PremiumTrust Bank Ratings Upgraded As Capital Adequacy Hits 40.8%

PremiumTrust Bank has secured upgrades to its credit ratings from Agusto & Co. and DataPro Limited, following improvements in its capitalisation, liquidity, asset quality and overall financial performance.

Agusto & Co. upgraded the bank’s long-term rating from BBB+ to A- and its short-term rating from A2 to A1.

Similarly, DataPro upgraded PremiumTrust Bank’s long-term rating from A- to A, while affirming its short-term rating at A1.

The rating agencies said the upgrades were supported by the bank’s robust capital position, with its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) rising from 20.8 per cent to 40.8 per cent.

The bank also recorded a strong liquidity ratio of 71.1 per cent, while its net interest margin stood at 83.3 per cent.

On asset quality, PremiumTrust Bank maintained a low non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 0.2 per cent, while its cost of funds stood at 3.2 per cent. Its cost-to-income ratio of 23.2 per cent also reflected strong cost efficiency, the agencies noted.

Agusto & Co. further highlighted the bank’s pre-tax return on equity of 84.6 per cent, which it identified as the highest in the Nigerian banking industry.

The rating upgrades come on the back of PremiumTrust Bank’s strong financial performance in 2025, when it recorded N177.1 billion in pre-tax profit and N1.7 trillion in total assets.

Beyond the financial indicators, the rating agencies pointed to the depth of the bank’s management team, the expansion of its branch network and digital footprint, as well as its governance, compliance, and risk-management frameworks, as factors supporting the improved ratings.

An ‘A’ long-term rating reflects a low credit-risk profile and strong capacity to meet financial obligations as they fall due, while an A1 short-term rating indicates the highest capacity for timely settlement of short-term financial commitments.

Commenting on the upgrades, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PremiumTrust Bank, Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, said the ratings represented a strong validation of the fundamentals established by the bank.

He said, “These upgrades are a strong validation of the fundamentals we have built at PremiumTrust Bank. From inception, we have been deliberate about establishing our presence and building an institution with the financial strength, resilience, and operating discipline to compete in the Nigerian banking industry.

“Our focus now is on converting this momentum into sustained growth. We are strengthening our balance sheet, expanding our physical and digital footprint, and investing in the capacity needed to serve our customers and support the businesses and communities across our markets.”