Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African financial services conglomerate, has once again demonstrated its resilience and growth capacity, reporting a remarkable profit before tax of $657 million for the first nine months of 2025.
This figure represents a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring the Group’s operational strength, strategic focus, and prudent management approach across its extensive network in 35 African countries.
The impressive results, contained in the bank’s unaudited financial report, show continued progress in Ecobank’s efforts to maintain sustainable profitability, enhance cost efficiency, and deliver long-term value to shareholders. The Group’s total net revenue surged 18% year-on-year to $1.8 billion, driven by growth across all its business segments and geographies.
A key highlight of Ecobank’s performance was its improved cost-to-income ratio (CIR), which declined to 48.0%, the lowest in the Group’s history. This marks a significant improvement from 54.5% recorded in the prior year, indicating greater operational efficiency and disciplined cost management.
Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, Jeremy Awori, attributed the performance to the successful execution of the bank’s Growth, Transformation, and Returns (GTR) strategy.
“We are pleased to report strong results for the nine months ending September 2025. Our return on tangible equity was 31.2%, tangible book value per share increased by 83%, and profit before tax rose 34% to $657 million.
“These results demonstrate the ongoing success of our GTR strategy, the advantages of our diversified and synergistic business model, and a steadily improving economic environment across our key markets.”
Jeremy Awori
The bank achieved 14% positive operating leverage, with revenue growth outpacing expenses, reflecting the effectiveness of its transformation initiatives and the integration of digital technologies in driving efficiency.
Balanced Growth Across Business Segments
Ecobank’s performance was broad-based, with both Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) and Consumer and Commercial Banking (CCB) contributing strongly to the Group’s overall success.
The CIB division delivered a profit before tax of $526 million, representing a 43% increase over the previous year. This growth was driven by robust origination, effective cross-selling of financial products, and the Group’s ability to support large corporates and institutions across multiple markets.
Meanwhile, the CCB segment posted a 21% rise in profit before tax to $354 million, powered by growth in deposits, expansion of digital banking channels, and enhanced customer engagement. These results reflect Ecobank’s strategic focus on providing tailored financial solutions to individual and small business clients while promoting financial inclusion through technology.
Payments and Non-Interest Revenue Drive Diversification
One of Ecobank’s notable strengths lies in its diversified revenue streams. The Group’s non-interest revenue (NIR) accounted for 42.4% of total income, demonstrating a healthy balance between traditional banking and fee-based activities.
Payment revenue rose 13% to $221 million, representing nearly 30% of total non-interest income. This growth was driven largely by wholesale payments, cards, and digital channels, reaffirming Ecobank’s position as a leading player in Africa’s rapidly evolving payments landscape.
Through its Pan-African integrated digital infrastructure, Ecobank continues to connect individuals, businesses, and governments, enabling seamless transactions and supporting the continent’s digital financial inclusion agenda.
Ecobank’s balance sheet remained solid, supported by strong liquidity and capital buffers. Gross loans increased by $1.7 billion year-to-date to $12.2 billion, while customer deposits rose by $3.7 billion to $24.1 billion. These increases highlight growing customer confidence and the Group’s deepening market penetration.
The Group’s asset quality also improved significantly, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio falling to 5.3%, down from 7.0% in Q1 2024. This reflects the success of Ecobank’s loan recovery and risk remediation initiatives. Additionally, the Group maintained a CET1 ratio of 12.9% and a total capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 16.8%, both comfortably above regulatory requirements, affirming its financial soundness.
Commitment to Transformation and Innovation
Under CEO Jeremy Awori’s leadership, Ecobank has continued to strengthen its position as Africa’s premier pan-regional banking group. The bank remains focused on digital innovation, disciplined capital allocation, and sustainable growth strategies that align with the continent’s economic transformation agenda.
Awori emphasized that the Group’s transformation journey is far from over. “Our focus remains on disciplined execution, driving efficiencies, and leveraging our digital platforms to deliver exceptional value to our customers and shareholders,” he stated.
As African economies continue to stabilize amid global uncertainties, Ecobank’s strong financial performance positions it to capture new growth opportunities, support businesses across the continent, and drive Africa’s economic resilience.
Meanwhile, Ecobank plans to deepen its leadership in trade finance, payments, and consumer banking by enhancing digital capabilities and reinforcing risk management frameworks. The Group’s robust earnings profile, strong capital base, and diversified operations provide a solid foundation for sustained profitability.
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