United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has posted an increase of 11.8 per cent in customer deposits for the financial year ended December 31st, 2025.

The bank disclosed this in its audited financial results released through the Nigerian Exchange Ltd., on Saturday.

According to the report, the deposits rose to N27.2 trillion in 2025 from N24.3 trillion recorded in 2024.

The bank also reported a growth in total assets, which increased by 9.4 per cent to N33.2 trillion, compared with N30.3 trillion posted in the corresponding period of 2024.

The results showed that the group gross earnings stood at N3.09 trillion from N3.19 trillion recorded in the previous year.

Commenting on the results, UBA Group Managing-Director, Oliver Alawuba, said the bank has continued to demonstrate the true strength of its Pan-African diversified model.

Alawuba said this was in spite of the moderation in bottom-line performance compared to the prior year’s highs, as core business engines, especially in the subsidiaries outside Nigeria delivered double-digit growth.

“The 2025 financial year was defined by UBA’s proactive approach to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s new recapitalisation requirements.

“The group successfully concluded capital raising programme, which was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in UBA’s long-term growth strategy.

“A total of N395 billion additional capital was raised, enhancing our capacity to support our footprints, and expanding lending to key sectors.

“We have also made significant investments in innovation, technology and resources to drive our payment and digital offerings; this will help scale digital-led income streams across our markets,” he said.

Alawuba noted that the bank delivered strong gross earnings of N3 trillion, underpinned by solid business fundamentals.

He said the 2025 financial year results were impacted by material loan loss provisions of N331 billion and fair value changes on derivatives of N227 billion.

He explained that these were non-recurrent in nature and not expected to recur at the same magnitude in future periods.

According to him, the bank’s recovery team has been strengthened and was actively pursuing the recovery of affected credit facilities, adding that all recoveries will flow directly into profit and loss from 2026 onwards.

Alawuba said the institution was well positioned to strategically expand its risk asset base in key sectors, as improving macroeconomic fundamentals were expected to further support earnings and profitability.

He projected potential earnings growth of over N1 trillion in the current year.

He disclosed that the bank’s African franchise continued to record strong growth, contributing more than 50 per cent of the group’s assets, revenue, and profit.

Specifically, he said West Africa recorded a 53 per cent profit growth in 2025, while Eastern and Southern Africa posted a 61 per cent increase in profit within the same period.

In his forecast for the 2026 financial year, Alawuba said: “Looking ahead, UBA is well-positioned to accelerate growth, with plans to strategically expand its risk asset base across key sectors as macroeconomic conditions improve.

“With expectations of over N1 trillion in additional growth in the near term, the group remains committed to driving sustainable earnings, deepening financial inclusion, and delivering superior value to shareholders across all its markets.”

On his part, UBA’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, Mr Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the 2025 financial year marked a deliberate strengthening of the balance sheet and a shift towards more sustainable, higher-quality earnings in a normalising macroeconomic environment.

“We believe that proactively recognising potential credit losses positions us well to navigate uncertainties and support sustainable performance in future periods.

“The reversal of prior-year derivative gains and foreign exchange-related losses of N282.5 billion drove a decline in non-interest income; these will not recur in this magnitude and should result in future earnings upside,” he said.

According to him, in spite of the impact of these changes on profitability, the bank’s core business fundamentals as well as its capital and liquidity positions remained strong.

He said the shareholders’ funds was now at N4.25trillion and capital adequacy ratio at 23.2 per cent, having exited the CBN forbearance regime in 2025.

“With deliberate steps we have taken to reposition our Nigerian operations, we are well placed to cautiously drive risk asset growth in line with improving macroeconomic conditions.

“The bank is also intensifying recovery efforts on the provisioned loans, creating a clear pathway for earnings upside,” Nwaghodoh said.