12.21% from 13.54%, indicating a healthier loan book and better credit risk outcomes. Impairment performance reinforced that trend, with net impairment loss on financial assets falling to GH¢7.3 million from GH¢24.8 million, helping lift operating income after impairment to GH¢598.3 million from GH¢406.4 million.

The balance sheet gives a broader picture of a bank becoming stronger on multiple fronts at once: profitability is up, capital is firmer, customer deposits are growing, bad loans are easing and reliance on borrowings has declined.

The growth in profit is important, but the more significant message may be that the bank’s underlying financial position now appears considerably stronger than it did a year earlier. In that sense, the 2025 performance is not just profitability story; it is also a growth and resilience story.