Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has reported a 35.05% year-on-year increase in group profit before tax to N531.88 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with N393.84 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.
In the third quarter alone, pre-tax profit increased by 26.80% to N190.31 billion from N150.09 billion in Q3 2025.
Profit after tax increased by 33.00% to N370.36 billion from N278.48 billion in 9M 2025, while earnings per share rose to N23.03 from N17.31.
Meanwhile, Stanbic IBTC announced on October 23, 2026, that it had fixed the reference price for its 2026 interim scrip dividend programme at N159.86 per ordinary share.
The announcement follows the previously declared interim dividend of N4.50 per share, with eligible shareholders given the option to receive their entitlement in cash or new ordinary shares.
Shareholders who elect to receive new shares must submit their election forms by November 6, 2026, while cash dividend payments are scheduled for November 13, 2026.
Stanbic IBTC’s nine-month earnings performance was driven principally by stronger trading income, higher fee and commission revenue, and a significant reduction in impairment charges.
A major contributor was the sharp increase in trading revenue to N210.13 billion from N23.86 billion in 9M 2025, representing growth of approximately 780.58%.
The expansion in trading earnings was particularly important because the Group’s traditional interest-generating activities recorded weaker performance during the period.
In contrast, non-interest revenue more than doubled to N437.99 billion, increasing its contribution to total income to 53.56% from 31.85%.
Income from life insurance activities also rose to N6.67 billion from N4.81 billion, while other revenue declined to N2.89 billion from N7.43 billion.
The Group’s segment disclosures showed that Corporate and Investment Banking remained the largest contributor to total income and pre-tax profit.
Another major support to earnings was the reduction in credit impairment charges.
The lower impairment burden reduced the amount deducted from operating income for credit-related losses, providing additional support to profitability.
However, operating expenses increased by 14.30% to N285.39 billion from N249.69 billion.
Despite these increases, total income grew faster than operating expenses, supporting stronger profitability.
On the balance sheet, total assets increased by N978.60 billion to N9.60 trillion from N8.62 trillion in December 2025.
The expansion was supported by increases in trading assets, financial investments, cash and bank balances, and other assets.
In contrast, total loans and advances declined by 20.90% to N3.04 trillion from N3.84 trillion. This decline was concentrated in interbank lending rather than customer loans.
On the funding side, total deposits and current accounts increased by 12.30% to N5.37 trillion from N4.78 trillion.
The improvement was supported by higher retained earnings, which increased to N854.79 billion from N586.32 billion.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc shares have appreciated by 60% year-to-date, rising from N100.00 at the beginning of 2026 to N160.00 as of Friday, October 23, 2026.
