Net profit decline reported

Ecobank Côte d'Ivoire reported a 12.3 percent drop in net profit for the first nine months of 2026, reaching 38.9 billion CFA francs (66 million USD), compared to 44.437 billion CFA francs in the same period of the previous year.

Revenues and expenses

Although net banking income (NII) rose by 1.8 percent to 98 billion CFA francs, this growth was not enough to balance higher operating expenses and the cost of risk, which significantly impacted profitability.

Operating costs and risk

Operating expenses increased by 6.9 percent to over 46 billion CFA francs, while the cost of risk surged from 702 million to 8 billion CFA francs, a rise of 7.3 billion CFA francs. This increase in risk cost alone was more than four times the additional revenue generated.

Credit risk and provisions

Non-performing loans increased from 36.6 billion to 46.9 billion CFA francs, and related provisions rose from 35.8 billion to 43.4 billion CFA francs. The bank attributes this to a more cautious approach in setting aside funds to cover potential credit losses.

Profitability and interest margins

The net interest margin rose by 7.3 percent to 71.4 billion CFA francs, but non-interest income fell by 10.2 percent to 26.8 billion CFA francs. The operating coefficient worsened from 44.7 percent to 46.9 percent, and pre-tax profit dropped by 16.3 percent to 44 billion CFA francs.

Loan and deposit trends

Net customer loans decreased by 1.5 percent to around 924.5 billion CFA francs, while deposits saw a 2.8 percent increase, indicating a shift in customer behavior and financial activity.