Nigeria’s banking sector recorded strong growth in non-interest income during the first quarter of 2026, with 11 listed lenders earning a combined N209.18 billion from account maintenance charges. The figure represents a 14.07 per cent increase from the N183.37 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, reflecting banks’ continued reliance on transaction-related revenue streams amid a dynamic operating environment.
The lenders also posted a 13.64 per cent rise in total fee and commission income, which climbed to N984.47 billion from N866.30 billion a year earlier. The growth underscores increased customer activity across digital banking, payments, cash management services, and other fee-generating channels that continue to support profitability beyond traditional lending operations.
Among the banks, Zenith Bank recorded the highest account maintenance income at N25.07 billion, while Ecobank led overall fee and commission earnings with N237.80 billion. GTCO posted the fastest growth in account maintenance charges, rising by 42.15 per cent year-on-year, highlighting the increasing importance of fee-based income as a key driver of banking sector earnings.
