Access Holdings Deepens Sustainable Finance Impact, Expands Green Assets to N92bn

Access Holdings Plc has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, detailing substantial progress in translating its sustainability commitments into tangible business, environmental, and social outcomes. The report highlights a green asset portfolio valued at N92.14 billion, a notable 28.47% reduction in operational greenhouse gas emissions against its 2022 baseline, and expanded financial access for roughly 2.53 million low-income individuals.

The report underscores the Group's strategic shift from focusing on scale to emphasizing value, demonstrating how sustainability principles are now integrated into its capital allocation, risk management, product development, and overall operations. Access Bank Plc, the Group's primary subsidiary, is a significant contributor to these reported achievements. The green asset portfolio has seen consistent growth, rising from N22 billion in 2021 and N72.32 billion in 2024 to N92.14 billion by the end of 2025, moving closer to the Group's long-term target of N475 billion.

In 2025 alone, Access Holdings deployed N72.3 billion under its Sustainable Finance Framework for environmentally beneficial projects, expanding its cumulative sustainability-focused loan book to $1.269 billion. The reported reduction in operational emissions to 49,352 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 57,176 tonnes in 2024 is attributed to operational changes, notably the solarization of 263 branches and the deployment of 323 solar-powered ATMs, primarily across Access Bank's network in Nigeria. The Group adheres to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's operational-control approach, accounting for emissions across its African operations.

Beyond environmental metrics, the report emphasizes Access Holdings' role in fostering inclusive economic participation. In 2025, the Group extended financial services to 2,528,117 low-income individuals and integrated 78,438 new Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) onto its financing platform. Processing 2.8 billion transactions during the year, the institution solidifies its position as crucial financial infrastructure for Africa's real economy. Progress in gender-lens lending is also evident, with 354,156 loans totaling N67.4 billion issued to women and women-owned businesses, representing 24% of the relevant loan portfolio. Furthermore, the Group's Corporate Social Investment programs reached 2,439,480 beneficiaries in education, health, entrepreneurship, and environmental initiatives, often in partnership with organizations like UNICEF and the Kenya Forest Service. Employees contributed 359,500 volunteer hours with full participation, and over 50,000 trees were planted.