Sterling HoldCo Optimises Operational Efficiency, Records 99% Profit Growth in FY25
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“Sterling HoldCo” or “the Group”), parent company of The Alternative Bank and Sterling Bank, has released it’s 2025 full-year interim financial results, showcasing an improvement in operational efficiency with a reduced cost-to-income ratio of 63% from 72% in 2024. This decline, coupled with a 99% year-over-year (YoY) increase in profit before tax (PBT) to ₦90.7 billion, highlights the Group’s strategic focus on controlling operational expenses while driving robust revenue growth.
The Group’s total assets surged by 11% to nearly ₦4 trillion, a strong indicator of its expanded market footprint. Customer deposits rose by 18%, reaching ₦2.98 trillion, further reflecting the Group’s successful efforts in enhancing customer engagement and product adoption across its platforms.
Sterling HoldCo’s gross earnings grew by 46% YoY to ₦476.5 billion, driven by healthy growth in both interest and non-interest income. Interest income rose by 43% to ₦369.6 billion, fueled by an increase in loans and advances and improved yields on investment securities. Non-interest income grew by 57.3%, supported by higher trading income and growth in fees and commissions.
Sterling HoldCo has also continued to strengthen its capital position, with shareholders’ funds increasing 39% to ₦424.0 billion. This bolstered capital base ensures the Group’s banking subsidiaries are well-equipped to support its future growth initiatives, having met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirements ahead of the March 2026 deadline. This achievement was driven by a series of disciplined capital-raising initiatives, including a public offer of over ₦88 billion to bolster Sterling Bank’s position, and a prior capital injection that secured The Alternative Bank’s status as a national non-interest bank.
The Group’s results reflect a diversified earnings base, an emphasis on efficient capital deployment, and a strengthened operational foundation, all of which position Sterling HoldCo for continued growth in the competitive financial services landscape.
About Sterling Financial Holdings Company
Sterling Financial Holdings Company PLC (Sterling HoldCo) is a leading Nigerian financial services group committed to enriching lives through innovation and impact with a diversified portfolio that includes Sterling Bank Limited, The Alternative Bank Limited, SterlingFI Wealth Management among others. As a HoldCo, Sterling provides strategic direction, governance, and resources across its subsidiaries, enabling each to focus on its core mandate while benefiting from group-wide expertise, technology, and oversight.
With a heritage of trust built over six decades, Sterling HoldCo is committed to financial innovation, advancing inclusion, and shaping sustainable growth in Nigeria’s economy. The group champions customer-focused solutions and socially responsible initiatives while creating value for shareholders, employees, and the communities it serves, and continues to pioneer offerings across its core businesses in banking, payments, and technology-driven financial services.
