By Peace Udugba
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc has announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, alongside its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, posting strong earnings growth, balance sheet expansion, and improved capital strength across the Group.
According to the Group Chief Financial Officer, Adebimpe Olambiwonnu, Gross Earnings for FY2025 increased by 44.4 per cent to ₦486.8 billion, representing the strongest performance in the Group’s modern history. Profit Before Tax rose by 89.2 per cent to ₦86.8 billion, while Profit After Tax increased by 74.8 per cent to ₦76.3 billion.
The Group also recorded significant balance sheet growth during the year, with Total Assets reaching ₦3.91 trillion. Customer Deposits grew to ₦2.98 trillion, while Loans and Advances closed at ₦1.41 trillion. Shareholders’ Funds also expanded by 40.5 per cent to ₦428.7 billion.
Sterling Financial sustained the momentum into the first quarter of 2026, with Total Assets crossing the ₦4 trillion mark for the first time, rising to ₦4.07 trillion.
Gross Earnings for Q1 2026 increased by 41.6 per cent year-on-year to ₦134.8 billion, supported by a 36.8 per cent rise in Net Interest Income to ₦64.9 billion.
Operating Income stood at ₦93.4 billion during the quarter, while Profit Before Tax rose by 52.8 per cent to ₦27.9 billion. Profit After Tax also climbed to ₦23.4 billion.
Shareholders’ Funds strengthened further to ₦542.5 billion following the successful completion of the Group’s recapitalisation programme.
Commenting on the performance, the Group Managing Director of Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, Yemi Odubiyi, said the FY2025 and Q1 2026 results reflected continued growth across the Group’s core businesses, driven by disciplined execution, improved operational efficiency, and a strengthened capital position.
According to him, the successful completion of the recapitalisation programme has positioned the Group for its next phase of growth across its commercial banking, non-interest banking, and wealth-management businesses.
He added that the Group remains focused on sustaining growth, strengthening its balance sheet, and delivering long-term value across its diversified platform.
The period also marked an important phase in Sterling Financial’s evolution, as the continued growth of Sterling Bank Limited and The Alternative Bank Limited, alongside the expansion of SterlingFI Wealth Management, positioned the Group to compete across multiple segments under a unified structure and shared strategic agenda.
Sterling Financial enters the rest of 2026 with stronger capital, expanded operating capacity, and sustained momentum across its banking and wealth-management businesses.
About Sterling Financial Holdings Company.
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc is a leading Nigerian financial services group committed to enriching lives through innovation and impact. Its diversified portfolio includes Sterling Bank Limited, The Alternative Bank Limited, and SterlingFI Wealth Management, among other businesses.
As a holding company, Sterling Financial provides strategic direction, governance, and shared capabilities across its subsidiaries, enabling each business to focus on its core mandate while benefiting from group-wide expertise, technology, and oversight.
With a heritage spanning over six decades, the Group remains committed to financial innovation, advancing inclusion, and driving sustainable economic growth in Nigeria, while delivering long-term value to shareholders, employees, and the communities it serves.
