Pan-African banking giant Ecobank has expressed confidence in achieving stronger financial performance in the second half of 2025, with Group Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Awori saying the lender’s diversified operations… The post Ecobank Targets Stronger Second Half as CEO Jeremy Awori Banks on Diverse Growth appeared first on Radarr Africa.
Pan-African banking giant Ecobank has expressed confidence in achieving stronger financial performance in the second half of 2025, with Group Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Awori saying the lender’s diversified operations will help it navigate global economic uncertainties.
The Lome, Togo-based lender operates in 35 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire. For the first six months of 2025, Ecobank recorded a 23% increase in pretax profit, supported by recoveries in some of its key markets such as Ghana, where the economy is showing signs of rebound after a period of financial strain.
Speaking in an interview with Reuters on Friday, Awori said the bank’s performance was being boosted by growth in payment services, remittances, trade finance, and other non-lending revenue streams. He explained that the bank was also gradually increasing its lending activities, but with a cautious approach to avoid a rise in non-performing loans, which have affected several African banks in recent years.
“We are confident that we will see the business continuing to perform. We have got a diversified business,” Awori said. “Our lending is picking up. We are doing that cautiously because there are still many macroeconomic uncertainties and we don’t want to lurch back into NPLs.”
The bank’s shares have risen by almost one-third so far this year, outperforming several regional rivals. In comparison, shares of Kenya’s KCB Bank and Nigeria’s Access Bank have recorded smaller gains, while South Africa’s Standard Bank has risen only 6% over the same period.
However, the lender recently faced a major shareholder shake-up. South Africa’s Nedbank, which has been Ecobank’s largest shareholder, announced last week that it was putting its 21.2% stake up for sale. Nedbank cited concerns over potential capital injection requirements to prevent shareholding dilution as one of the reasons for the divestment. The sale is expected to attract interest from regional and international investors seeking exposure to Africa’s growing financial services sector.
As one of the continent’s biggest banking groups, Ecobank has been involved in cash distribution and fund management for various global organisations. Awori noted that the bank’s cash distribution business had been affected by policy changes in the United States, particularly moves by former U.S. President Donald Trump to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Ecobank has also handled funds for the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has been impacted by USAID funding cuts. Awori did not give specific figures on the financial impact but stressed that the effect had been spread across the bank’s different markets, meaning the overall hit on deposits was not severe.
Looking ahead, the CEO said Ecobank’s strategy will focus on expanding its digital and payment services, improving trade finance offerings, and strengthening its retail and corporate banking segments. He emphasised that maintaining a balanced business model, spread across multiple countries and income sources, will help the bank weather any global or regional shocks, including potential new U.S. tariffs or political disruptions.
With Africa’s financial sector undergoing rapid transformation driven by fintech adoption, increased trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and growing remittance flows, Ecobank sees opportunities to deepen its role in connecting African markets. Awori said the bank will continue to invest in technology and partnerships to support cross-border transactions and facilitate economic growth across the continent.
The second half of 2025 will be a critical period for Ecobank as it works to consolidate gains from its first-half performance while managing risks from inflation, currency volatility, and global geopolitical developments. Industry analysts say the bank’s diversified footprint and growing non-lending revenue lines position it well to sustain profitability even in uncertain times.
The post Ecobank Targets Stronger Second Half as CEO Jeremy Awori Banks on Diverse Growth appeared first on Radarr Africa.
