Investors Await CBN Clearance for Bank Earnings Reports

Investors in Nigeria's major listed banks, including GTCO, Access Holdings, United Bank for Africa, and Fidelity Bank, are experiencing delays in receiving audited financial statements for the six months ending June 30, 2026, due to incomplete audits and pending regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). These banks have secured extensions from the Nigerian Exchange Limited, with deadlines set for September 30 for most, while Zenith Bank has an extended deadline of October 9.

The delays hinder investors' ability to assess key metrics such as profitability and capital adequacy, which are crucial for portfolio positioning ahead of the final quarter of the year. UBA's board approved its H1 accounts on August 13, but CBN approval is still pending.

GTCO's board approved its accounts on July 28, with regulatory clearance awaited. Meanwhile, banks like FirstHoldCo and FCMB Group have published unaudited figures, providing some recent data, although these are not directly comparable to the audited accounts still pending from other banks.