Standard Chartered Ghana posts higher profit for 2025 as cedi rebound reshapes earnings
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC grew its bottom line for the full year ended December 31, 2025, demonstrating an ability to navigate a shifting macroeconomic landscape marked by local currency appreciation and a changing interest rate environment.
According to the summary financial statements audited by Ernst & Young, the lender recorded a net income of GH¢804.21 million for 2025, an improvement from the GH¢716.15 million posted in 2024. Earnings per share followed suit, rising to GH¢5.96 from GH¢5.31 in the prior year.
These headline figures, however, belie a significant shift in the bank's revenue dynamics. Net interest income, a core earnings driver for most commercial banks, fell sharply to GH¢1,003.93 million. This represents a decline of more than 28 per cent compared to the GH¢1,404 million reported in 2024. Financial analysts suggest this compression is largely attributable to the appreciation of the Ghana cedi during the period, which reduced the local-currency equivalent of foreign currency income flows. This aligns with trends observed in the bank's nine-month results, which had already signalled a squeeze on interest revenue.
Despite the pressure on interest income, the bank's overall financial health metrics strengthened considerably. The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), a key measure of a bank's financial strength, improved to 27.45 per cent from 24.01 per cent in 2024, sitting comfortably above the Bank of Ghana's prudential requirement. This was driven by a rise in the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET 1) ratio to 27.11 per cent, up from 23.91 per cent.
The bank's liquidity position also saw a marked improvement. The liquid ratio jumped to 104 per cent from 90 per cent the previous year, indicating a robust capacity to meet short-term obligations. Furthermore, the bank reduced its contingent liabilities significantly, from GH¢18.53 million to GH¢10.37 million.
On the asset quality front, the picture was mixed. The gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio ticked up slightly to 25.82 per cent from 24.77 per cent in 2024. However, a more granular look at the data reveals that the NPL ratio when excluding loss category loans, improved dramatically, falling to just 0.81 per cent from 1.75 per cent, suggesting that the worst-case credit impairments are well under control.
In a testament to its operational resilience and strict regulatory compliance, the bank reported no defaults in statutory liquidity obligations and incurred no regulatory sanctions or fines during the year. The summary financial statements were signed off by Managing Director Mansa Nettey and Executive Director Albert Larweh Asante, with the audit engagement led by Pamela Des Bordes of Ernst & Young.
The bank, a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Holdings (Africa) B.V. incorporated in the Netherlands, continues to operate a network of 18 branches and its head office in Accra, alongside its wealth management subsidiary.