Driven by Competition, Liquidity, 10 Banks Loans and Advances Hit N187.13tn

Driven by intense industry competition and available liquidity, ten Nigerian banks collectively disbursed an estimated N187.13 trillion in loans and advances to corporate and individual customers between 2021 and 2025. This figure, derived from an analysis of audited results and accounts posted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), highlights the significant role these financial institutions play in the nation's economy.

The ten banks under review include prominent names such as First HoldCo Plc, Access Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), and Zenith Bank Plc, alongside Fidelity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc. These loans were directed towards critical sectors including Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Power, Small & Medium Enterprises, Agriculture, and Real Estate.

Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, First HoldCo, and UBA Plc emerged as the leading lenders, accounting for approximately 71% of the total loans disbursed. Access Holdings, a Pan-African institution, demonstrated the broadest lending footprint, with its loan book expanding by 221% from N4.2 trillion in 2021 to N13.3 trillion in 2025. Zenith Bank's loan portfolio grew by 211.4% to N10.45 trillion, while First HoldCo saw a 211% increase to N8.97 trillion over the same period.

Notably, Wema Bank, despite having the smallest loan portfolio among the ten banks during this period, reported the highest percentage increase in loans to customers, soaring by 314.92% from N418.866 billion in 2021 to N1.74 trillion in 2025. This period also saw increased competition from fintech companies like Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank, and Airtel SmartCash, which offer competitive interest rates on loans, particularly to small businesses, with fintechs disbursing over N150 billion in loans in 2025.