Emmanuel lkpeama
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc has sustained its impressive growth trajectory, posting remarkable increases in earnings, profitability, and balance sheet size as the Group’s total assets surpassed the ₦4 trillion mark in the first quarter of 2026.
The financial services group announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, alongside its unaudited Q1 2026 results, reflecting robust performance across its banking and wealth-management businesses.
According to the Group Chief Financial Officer, Adebimpe Olambiwonnu, Sterling Financial recorded Gross Earnings of ₦486.8 billion for the 2025 financial year, representing a 44.4 percent increase and the strongest performance in the Group’s recent history.
Profit Before Tax rose significantly by 89.2 percent to ₦86.8 billion, while Profit After Tax climbed by 74.8 percent to ₦76.3 billion, underscoring the Group’s strong earnings capacity and operational efficiency.
The Group also posted notable balance sheet expansion during the period, with Total Assets increasing to ₦3.91 trillion. Customer Deposits grew to ₦2.98 trillion, while Loans and Advances stood at ₦1.41 trillion. Shareholders’ Funds also expanded by 40.5 percent to ₦428.7 billion.
Sterling Financial maintained the positive momentum into the first quarter of 2026, crossing the ₦4 trillion asset threshold for the first time as Total Assets rose to ₦4.07 trillion.
Gross Earnings for Q1 2026 increased by 41.6 percent year-on-year to ₦134.8 billion, supported by a 36.8 percent rise in Net Interest Income to ₦64.9 billion.
Operating Income for the quarter reached ₦93.4 billion, while Profit Before Tax rose by 52.8 percent to ₦27.9 billion. Profit After Tax also increased to ₦23.4 billion.
The Group’s Shareholders’ Funds strengthened further to ₦542.5 billion following the successful completion of its recapitalisation programme.
Speaking on the results, Group Managing Director of Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, Yemi Odubiyi, said the strong FY2025 and Q1 2026 performance reflected continued growth across the Group’s core businesses driven by disciplined execution, improved efficiency, and stronger capital positioning.
He noted that the successful recapitalisation programme has positioned the Group for its next phase of expansion across commercial banking, non-interest banking, and wealth-management operations.
Odubiyi added that the Group remains committed to sustaining growth, strengthening its balance sheet, and delivering long-term value to stakeholders through its diversified business structure.
The period also marked a significant phase in the evolution of Sterling Financial as the continued growth of Sterling Bank Limited, The Alternative Bank Limited, and SterlingFI Wealth Management strengthened the Group’s competitive positioning across multiple financial segments under a unified operational strategy.
With stronger capital, expanded operating capacity, and sustained momentum across its subsidiaries, the Group enters the remainder of 2026 on a solid growth path.