UBA sustains growth momentum as gross earnings top N290bn in FY2014

United Bank for Africa (UBA) plc has released 2014 full year audited results showing that consolidation of its African operations and enhanced productivity across the group are sustaining the bank’s growth momentum.

The results of the pan- African pank, released on Wednesday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), show a 10 percent growth in gross earnings to N290 billion. In other indices, the bank recorded a profit-before-tax of N56.2 billion and a profit- after-tax of N48 billion. Earnings received a boost from both interest and non- interest income showing the bank’s diversified and stable income base.

Interest income rose 5.91 percent to N197 billion in December 2014 from N186 billion in December 2013, while non-interest income rose by 18.17 percent to N93.3 billion from N79.0 billion. The group chief financial officer, Ugo Nwaghodoh expressed optimism that the bank will continue to record a steady and sustained increase in its profitability by leveraging on low cost stable funds as well as rising opportunities in the bank’s target markets in Nigeria and across Africa.

“The performance of our African business was boosted by increased cross selling of our products and a number of other strategic initiatives. As we gain critical mass in the African market, we look forward to increased earnings in line with the diversification of our business across Africa,” said Nwaghodoh. Customer deposits in the period under review remained stable at N2.17 trillion in 2014.

Buoyed by this stability, UBA expanded its support for businesses on the continent by increasing its loan book by 14 percent to N1.072 trillion in 2014. “We expanded our loan book without compromising our focus on asset quality. Notably, our non-performing loan ratio remains one of the best-in-class at 1.6 percent, as we responsibly grew risk assets in line with our defined risk appetite and target markets,” said the group managing director/ CEO, Phillips Oduoza.

The bank was also able to grow shareholders’ fund significantly by 13 percent to N265 billion in 2014 from N235 billion in 2013, with a capital adequacy ratio above regulatory requirement. “We will leverage on our adequate capitalisation and liquidity to grow market share across target business lines,” said Oduoza.

UBA also announced that it was paying a proposed cash dividend of N0.10 per share in a move, the board said, was to effectively reflect the balance between giving short-term return to investors and the commitment to create sustainable long-term value to all shareholders.