Ecobank Transnational Incorporated delivered one of its strongest performances in years in 2025, posting $801 million in pre-tax profit, up 21% from a year earlier, alongside net revenue of $2.45 billion, a 17% increase.
The results mark a high point since Jeremy Awori, CEO took over in 2022 and offer early validation of the group’s long-criticized Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy.
The improvement is especially clear in operating efficiency.
The cost-to-income ratio dropped to 48.3%, from 52.8% a year earlier and above 70% in the group’s more difficult years before 2018. For a bank operating across more than 33 markets with uneven macroeconomic conditions, the shift is significant: Ecobank now spends less than 49 cents to generate one dollar of revenue.
It also marks a structural change, with revenue growth now outpacing expenses at the group level.
Performance was led by the Corporate and Investment Banking division, which posted $697 million in pre-tax profit, up 40%, driven by trade finance, cash management, and capital markets activity.
The Consumer and Commercial Banking segment followed with $480 million, up 27%, supported by stronger deposit mobilization and a 33% increase in lending.
Customer deposits rose by $4.9 billion to reach $25.3 billion, while total loans stood at $12.8 billion.
Return on tangible equity reached 27.8%, signaling a renewed capacity to generate value.
The board’s recommendation to pay $40 million in dividends, or $0.0016 per share, carries more symbolic weight than financial impact.
Over the nine years leading up to 2022, Ecobank paid dividends only twice, the last time in 2016.
From 2017 to 2021, shareholders saw no payouts as the group focused on repairing its balance sheet, transitioning to Basel III standards, and navigating the pandemic.
