In 2025, UBA Ghana led the industry with a non‑performing loan (NPL) ratio of 2.1%, according to the Ghana Association of Banks’ Consolidated Banks’ Audited Financial Statements. Fidelity Bank followed at 6.1% and Guaranty Trust Bank at 7.1%.
Zenith Bank and Access Bank also finished the year with NPL ratios below 10%, at 8.5% and 9.2% respectively. However, all three saw sharp year‑on‑year rises – Access Bank’s ratio jumped from 2.1% in 2024 to 9.2%, Zenith from 1.0% to 8.5%, and GT Bank from 2.4% to 7.1%.
CalBank and Prudential Bank made notable improvements, cutting their ratios to 17.0% and 57.0% from 47.5% and 74.0% the previous year, yet both still carried elevated levels.
The most severe credit challenges were at Agricultural Development Bank and National Investment Bank, whose NPL ratios fell only modestly to 70.5% and 69.7% from 75.3% and 75.5% in 2024. Universal Merchant Bank and Consolidated Bank also struggled, with ratios of 52.3% and 33.4% respectively.
High NPL ratios can erode earnings through impairment charges, tie up capital and limit new credit, weakening banks’ ability to support businesses and households.
Compounding these concerns are persistent delays in salary‑deduction remittances for public‑sector workers. The Ghana Association of Banks’ CEO, John Awuah, warned that banks may suspend new lending to this sector if remittances remain unresolved, potentially affecting workers who rely on salary‑backed loans.
These figures highlight an uneven recovery in asset quality across the sector, underscoring the need for stronger credit‑risk management and coordinated loan‑repayment mechanisms.
