Access Holdings Plc earned ₦172.9 billion in revenue from its electronic banking and e-business services in the first nine months of 2026 (January to September), a 14.2% increase from the ₦151.3 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, according to the group's third-quarter financial statements filed with the Nigerian Exchange (Access Holdings Plc Q3 2026 financial statements).

The growth underscores the rising importance of the company's electronic banking and card-related services as generators of income. The reported figure draws on a mix of revenue sources spanning electronic channels and card products — services that allow customers to transfer money, make payments, shop online, and complete banking tasks without visiting a physical branch. For Access Holdings, these offerings are not merely convenient; they also create opportunities to earn fees and commissions each time customers use the group's payment channels and electronic banking services. The pattern mirrors a broader shift in Nigerian banking, where everyday transactions increasingly take place on mobile apps, cards, and online platforms rather than at branch counters.

It is worth noting that the ₦172.9 billion does not represent transfer income exclusively. Access Holdings reports these figures in aggregate and does not provide a detailed breakdown of income across mobile banking, card payments, transfers, POS transactions, or other electronic channels.

The increase in e-business income coincided with a decline in some electronic banking costs. For the nine months ended September 2026, the company's e-banking expenses decreased by 10.9%, falling to ₦98.5 billion from ₦110.6 billion in the same period of 2025. These expenses cover services linked to alternative banking platforms as well as debit and credit cards, and the group's financial reports detail costs related to internet banking, mobile banking, online purchases, and card services.

Not all digital transaction costs declined, however. Charges for bank and electronic transfers rose by 25.3%, reaching ₦17.4 billion, up from ₦13.9 billion. These charges represent costs borne by the company rather than income from customer transfers, meaning overall e-banking expenses dropped even as the cost of bank and electronic transfer services increased.

Across the group, total fee and commission income grew by 8.4%, rising to ₦650.9 billion from ₦600.4 billion. This figure encompasses income from a range of banking services beyond electronic channels alone. Because the electronic banking and e-business line grew at a faster pace than the category as a whole, its share of the group's fee and commission income increased over the period.

Nine-Month Earnings and Profitability

The banking group reported growth in its earnings for the first nine months of 2026, with gross earnings reaching ₦3.99 trillion, up from ₦3.90 trillion in the same period last year. Gross earnings reflect the revenue generated from the company's activities before accounting for operational costs. A significant portion of this revenue comes from interest earned on loans and other financial assets, as well as fees and commissions. Measured against that modest top-line increase, the 14.2% growth in electronic banking income stands out as one of the faster-growing components of the group's earnings.

Interest income rose to ₦2.95 trillion, compared with ₦2.74 trillion the previous year, while interest expenses increased from ₦1.65 trillion to ₦1.81 trillion, mainly due to costs associated with deposits and funding. After accounting for these expenses, Access Holdings achieved a net interest income of ₦1.29 trillion, slightly up from ₦1.26 trillion a year earlier — the difference between what the bank earns in interest and what it pays for its funding. The increase in funding costs offset much of the additional interest income, leaving the net result only marginally higher.

The company also recorded a significant drop in impairment charges on financial assets, which fell to ₦92.9 billion from ₦350 billion. The reduction indicates fewer expected losses on loans and provided a boost to the bank's profit.

As a result, profit before tax climbed 8.3% to ₦667.4 billion, up from ₦616.2 billion, while profit after tax increased by 5.9% to ₦474.2 billion from ₦447.5 billion. Profit before tax represents earnings after deducting operating costs and expenses but before tax payments, while profit after tax is what remains after taxes are settled.

The results highlight that electronic banking and e-business services are becoming increasingly important for generating fee income at Access Holdings. Even so, the bank's overall profitability continues to rely on its lending operations, funding costs, and impairment charges. The nine-month figures cover January through September, and the group's full-year statements for 2026, to be filed with the Nigerian Exchange after the year closes, will show how electronic banking income, e-banking expenses, and funding costs trend through the final quarter.