GCB Bank profit before tax hits GH¢3.17bn in 2025

The country's largest indigenous bank, GCB Bank PLC, has posted a record Profit Before Tax  (PBT) of GH¢3.17 billion for the 2025 financial year. 

The profit outturn is a 67.4 per cent increase over the previous year, driven by robust deposit growth that fuelled strong loan expansion, investments and growth in fee income.

Financial results released ahead of the listed bank’s annual general meeting, indicated that customer deposits grew by 19.7 per cent to GH¢41.3 billion, driving the 23 per cent expansion in the bank's balance sheet to GH¢52.6 billion.

This deposit growth funded the 56.8 per cent year-on-year expansion of the loan book to GH¢16.39 billion as credit demand recovered, mirroring the country's broader economic rebound.

As a result, operating income increased by 40.9 per cent year-on-year to GH¢6.3 billion from increases in both interest and non-interest income.

Interest income grew 38.3 per cent in spite of the sharp decline in interest rates.

The bank navigated the low-interest-rate environment through active balance sheet repricing, strategic asset allocation, and proactive risk management.  

Non-funded income, that is revenue from fees, commissions and trading, rather than lending, also rose 58 per cent year-on-year. Fees and commissions grew 39.9 per cent, while trading and other income surged 81.8 per cent, lifting non-funded income’s share of total revenue to 27.3 per cent, up from 24.3 per cent in 2024.

The bank flagged the increase in non-funded income as strategically important. As Ghana’s Bank of Ghana’s cuts in policy rates, including a cumulative 1,000-basis-point reduction in the policy rate to 18 per cent during 2025, traditional lending margins face sustained pressure.

Transaction-based income, the bank said, would play an increasingly central role in protecting profitability.

Operating costs rose 41.1 per cent, broadly in line with revenue growth, keeping the cost-to-income ratio flat at 47.2 per cent.

The Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio, which is the share of borrowers behind on repayments, fell to 10.3 per cent from 15.1 per cent in 2024.

The cost of risk, a measure of provisions set aside against potential loan losses, declined to 1.3 per cent from 4.3 per cent, a reduction that directly contributed to the record profit.

The improvement was driven by tighter lending standards, stronger early-warning systems, improved loan recoveries, and greater borrower repayment capacity as Ghana’s economy stabilised.

Capital above minimum; shareholders make 215% gain

The bank ended 2025 with a capital adequacy ratio of 18.0 per cent, up from 17.5 per cent in 2024 and well above the regulatory floor of 13 per cent. 

Cash and liquid assets stood at GH¢14.5 billion, equal to 27.5 per cent of total assets. Earnings Per Share (EPS) reached GH¢7.78.

Shareholders who held GCB stock throughout the year saw the share price rise from GH¢6.37 to GH¢20.11, translating into a capital gain of 215.7 per cent.

New strategy reshapes bank

The results coincide with the first year of GCB Bank’s 2025–2028 medium-term strategy, which targets a structural shift away from a predominantly retail-funded model towards a more diversified platform spanning wholesale, commercial, and transaction banking.

The bank also launched several strategic initiatives during the year, including a comprehensive sustainability programme covering climate risk, diversity, and governance.

Other initiatives championed during the year included the flagship Sheagles Soar intervention, a female leadership development programme targeting 30 per cent female representation at the board and management levels by 2028, and the Amber Club programme for the bank's top 100 customers.

Commenting on the financials, the Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, Farihan Alhassan, said, “The 2025 results were not accidental; they reflect steady leadership, deliberate strategic choices, and disciplined execution across the bank”.

He said by every measure, the finaicial results represent a record performance and reinforced GCB Bank’s strong position within Ghana’s banking sector.

Mr Farihan added that “while the 2026 financial year presents a new challenge from significant margin compression as interest rates fall sharply, he believes the strategy is right, the team is right, and GCB Bank is well positioned to fully meet our clients’ aspirations, empower our people to succeed, and sustain the digital transformation.”

About GCB Bank PLC

GCB Bank PLC is Ghana’s largest indigenous commercial bank, with 183 branches, more than 340 ATMs nationwide, and a longstanding legacy as a cornerstone of Ghana’s financial system.