Unity Bank Plc has said it is targeting to achieve N9.32 billion gross earnings for the first quarter of 2021.
In its Q1 earnings forecast obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) the bank also projected to rake in N6.22 billion in interest income.
The lender projected pretax profit of N341 million and N312 million for profit after tax during the stipulated period.
Unity Bank declared gross earnings of N33.91 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 and also recorded a 44 per cent asset growth during the period.
A review of the unaudited Q3 2020 results showed that the gross earnings of N33.91 billion represent an eight per cent growth from N31.26 billion recorded in the same period in 2019.
The lender’s total assets rose significantly to N420.87 billion in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, from N293.05 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.
This is even as the bank grew its bottom-line by six per cent as profit before tax moved up to close at N1.71 billion from N1.61 billion in 2019.
Profit after tax grew by six per cent to N1.57 billion from N1.48 billion recorded in the same period in 2019.
The bank in a statement noted that the performance came on the heels of the unmitigated impact of the global pandemic on the economy, which lingered throughout the quarter with its attendant headwinds that slowed down economic activities
The lender also grew its customers’ deposit portfolio to N332.36 billion from N257.69 billion for the same period in 2019.
Unity Bank’s managing director/chief executive officer, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, said, “One of the areas that will define our strategic direction going forward is investment in alternative channels leveraging further deployment of resources in technology.
“COVID-19 gave us a chance to test the integrity and scalability of our technology, the IT infrastructure, and the electronic banking channels, and provided us an opportunity to see where we needed to improve and strengthen, knowing that the future of sustainable banking business is in alternative channels.”
