GCB Bank has captured 17.8% of Ghana's credit market, solidifying its position as the country's largest lender. This significant increase in market share occurred during 2025, as the overall credit market expanded by 23.4%.
The 2026 Ghana Banking Survey, published by professional services firm PwC, reveals GCB Bank's growing dominance. Its share of industry loans and advances climbed from 12.0% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024, culminating in 17.8% in 2025. This performance placed GCB 3.6 percentage points ahead of its closest competitor in the credit market.
This expansion aligns with broader positive trends in Ghana's financial sector. Total industry loans and advances reached GHS 105.1 billion in 2025, up from GHS 85.1 billion in 2024. Lower lending rates, improved macroeconomic stability, and stronger demand for working capital and investment financing fueled this growth. GCB Bank's robust funding base, leading the industry with 12.37% of total deposits, provided critical support for its lending expansion.
PwC's survey highlights the importance of a strong deposit base for banks in a lower-rate environment. Banks with substantial funding can support credit growth without relying on more expensive funding sources. This scale and broad customer reach offer significant advantages to larger lenders like GCB Bank. The bank's ability to convert its deposit strength into productive credit is a key factor in its market leadership.
Farihan Alhassan, GCB Bank's Managing Director, emphasized the broader impact of the bank's lending position. He stated, "Our position as Ghana’s largest lender is ultimately about the impact we can create with the resources entrusted to us by our customers." Mr. Alhassan added that the bank has a responsibility to ensure funding reaches businesses, households, and productive sectors. This supports economic growth and creates opportunities across Ghana.
The rapid expansion of loan books often raises concerns about asset quality. PwC cautions that strong credit growth can lead to asset-quality pressures if underwriting and credit monitoring do not keep pace. Non-performing loans (NPLs), which are loans unlikely to be repaid, have historically risen with a lag after periods of rapid credit expansion. Therefore, the quality of lending is as crucial as the pace of expansion.
However, GCB Bank has managed its growth effectively. Even as its lending share increased, its NPL ratio improved significantly. The NPL ratio fell from approximately 19% in 2023 to about 10% in 2025. This indicates that the bank's credit expansion was not accompanied by a deterioration in asset quality.
Recent half-year results for 2026 further underscore this positive trend. GCB Bank grew net loans and advances by 34.7% to GHS 22.19 billion by June 2026. Customer deposits also increased by 24.5% to GHS 51.49 billion, maintaining the bank's market share at 17.9%. Crucially, the bank's non-performing loan ratio dropped further to 4.7% from 13.8% a year earlier. This figure is well below the industry average of 16.1%, demonstrating strong risk management.
The continued ability of GCB Bank to convert its strong deposit franchise into productive credit, while preserving asset quality, will be a key indicator for the market. This responsible lending approach supports sustainable economic development. It also sets a benchmark for other financial institutions in Ghana's evolving banking landscape.