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Sterling Bank’s Shares Gain 3.2% As Moody’s Reaffirms Ratings

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Yemi-Adeola

Moody’s Investors Service, a leading global rating agency, has re-affirmed the resilience of the Sterling Bank franchise by maintaining the lender’s standalone Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) ratings of B3.

This cheery news came hours after the lender’s share price appreciated by 3.25 per cent in today’s trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to close at N1.59 per share, indicating that that investors’ confidence remained strong.

BCAs are inputs to Moody’s joint-default analysis for ratings on issuers subject to extraordinary government support. It measures the financial strength of issuers subject to extraordinary government support, which can include banks, sub-sovereigns and government-related corporate issuers (GRIs). It explicitly excludes the likelihood of extraordinary government support in the event that a bailout is required, but does incorporate support as may be necessary for ordinary operations.

The rating agency in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, expressed confidence that with its current profile, Sterling Bank will remain resilient in the face of more challenging operating conditions given its adequate capital and liquidity buffers.

The agency in the statement explained, “Sterling Bank’s B2 deposit ratings continue to incorporate one notch of rating uplift on account of government support as the Bank’s ratings remain lower than the sovereign rating and its foreign currency deposit rating is now in line with the lowered foreign currency deposit ceiling of B2”.

Specifically, Moody’s rated Sterling Bank b3 in Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment; B1 (cr) in Long-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment; B2 in Long-Term Issuer Rating (Local and Foreign Currency); B2 in Long-Term Deposit Rating (Local and Foreign Currency) while the outlook changed to stable.

It would be recalled that the agency in a statement last March, noted that the ratings of the lender reflects its “solid asset quality metrics and provision coverage, improvements to its Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and risk management processes as well as its high liquidity buffers and a solid deposit funding base”.

According to Moody’s, the primary driver for confirming Sterling Bank’s BCAs is Moody’s expectation of the resilience of the banks’ standalone credit profiles despite the challenging operating environment. “While lower oil prices will continue to exert pressure on corporate borrowers and on the domestic economy more generally, we expect any deterioration in asset quality and liquidity at Sterling Bank to be manageable and within the tolerance levels assumed in their standalone ratings given their capital and liquidity buffers”, the agency stated.

Commenting, the Bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, noted that the reaffirmation of the rating is a testimony of the resilient of the Bank to remain strong and professional despite the challenging operating environment in which it operate.

Sterling Bank Plc, “the one-customer bank”, is a full-service national commercial bank with an asset base above N800 billion with over 187 business offices and more than 800 ATMs nationwide.

In over 55 years of service, Sterling Bank (formerly NAL Bank) has evolved from the nation’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a fully-fledged commercial bank. Furthermore, with a strong national presence, Sterling Bank is one of the top 30 most capitalized institutions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The bank also remains one of Nigeria’s fastest growing banks and is recognized as a dynamic financial services organization.

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BUSINESS

Wema Bank Launches “Evolution of Love” Campaign For Valentine’s Day

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Following the launch of “ALAT: The Evolution”, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative, and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has launched its 2026 Valentine’s campaign tagged “Evolution of Love, powered by Wema Bank”.

Inspired by the “evolution” theme of its upgraded ALAT app, Wema Bank launched the “Evolution of Love” campaign with the goal of celebrating different forms of love experienced by customers, and how they have evolved. From self-love to friendship, romantic love to family, this campaign introduces a fresh twist to Valentine’s, decentralising romantic love and creating a space for every Wema Bank customer this season of love.

“Evolution of Love, powered by Wema Bank” calls on new and existing Wema Bank customers across 4 categories: Singles [self-love], friends [friendship], married couples, and those getting married this February [romantic love]. While the gifts vary across each category, the requirement is the same—create a Love Goal on the ALAT App and submit a 1-minute video on any social media platform sharing how your love journey has evolved over the years, for access to gifts ranging from cash to spa vouchers, vacations and expense-paid getaways, and for one couple getting married in February, a special performance at the wedding from a celebrity artiste, courtesy of Wema Bank.

Announcing the campaign, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, gave further insights into the Bank’s approach to celebrating Valentine’s this year. According to him, “Love is central to the delivery of true customer-centric service, and as a Bank that prides itself on being customer-centric, this is reflected in the thought, intentionality, and commitment we put into all we do at Wema Bank. It has always been clear how much we care about our customers, and this year, we decided to celebrate the journey of love across different categories that reflect the different experiences and realities of our customers, from friends and couples who have grown together over the years to lovers taking the bold step of marriage and even singles, because self-love is crucial”.

“This Valentine’s, we chose to acknowledge the beauty of every love journey, and we are inviting all new and existing customers who have a story to share. For friends and singles, our goal is to promote true friendship and self-love. For families and married couples, our goal is to strengthen bonds by reminding them of how far they have come. For those intending to get married, we are adding one more memorable touch to their wedding with a special artiste performance. Our ultimate goal is for every Wema Bank customer to feel loved this season and beyond,” Oseni concluded.

Anyone interested in submitting their entry is encouraged to make a 1-minute video sharing their love journey and, where applicable, feature the person with whom their love has evolved. All submissions are to be posted on any social media platforms using #ALATEvolutionofLove and tagging @alat_ng and @wemabank.

To be eligible, customers are expected to activate SAW, the Voice Banking virtual assistant on the upgraded ALAT App, create a personal or group goal on the app with the name “Love Goal”, fund the goal and transact with their ALAT/Wema card between February 1st – February 10th.

More details on qualification criteria are available at wemabank.com/love

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BUSINESS

FIRST HOLDCO PLC – TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORN WITH A RECORD IMPAIRMENT CHARGE; GROWS GROSS EARNINGS TO N3.4 TRILLION FOR THE UNAUDITED FULL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025.

