Lending more than doubled since 2024, bad loans fell to 4.8%, and earnings per share climbed 43.3% as the Bank targets at least GH¢3.7 billion in full-year 2026 profit before tax.
Accra, Ghana – 13 November 2026 – GCB Bank PLC has reported a profit before tax of GH¢2.87 billion for the nine months ended September 2026, representing a 42.6% increase over the same period last year and already accounting for 91% of the Bank’s full-year profit in 2025.
The performance reflects significant progress in the Bank’s 2025–2028 strategic plan, which seeks to strengthen its market position through sustainable growth, improved operational efficiency and increased support for Ghana’s productive sectors.
Presenting its Facts Behind the Figures to investors and analysts, the Bank highlighted improvements in lending, asset quality, income diversification and shareholder returns, despite growing pressure on interest margins following the stabilisation of Ghana’s economy and the decline in interest rates.
With returns from Treasury investments coming under pressure, GCB has intensified its focus on lending to businesses and households, expanding fee-based income and maintaining tighter control over operating costs.
Customer deposits increased by 22.9% to GH¢50.78 billion, providing the Bank with a stronger and more affordable funding base. Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) accounted for 93.2% of total deposits during the period.
The growth was supported by all three major business segments: Retail Banking, Wholesale and Investment Banking (WIB), and Commercial and Business Banking (CBB).
The increase in customer deposits has enabled the Bank to channel more resources into Ghana’s productive economy. Total assets grew by 29.0% year-to-date to GH¢67.62 billion, while gross loans increased by 47.7% to GH¢26.33 billion.
This represents a 120.6% increase in gross loans since December 2024. Loans now account for 47.4% of the Bank’s earning assets, compared with 40.6% at the end of 2024.
Beyond the growth in lending, GCB also recorded a significant improvement in asset quality. Its Non-Performing Loans (NPL) ratio declined to 4.8%, from 10.8% a year earlier and 15.06% at the end of 2024.
The improvement was recorded across all three business segments, reflecting the Bank’s strengthened credit risk management and disciplined approach to lending.
GCB also recorded significant growth in non-funded income, which comprises fees, trading and foreign exchange earnings. The segment increased by 81.7% to GH¢2.13 billion, contributing 37.4% of total operating income, an improvement of 10.1 percentage points within a year.
Total operating income rose by 32.4% to GH¢5.70 billion, despite the pressure on interest margins.
The Bank’s cost management efforts also contributed to the strong performance. While income grew by 32.4%, operating costs increased by 21.3%, resulting in positive operating jaws of 11.1 percentage points.
Consequently, the cost-to-income ratio improved to 45.1%, compared with 47.9% at the end of 2024.
The improved financial performance has also translated into stronger returns for shareholders. GCB recorded an annualised return on equity of 36.3% and a return on assets of 4.1%, while earnings per share increased by 43.3% to GH¢9.38.
The Bank’s shares have also recorded a strong performance on the stock market, nearly doubling in value since the beginning of the year.
Commenting on the results, Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, Mr Farihan Alhassan, said the performance demonstrated the impact of disciplined execution and the Bank’s decision to strengthen its traditional banking activities.
“These results show what disciplined execution can do. The easy Treasury era is over, and we saw it coming. We chose to lend more to Ghanaian businesses, to earn more from serving customers well, and to spend every cedi with care. The outcome is a bank that is larger, more productive, more diversified, and cleaner. Our customers trust us with their deposits, and we are putting that trust to work for Ghana’s growth,” he said.
Looking ahead, Management is targeting a minimum profit before tax of GH¢3.7 billion for the 2026 financial year, based on the Bank’s performance up to September and prevailing operating assumptions.
However, the outlook remains subject to developments in interest rates, credit conditions, market activity and other factors that could affect the Bank’s operating environment.
