• The company posted an 84% increase in profit before tax to ZWG 815.2 million, driven by a decisive shift towards sustainable earnings and strong core trading income growth
• Income from core trading activities grew 34% and now accounts for over 80% of total revenue, reflecting the company's strategic repositioning
• Total assets grew 20% to ZWG 21.8 billion, with customer deposits surging 65%, and shareholders' equity rose 19% to ZWG 4.1 billion

Harare- FBC Holdings Limited has delivered a markedly stronger underlying performance in 2025, posting an 84% increase in profit before tax to ZWG 815.2 million from ZWG 443.7 million the prior year, while profit after tax rose 69% to ZWG 789.1 million.

The standout feature of the results is the decisive shift toward sustainable earnings, income from core trading activities (lending, transaction processing and payments) grew 34% and now accounts for more than 80% of total revenue, a material improvement from prior years when revaluation and fair-value gains were far more prominent.

Headline total income fell 34% to ZWG 3.8 billion precisely because those non-core gains normalised, yet the quality and predictability of earnings improved sharply, the clearest signal yet that the Group’s diversified model is maturing.

 Meanwhile, net interest income advanced 4% to ZWG 1.47 billion, while net fee and commission income rose a robust 24% to ZWG 1.53 billion on higher transaction volumes across digital and traditional channels.

The insurance subsidiaries swung from a ZWG 0.049 billion loss to a ZWG 0.108 billion profit, reflecting disciplined underwriting and claims management, while operating expenses were cut dramatically from ZWG 4.58 billion to ZWG 2.64 billion through automation and cost discipline, driving the cost-to-income ratio down to 78% from 82%. These efficiencies more than offset the lower non-core income and powered the bottom-line expansion.

On the balance sheet the Group continued to strengthen its position. Total assets grew 20% to ZWG 21.8 billion, supported by a 65% surge in customer deposits and a 21% increase in loans and advances to ZWG 10.7 billion. Shareholders’ equity rose 19% to ZWG 4.1 billion.

All regulated subsidiaries remain well capitalised on both regulatory and economic measures. The Group also completed the merger of FBC Bank and FBC Building Society operations and established FBC Properties (Private) Limited as a dedicated property development and management vehicle, streamlining capital allocation and unlocking value in real estate. 

The Group’s strategic repositioning,  including core-system upgrades, in-house digital solutions, a 50% reduction in paper usage, and measured adoption of artificial intelligence, positions it to capture further transactional and lending growth in mining, agriculture and SMEs while deepening financial inclusion.

The Board declared a final dividend of US 0.32 cents and ZWG 3.9 cents per share, payable on 29 April 2026, reflecting confidence in the sustainability of the improved earnings base.

With a healthy liquidity position, a stronger cost structure and a clear focus on digital innovation and sectoral opportunities, FBC Holdings enters 2026 well equipped to sustain earnings momentum and deliver further shareholder value in a gradually improving economic environment. The combination of core-revenue dominance, operational leverage and strategic restructuring marks 2025 as a pivotal year in the Group’s evolution from reliance on volatile gains to consistent, high-quality profitability.

Equity Axis News