Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has strengthened its financial performance in the first nine months of 2026, recording a 6.9% increase in profit after tax as customer deposits surged to GH¢15.36 billion, reflecting progress in its efforts to rebuild financial strength and improve operational efficiency.
The bank’s unaudited financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, show that profit after tax increased to GH¢301.7 million from GH¢282.3 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Profit before tax also climbed to GH¢478.5 million from GH¢447.5 million, signalling continued profitability as management pursues measures to strengthen the bank’s balance sheet, reduce funding costs and improve its ability to support customers.
Beyond the increase in earnings, ADB recorded substantial growth in deposits, assets and shareholders’ funds, while its interest expenses declined sharply. These developments point to an improving financial position as the bank works to consolidate its recovery and reinforce confidence among customers and other stakeholders.
ADB Deposits Surge as Customer Funding Strengthens
One of the most notable developments in ADB’s latest financial results is the expansion of its customer deposit base, which increased by GH¢2.51 billion over the 12-month period.
Customer deposits rose from GH¢12.85 billion in September 2025 to GH¢15.36 billion in September 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 19.5%.
The increase provides the bank with a larger pool of customer funding to support its banking operations and pursue its strategic objectives. It also highlights the importance of maintaining customer relationships and offering dependable services as ADB seeks to strengthen its position within Ghana’s banking industry.
The Managing Director of ADB PLC, Mr. Edward Ato Sarpong, described the latest performance as evidence of the progress being made under the bank’s transformation agenda.
“Our financial performance reflects the steady progress we are making in building a stronger, more resilient, and competitive bank. The growth in profitability, significant increase in customer deposits, and our capital and liquidity positions demonstrate our commitment to financial discipline, prudent management and sustainable value creation.
“We remain focused on consolidating these gains and positioning ADB as a trusted financial partner for businesses, individuals and the productive sectors of Ghana’s economy.”
Mr. Edward Ato Sarpong
Interest Expenses Fall by GH¢204 Million
ADB’s earnings performance was accompanied by a significant reduction in the cost of funding its operations, with interest expenses falling by 36.1% to GH¢361.3 million from GH¢565.4 million a year earlier.
The reduction of approximately GH¢204 million represents one of the most important improvements in the bank’s financial results, particularly as its deposit base expanded substantially over the same period.
Lower interest expenses can ease pressure on a bank’s earnings and create room for stronger financial performance, although the sustainability of such gains depends on funding conditions, lending activity and the broader interest rate environment.
The Deputy Managing Director in charge of Services, Prof. Ferdinand Ahiakpor, said the reduction reflected the importance of disciplined financial management and effective resource utilisation.
“The reduction in interest expenses, alongside the growth in customer deposits, is an important development for the Bank. It demonstrates the value of maintaining a disciplined approach to funding costs and resource management. Our priority is to sustain these improvements, strengthen our financial fundamentals, and ensure that the Bank remains well-positioned to support its customers and strategic growth objectives.”
Prof. Ferdinand Ahiakpor
He also emphasised that maintaining adequate capital and liquidity buffers would remain central to the bank’s efforts to achieve sustainable growth and protect stakeholder interests.
Capital Adequacy and Liquidity Strengthen
ADB reported significant improvements in its key prudential indicators, with its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) rising to 27.41% from 0.49% in September 2025. Its liquidity ratio also improved to 145.83% from 130% over the same period.
The stronger indicators point to progress in building financial buffers to support the bank’s operations and manage potential risks. However, the reported movement in capital adequacy is particularly substantial and warrants careful interpretation alongside the bank’s full financial disclosures and applicable regulatory requirements.
Prof. Ahiakpor described the improvement in the bank’s capital and liquidity positions as a major milestone.
“The significant strengthening of our capital adequacy and liquidity positions is a major milestone in our efforts to build a financially resilient institution. Strong capital and liquidity buffers are fundamental to maintaining financial stability, protecting stakeholder interests and creating the capacity for sustainable business growth. These results reinforce our commitment to sound financial management, effective risk controls and responsible banking practices.”
Prof. Ferdinand Ahiakpor
Assets and Shareholders’ Funds Record Strong Growth
The bank’s balance sheet also expanded considerably, with total assets increasing by approximately 25% from GH¢16.22 billion in September 2025 to GH¢20.28 billion in September 2026.
Shareholders’ funds rose by approximately 77%, climbing from GH¢1.56 billion to GH¢2.76 billion. The increase strengthens the bank’s reported equity position and provides an important measure of progress in its financial restructuring efforts.
ADB also reduced its accumulated losses from GH¢1.70 billion to GH¢1.52 billion, while statutory reserves increased from GH¢340.7 million to GH¢534 million.
Although these developments indicate improvement, the reduction in accumulated losses remains gradual, making continued profitability, effective risk management and sound balance sheet management important to the bank’s longer-term recovery.
Bad Loans Remain a Key Challenge
Despite the encouraging financial performance, asset quality remains an area requiring sustained attention.
ADB’s non-performing loans ratio declined from 70.13% in September 2025 to 66.32% in September 2026. While the reduction represents progress, the ratio remains elevated and highlights the importance of loan recovery efforts, stronger credit controls and careful lending decisions.
A high level of non-performing loans can constrain lending capacity, increase impairment costs and place pressure on a bank’s profitability. Maintaining improvements in this area will therefore be essential as ADB seeks to translate stronger financial buffers into sustainable business growth.
The bank’s Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations, Mrs. Sylvia Naa Kwakai Nyante, also stressed the importance of customer confidence and improved service delivery.
“Our customers are at the heart of ADB’s transformation journey. The significant growth in customer deposits reinforces the importance of building lasting relationships through dependable banking services, operational excellence and consistent customer engagement. We remain committed to strengthening our systems, improving service delivery and ensuring that our customers enjoy convenient, secure and responsive banking experiences.”
Mrs. Sylvia Naa Kwakai Nyante
ADB Targets Sustainable Growth
ADB’s nine-month results show improvements in profitability, deposit mobilisation, funding costs and balance sheet strength. Profit after tax reached GH¢301.7 million, customer deposits crossed GH¢15 billion, and total assets climbed above GH¢20 billion.
The challenge ahead will be to sustain these gains while addressing the bank’s elevated non-performing loans ratio and continuing to reduce accumulated losses.
Management has reiterated its commitment to operational efficiency, customer-focused innovation and prudent financial management, with agriculture, agribusiness and Ghana’s productive sectors remaining central to the bank’s mandate.
The ability to maintain earnings growth, protect depositors’ interests and improve asset quality will be critical in determining whether the latest performance translates into lasting financial resilience.
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