State-owned National Investment Bank PLC (NIB) has posted a remarkable financial turnaround, reporting a Profit After Tax of GHS 343.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from a marginal GHS 2.8 million recorded in 2024.

The results, contained in the bank’s latest audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025, sited by Joy Business, mark its first audited accounts in more than a decade, signaling a critical milestone in restoring transparency and confidence in the institution.

The sharp rebound comes at a time when concerns had mounted over the bank’s survival. However, management attributes the recovery to renewed operational discipline, strengthened governance, and a deliberate strategy to rebuild the bank’s core business.

The turnaround has been driven primarily by strong revenue growth. Operating income surged by 134 percent to GHS 885.5 million in 2025, up from GHS 378.4 million the previous year. Net interest income more than tripled to GHS 633.1 million, reflecting improved asset yields and a significant expansion in lending activities.

Non-interest income also provided support, with gains in trading and other operating lines highlighting a more diversified revenue base. The improved performance was achieved alongside increased investment in human capital, with personnel costs rising by 66 percent, an indication of renewed staff motivation and capacity building.

At the operating level, the bank reversed a loss of GHS 5.6 million in 2024 to post a profit of GHS 275.4 million in 2025. Profit before tax rose sharply to GHS 382.1 million, underscoring the strength of the recovery. Earnings were further boosted by a significant increase in income from associates, which climbed to GHS 106.7 million from GHS 8.7 million a year earlier.

Operational efficiency also improved considerably. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio declined to about 64 percent, down from over 100 percent in 2024. Although operating expenses rose in line with business expansion and prevailing economic conditions, revenue growth outpaced costs, resulting in stronger margins.

The balance sheet expansion reflects renewed confidence in the bank. Total liabilities increased to GHS 10.5 billion from GHS 6.7 billion, driven largely by growth in customer deposits and additional funding lines to support lending. Notably, the bank moved from a negative equity position to a positive equity of GHS 1.55 billion, while its capital adequacy ratio rose to a strong 54.5 percent.

Despite the aggressive growth in lending, management adopted a more cautious stance on risk. Impairment charges increased to GHS 46.9 million from GHS 5.3 million in 2024, reflecting a forward-looking approach to credit risk as the loan book expands.

NIB’s recovery has been overseen by Managing Director Doliwura Zakariah, supported by Deputy Managing Director Thomas Hughes Amissah and Board Chairman Frank Adu Jnr, within a broader economic policy environment shaped by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

Looking ahead, management says it will sustain the current momentum by strengthening core banking operations, tightening risk management, and leveraging strategic investments to deliver long-term value.

For a bank that has spent years under intense scrutiny, the 2025 audited results represent more than just a return to profitability. They signal a re-emergence into credibility and a potential repositioning of NIB within Ghana’s banking sector.