Access Holdings PLC has been ranked the Tier 1 bank with the best asset quality in Nigeria, having posted the lowest Non-Performing Loan Ratio (NPLR) at 2.76%, according to Proshare’s 2025 Tier 1 Banking Report released recently. This marks a significant achievement for Access Holdings and reinforces its leadership in credit discipline, risk management, and sustainable lending practices.
The report, titled “The Class of 2025: Getting Bigger, Bolder, and Dominant,” ranks Access Holdings second overall in the Tier 1 category, coming just behind Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), which led with a percentile score of 100. Access Holdings followed closely with a 91st percentile ranking, ahead of Zenith Bank (73%), FirstHoldco (82%), UBA (64%), and GTCO (55%).
In terms of asset quality, Access Holdings maintained a remarkable 2.76% NPLR, outperforming: Zenith Bank (3.54%), GTCO (4.07%), UBA (3.80%), ETI (6.25%), and FirstHoldco (6.70%).
This cements Access Holdings’ position at the forefront of asset quality management among Nigeria’s top financial institutions and reaffirms its reputation for operational discipline amid market volatility.
Commenting on the achievement, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, said: “This ranking is not just a measure of our financial health; it reflects the strength of our governance, the quality of our decision-making, and our commitment to long-term value creation. It is a testament to the discipline of our people and the effectiveness of our pan-African strategy.”
She added: “At Access Holdings, we believe that sustainable success lies in balancing growth with resilience. We will continue to execute with precision, build with purpose, and innovate with integrity as we expand our presence across Africa and beyond.”
The 2025 edition of the Proshare Bank Strength Index (PBSI) introduced a recalibrated framework to reflect the ongoing recapitalisation exercise in Nigeria’s banking sector. Going beyond traditional financial metrics, the PBSI incorporates broader indicators including: Capital adequacy and scale, Asset quality and sustainable growth, Digital transformation and earnings diversification, Governance quality and board diversity, Profitability and cost-efficiency.
Access Holdings demonstrated strong fundamentals across all these parameters. It closed Full Year 2024 with: Total assets of ₦41.5 trillion, A loan book of ₦13.1 trillion, Capital adequacy ratio of 20.46%, Asset growth of 55.49%, Cost of risk at 1.25%, Net interest margin at 6.80% and Earnings growth of 88.05%.
These indicators point to a business built on financial soundness and execution excellence.
Speaking at the report launch, Olufemi Awoyemi, Chairman of Proshare, described the rankings as a vital mirror into the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s financial sector: “Access Holdings has proven itself a strong, adaptive institution. Its robust capital base, successful fundraising, and continental expansion efforts show a group that is not only growing but evolving. As recapitalisation reshapes the banking landscape, institutions like Access Holdings will continue to define the future of finance in Africa.”
He also contextualized ETI’s top ranking: “ETI remains a unique case due to its pan-African structure and relatively limited regulatory exposure within Nigeria. Unlike Access Holdings and other locally regulated groups that must meet the ₦500 billion recapitalisation threshold, ETI’s broad regional footprint dilutes its local obligations. That distinction is key when interpreting rankings.”
The report concludes that Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, UBA, FirstHoldco, GTCO, and ETI dominate the 2025 Tier 1 banking landscape in capital strength, asset size, loan portfolios, and governance quality. However, Access Holdings stands out for its unique blend of low risk, high growth, and strategic foresight, making it not just a leader in numbers but a frontrunner in shaping the future of African banking.
As Nigeria’s financial sector enters a more competitive, integrated future, Access Holdings remains committed to building a stronger, smarter, and more inclusive financial services ecosystem across Africa and beyond.