- ADB Q1 2026: Profit Rises and Deposits Surge as Balance Sheet Expands
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has opened 2026 with stronger earnings and rapid balance-sheet expansion, as customer deposits climbed and liquidity strengthened, helping the lender grow net interest income despite a pullback in its loan book.
In its unaudited summary financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2026, ADB reported profit after tax of GH¢101.49m, up from GH¢68.83m in the same period last year, underlining a firmer operating performance at a time when banks are still rebuilding confidence after the post-restructuring reset.
The earnings improvement was supported by a higher core income line. Net interest income rose to GH¢261.73m (from GH¢247.88m), while operating income increased to GH¢375.15m (from GH¢322.36m), according to the income statement. The bank also reported earnings per share of GH¢0.06, up from GH¢0.04 a year earlier.
ADB’s balance sheet shows the sharper shift: total assets rose to GH¢19.44bn at end-March 2026, from GH¢14.87bn a year earlier. Much of that expansion appears to have been funded by deposit growth. Deposits from customers climbed to GH¢14.97bn, up from GH¢12.09bn.
The bank’s liquidity position also strengthened materially. Cash and bank equivalents increased to GH¢10.11bn from GH¢6.64bn, while investment securities rose to GH¢6.31bn from GH¢4.66bn, a profile that suggests heavier placement into liquid assets and government securities, a common posture among banks prioritising resilience and liquidity.
In contrast, loans and advances to customers fell to GH¢2.01bn from GH¢2.53bn, suggesting either a deliberate de-risking of balance-sheet growth, tighter credit conditions, or slower credit demand in parts of the real economy. For investors, the key question is whether this trend reflects temporary caution or a more durable rebalancing in which liquidity and securities continue to take precedence over loan expansion.
On funding and leverage, the bank reported borrowed funds of GH¢1.37bn, up from GH¢1.05bn. Total liabilities rose to GH¢16.86bn from GH¢13.53bn, consistent with the overall scale-up in assets.
ADB’s equity position improved sharply year-on-year. Total equity increased to GH¢2.58bn from GH¢1.35bn, while accumulated losses narrowed to (GH¢1.66bn) from (GH¢2.01bn), reflecting the effect of profitability and balance-sheet repair over the period.
In its quantitative disclosures, ADB reported a capital adequacy ratio of 26.75% and stated it recorded no statutory liquidity breaches for the period under review.