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First HoldCo Plc has announced its unaudited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, reflecting a year of deliberate strategic actions aimed at strengthening its balance sheet, improving asset quality, and positioning the business for more resilient and sustainable growth amidst successful capital raise activities.

As stated in the unaudited Group financial statement, FirstHoldCo recorded a 4.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in its Gross earnings to N3.4 trillion, supported by a 36.3% y-o-y growth in net interest income of N1.9 trillion on the back of enhanced earnings yield and margins of 17.11% and 11.0%, respectively. Similarly, net fees and commissions improved by 18.7% y-o-y to N290.7 billion. These are clear indications of the strength of the revenue-generating capacity of the core business, which continues to be solid. Earnings for the year were, however, lower than the prior year, primarily due to higher impairment charges in the commercial banking segment. This is in line with a deliberate strategic decision to accelerate balance sheet clean-up and adopt more aggressive provisioning standards. Management views this as a prudent step that enhances transparency, strengthens investor confidence, and aligns fully with evolving regulatory expectations.

Additionally, increased regulatory costs affected profitability. These charges, while weighing on the results, underscore the Group’s compliance with Nigeria’s financial system stability framework and its commitment to ensuring systemic confidence. Despite these pressures, the underlying performance of the Group remains strong.

Deposit liabilities grew by 10.0% y-o-y, driven by sustained deposit mobilisation and continued investment in digital banking platforms. This growth reflects strong customer confidence and deepening engagement across key segments. The deposit mix also showed a deliberate reduction in foreign currency deposits, resulting from the repayment of expensive funding and the impact of naira appreciation. This shift supports improved funding efficiency and reduces foreign exchange risk.

Gross loans and advances declined marginally, reflecting a disciplined approach to credit growth, strengthened risk management, loan repayments, write-offs, and the translation impact of a stronger naira on foreign currency facilities. The Group intensified its commitment to ensuring a high-quality, cleaner asset base, aiming to optimise the portfolio and enhance future earnings potential.

Furthermore, performance in earnings was impacted by a decline in non-interest income, mainly due to lower fair value gains on financial instruments following the naira appreciation in 2025. However, this was partially offset by stronger foreign exchange (FX) trading income and reduced FX revaluation losses. Net fees and commission income also grew, supported by higher electronic banking fees, letters-of-credit commissions, custodian fees, and account-maintenance income, reflecting the continued success of the Group’s digital-innovation strategy.

While impairment charges increased following the end of regulatory forbearance, management has intensified recovery initiatives and reinforced credit oversight. Excluding impairment and fair value gains, pre-provision operating profit grew by 23.9% y-o-y to N973.3 billion, demonstrating robust performance of the core business.

Apart from the commercial banking impairments, performance across the rest of the Group remained resilient, supported by steady customer activity and disciplined execution.

Looking ahead, the Group will continue to prioritise disciplined execution of its strategic objectives, with an emphasis on enhancing efficiency and profitability, continuing to build on the Group’s digital and data capabilities, and sustaining a robust balance sheet to support increased value creation and returns for shareholders. Alongside this, the Group will pursue selective growth initiatives, including new revenue streams, additional business verticals, and deeper participation in targeted African markets, in line with our strategy and risk appetite.

Further details and insights are to be provided when the audited full-year results are published and during the subsequent investor and analyst earnings call.

 

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BUSINESS

Jide Sipe Named President, Abiodun Coker of UBA, Others Emerge As ACAMB Executives

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The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has ushered in a new executive council, with a strong representation from leading financial institutions, to steer its affairs for the 2026-2028 term.

The election, held during the association’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos on Thursday, saw seasoned professionals from across the banking landscape elected to key positions.

The newly constituted executive includes Babajide Sipe of the Bank of Industry as President; Chinwe Bode-Akinwande of FirstBank as First Vice President; Morolake Philip-Ladipo of Wema Bank as Second Vice President; Abiodun Coker of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as the Publicity Secretary; Olugbenga Owootomo from Polaris Bank as General Secretary; Halima Ishak from Jaiz Bank as Financial Secretary; Ademola Adesola from Parallex Bank as Assistant General Secretary; Unoaku Temitope Anyadike from Guaranty Trust Bank as Treasurer, and MacQueen Afolabi from Zenith Bank as Social Secretary

In his inaugural address, President Babajide Sipe expressed profound gratitude for the confidence reposed in him, outlining a purposeful agenda for his tenure.

“I promise to lead with courage, intention, and purpose. My leadership will be anchored on four pillars: mentorship and career development; strengthening outcomes relevant within the banking industry; active member engagement; and strong representation and advocacy,” he stated.

He further emphasized, “I will be an unrelenting advocate for our members and for the strategic value of our profession. My key focus is growth—growth for members, growth for the association, and ensuring that the values of ACAMB are protected.”


The newly elected First Vice President, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, who gave the vote of thanks, rallied members for collective effort. “The job of amplification is for everyone of us. We have heard the feedback and are ready to hit the ground running,” she said. She reassured members of the new Executive Council’s dedication, stating, “We do not doubt our minds that this EXCO will do great.”

The immediate past President, Rasheed Bolarinwa, highlighted the achievements of his tenure, notably in professionalising the membership. “We facilitated structured arrangements with regulatory bodies, enabling our seasoned professionals to formalise their certifications. Today, there’s hardly anyone in banking communication who does not belong to key professional groups,” he recounted.

Commenting on the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise, the former president allayed fears, expressing optimism. “There are no issues. If mergers and acquisitions happen, it will be for the good of the industry and its workforce. There is no cause for alarm,” he concluded.

As the new EXCO assumes office, all eyes are on its pledge to drive growth, unity, and vigorous advocacy for the banking communications community.

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