GCB, Ecobank, 4 others are top tier banks in Ghana – PwC Banking Survey

According to the 2026 Ghana Banking Survey by PwC Ghana, the top four banks in Ghana are GCB Bank, Absa Bank, Ecobank, and Stanbic. These four banks form the first quartile or top tier banks in the country, based on their significant share of total operating assets, customer deposits, and market power. Zenith Bank is the only new entrant to this elite group in 2026, having moved up from the previous year. The other three banks, GCB, Absa, Ecobank, and Stanbic, have maintained their positions from 2025.

The first quartile banks are the largest and most influential lenders in Ghana, controlling the majority of operating assets and deposit mobilization. They also boast strong financial performance, including higher profit margins, growth in trading income, interest income, and fees and commission income. In 2025, despite a declining interest rate environment, these banks achieved notable improvements in profit-before-tax margins, driven by growth in various income sources.

GCB Bank stood out among the first quartile banks with the highest Return on Equity (ROE), increasing from 29.8% in 2024 to 34.0% in 2025. Zenith Bank also experienced the largest improvement in ROE, rising from 22.0% in 2024 to 32.7% in 2025. These banks demonstrated robust performance in 2025, underpinned by strong balance sheet growth, improved liquidity, and sustained profitability.

Their success can be attributed to the supportive macroeconomic environment, including easing inflation, exchange rate stability, stronger economic growth, and improved fiscal conditions.

Looking ahead, the banking sector faces challenges in navigating a lower interest rate environment and maintaining their business models. Banks must deliberately reposition themselves for the future, making clear choices about where they can win and invest in capabilities that support those choices. They must also build businesses capable of generating value beyond the interest-rate cycle, informed by their core values and purposes for establishment.