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Despite headwinds, Fidelity Bank looks to brighter future
By Nsikan Ikpe
Despite the negative headwinds that continue to plague the broader Nigerian and global economy, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the leading financial institution in Nigeria, has in its just released half year 2022 results, affirmed that it is looking forward to a brighter future.
According to the report released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) recently, the bank grew Total Deposits by 13.1% YTD to N2,290.1bn from N2,024.8bn in 2021FY, driven by double-digit growth in low-cost deposits. Low-cost deposits increased by 26.1% YTD to N1,902.4bn and now represents 83.1% of total deposits from 74.5% in 2021FY, which explains the drop in funding cost. It also recorded a remarkable 21.6% growth in profit.
Gross Earnings increased by 37.9% YoY to N154.8bn on account of 52.9% growth in interest income to N136.2bn from N89.1bn in H1 2021. The increase in Interest Income was driven by improved yield on earnings assets and 14.9% YTD expansion in earnings base to N2,546.5bn.
Similarly, Net Interest Margin improved to 6.4% from 4.7% in 2021FY, due to a combination of improved yields on average earning assets and a decline in average funding cost. Average yields on earning assets increased by 211bps YoY to 11.5% while average funding cost declined by 84bps to 4.0% YoY, which resulted in 50.4% growth in net interest income to N75.6bn.
Responding to the results, the bank’s CEO, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said:
“We are delighted with our H1 2022 performance which showed strong growth across key performance indices. With improved efficiency and customer experience around our network, customer transactions have grown considerably as we optimize our balance sheet and build up a large stock of stable low-cost deposits.
Notably, the release of the half year results coincides with the bank’s recent announcement on expanding to the United Kingdom with its proposed purchase of Union Bank UK.
Commenting on the proposed acquisition, Onyeali-Ikpe said: We recently executed a binding agreement for the acquisition of 100.0% equity stake in Union Bank UK Plc in line with our strategic objectives and business expansion drive. Union Bank UK offers a compelling synergy we hope to build on, to create a scalable and more sustaining service franchise that will support the wider ecosystem of our trade businesses and diaspora banking services.
On the back of the positive H1 2022 performance, the board of fidelity bank approved an interim dividend of 10k per share, making it the first time the bank will pay an interim dividend in its 34years history.
Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 6.5 million customers serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels. The bank was recently recognized as the Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank CEO
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