Banking Sector

Insider Loans Soar to N112.77 Billion: Union Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, and Access Holdings Under Scrutiny

Stanbic IBTC and Union Bank Take the Lion’s Share: Highest Insider-Related Loans Among Major Banks

Published

2 months ago

August 7, 2023

Top executives in Union Bank of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sterling Bank, and Access Holdings bank were granted a combined N112.77 billion in insider loans in 2022, according to the analysis of the banks’ financial statements.

Leading the pack were Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Union Bank of Nigeria, with the highest insider-related loans among the four banks.

Stanbic IBTC granted its top executives and associates a total of N56.5 billion in insider-related loans, a 4.02% increase from N54.32 billion reported in the previous year while Union Bank of Nigeria declared N53.4 billion in outstanding insider-related loans in 2022, surpassing the N52.8 billion reported in the preceding year.

Further breakdown of the banks’ financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022 showed insider-related loans approved by Sterling Bank stood at N2.4 billion. Access Holdings on the other hand announced N469.01 million in insider-related credits in 2022, representing an increase from the N268.21 million reported in the previous year.

The rise in insider-related loans has raised concerns among shareholders and regulatory bodies alike. The Central Bank of Nigeria Circular BSD/1/2004 dated February 18, 2004, outlines the provisions for disclosure of insider-related credits in the financial statements of banks.

The BOFIA Act 2020 further imposes restrictions that disallow banks from lending more than five percent of their paid-up share capital to any single director or significant shareholder. Also, a bank’s total exposure in lending to its directors and significant shareholders must not exceed 10 percent of its paid-up share capital.

Experts and shareholder associations have expressed their reservations about these loans and emphasized the need for greater transparency and adherence to market-determined rates.

Boniface Okezie, the National Coordinator of Progressive Shareholders Association, pointed out that while directors have the right to apply for loans like any other customer, they should be subject to the same conditions as others.

He said, “Every director is just like a customer. There is nothing stopping them from applying for loans. But the ratio that applies to other customers should also apply to them. They could be given other incentives bordering on the period of repayment as directors of the bank who are working for the growth of the bank.

“But, as directors of a bank, there is a trust that has been reposed on them, and you can’t abuse that privilege. You must show leadership by example. A rate applies generally to every customer seeking to borrow from the bank. It should also apply to the directors because they are customers of the bank.”

Up Next

Wells Fargo and BNP Paribas Fined Heavily for Off-Channel Communications

Don't Miss

Sterling Bank Managing Director Abubakar Suleiman Bolsters Holdings with Latest Share Acquisition

Investors King

Comments

Banking Sector

Access Bank, Others Collect N154 Billion in Electronic Banking Fees in H1’23, a 16.7% YoY Surge

Published

4 days ago

September 28, 2023

Samed Olukoya

In the first half of 2023, customers of Nigeria’s top nine commercial banks paid a whopping N154 billion in fees for utilizing electronic banking services, reflecting a robust 16.7% year-on-year increase compared to H1’22’s N131.97 billion.

The data, extracted from the financial statements of these banks, underscores the escalating trend of Nigerians embracing electronic payment channels.

Leading the pack in revenue generation from these fees is Access Bank, amassing N43.9 billion, followed by United Bank for Africa Plc (N51.07 billion), Zenith Bank (N22.27 billion), Guaranty Trust Bank (N21.2 billion), and others like Stanbic IBTC (N2.14 billion), First City Monument Bank (N7.4 billion), Unity Bank (N1.96 billion), Fidelity Bank (N1.85 billion), and Wema Bank (N3.13 billion).

Electronic banking services encompass a gamut of options, including internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and Point of Sale (PoS) systems.

Recent data from the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) for Q1’23 indicates a substantial surge in electronic transactions.

Transaction volume increased by 209% YoY to 4.7 billion, and transaction value grew by 48% YoY to N137.52 trillion.

The nine banks collectively raked in N66.7 billion in account maintenance fees and commissions during H1’23, reflecting a 14.7% YoY rise.

Zenith Bank led this category with N21.02 billion, trailed by Access Bank (N13.36 billion), Guaranty Trust Bank (N10.5 billion), and United Bank of Africa (N9.6 billion).

Overall, the banks’ cumulative net fees and commission income registered a substantial 20.7% YoY growth, reaching N448.47 billion in H1’23 from N371.43 billion in H1’22.

Banking Sector

Access Holdings Posts 52.6% Profit for the First Half of the Year

Parent Company of Access Bank Celebrates Remarkable Financial Performance in H1’23

Published

6 days ago

September 26, 2023

Investors King

Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank, has reported a 58.9 percent surge in gross revenue to N940.3 billion for the first half of 2023.

The financial services giant also recorded remarkable growth in Profit Before Tax (PBT) and Profit After Tax (PAT) at 71.4 percent and 52.6 percent, respectively, culminating in N167.6 billion for PBT and N135.4 billion for PAT during the same period.

These financial milestones were unveiled as part of Access Holdings’ Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period concluding on June 30, 2023.

The driving force behind this unprecedented growth can be attributed to a potent combination of factors. A 63.0 percent growth in interest income and a 51.9 percent increase in non-interest income fueled the surge in gross revenue.

Access Holdings also witnessed a 35 percent year-to-date growth in customer deposits, capping the first half of 2023 at an impressive N12.5 trillion. This remarkable achievement encompassed all business segments, reinforcing the Group’s status as Nigeria’s largest financial institution by total assets.

The company’s total assets grew by 39.0 percent year-on-year to N20.9 trillion while shareholders’ funds surged by 40.6 percent to N1.7 trillion.

These astounding figures underline the Group’s ability to generate value from a diversified business portfolio, spanning banking, asset management, and payment services.

Herbert Wigwe, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, commented on the company’s positive performance, saying, “Our growth plans for the African continent remain firm and clear, driven by the strong long-term growth prospects and trade opportunities seen across many of the countries.”

He went on to emphasize the company’s commitment to its 5-year cyclical strategy, stating, “Our primary objective remains to transform Access Holdings Plc into a leading financial and ecosystem player, fostering opportunities for shared prosperity among all stakeholders.”

Banking Sector

Central Bank of Nigeria Postpones 293rd Monetary Policy Committee Meeting

Published

1 week ago

September 22, 2023

Investors King

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the postponement of its 293rd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, originally scheduled for September 25th and 26th, 2023.

Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, released a statement on Thursday confirming the decision.

In the statement, Dr. AbdulMumin stated, “The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has deferred its 293rd meeting, which was initially planned for Monday and Tuesday, September 25th and 26th, 2023, respectively. A new date will be communicated in due course. We regret any inconvenience this change may cause our stakeholders and the general public.”

While the CBN did not provide an official reason for the postponement, some industry experts suggest it may be related to the pending approvals for the newly appointed governor and deputy governors of the bank.

President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Yemi Cardoso as the potential head of the CBN. Additionally, Tinubu has endorsed the nominations of four new deputy governors for the apex bank, who are expected to serve for an initial term of five years, pending confirmation by the Senate.

The nominated deputy governors are Emem Usoro, Muhammad Abdullahi-Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala Bello. However, the appointment of the CBN governor is contingent upon Senate confirmation, which is currently on a yearly recess.

The CBN assures stakeholders and the public that the rescheduled MPC meeting date will be communicated promptly as soon as it is confirmed.