First City Monument Bank recorded a Profit Before Tax of N111.9 billion for the December 31, 2024 financial year.

This was confirmed in a statement released through the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.

The statement revealed that PBT grew by 71 per cent, impacted by a 56.6 per cent decline in revaluation income and a 1.9 per cent fall in net interest margin.

The bank’s gross revenue stood at N794.4 billion for the period ending December 2023, marking a 53.9 per cent increase from N516.4 billion in the previous year.

This growth was driven by a 75.2 per cent rise in interest income and an 8.7 per cent increase in non-interest income.

Non-interest income growth was constrained by a 55.7 per cent year-on-year drop in other gains, from N89.3 billion to N39.6 billion. Net interest income rose by 27.6 per cent, from N176.6 billion in the prior year to N225.3 billion by December 2024.

Yield on earning assets improved to 16.2 per cent. However, net interest margin declined by 1.9 per cent due to a 122 per cent rise in funding costs.

Operating expenses increased by 45.7 per cent year-on-year to N229.1 billion, driven by higher personnel costs, regulatory costs, foreign currency-linked expenses, and inflationary pressures.

The cost-to-income ratio closed at 59.9 per cent for the period ending December 2024.

Net impairment loss on financial assets declined by 30.7 per cent year-on-year to N41.2 billion, down from N59.5 billion, lowering the cost of risk to 1.8 per cent from 3 per cent.

The bank’s divisions recorded year-on-year growth, with consumer finance rising by 83.5 per cent and investment management by 27.9 per cent, while the banking group declined by 7.7 per cent.

The bank’s earnings remained diversified, with non-bank subsidiaries accounting for over 30 per cent of profits.

Loans and advances increased by 28 per cent year-on-year from N1.84 trillion to N2.36 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Total assets grew by 59.5 per cent year-on-year, from N4.42 trillion to N7.05 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Customer deposits rose by 39.4 per cent year-on-year, reaching N4.30 trillion from N3.08 trillion by December 2024.

“We completed the first phase of our capital-raising programme, securing N144.6 billion through a public offer. This doubled issued shares from 19.8 billion in 2023 to 39.6 billion in 2024, impacting EPS,” the bank stated.

It added, “Subsequent phases of FCMB Group’s capital programme are in progress to ensure First City Monument Bank Limited meets the minimum capital requirement to retain its International Banking Licence.

“The capital injection has enabled First City Monument Bank Ltd. to secure its National Banking License and raise its capital adequacy ratio to 18 per cent. This has created essential buffers to support asset creation in select segments.”

(NAN)