Lagos, Nigeria — Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), has announced that the bank’s zero-fee policy for Point of Sale (POS) transactions is now a permanent fixture of the company’s corporate strategy.
Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, April 30, 2026, Agbaje addressed shareholder inquiries by confirming that the waiver on processing fees is not a temporary marketing campaign but a “life-long” commitment to the growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Strategic Highlights from the AGM:
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Permanent Cost Reduction: GTBank’s removal of Merchant Service Charges (MSC) on all POS terminals aims to eliminate financial barriers for local merchants, allowing them to scale without the burden of transaction-related operational costs.
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Balancing Investor Interests: Agbaje noted that the company is successfully navigating the needs of two distinct investor groups: institutional investors focused on long-term capital appreciation and retail investors seeking consistent dividend growth.
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Early-Stage Growth: Despite the company’s dominant market presence, Agbaje stated that GTCO is only about 10% through its long-term strategic plan, which integrates banking, asset management, pension fund administration, and digital payments.
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Dividend Commitment: Notwithstanding a minor dip in Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the 2025 fiscal year, the group reaffirmed its dedication to high-yield returns, declaring a significant 67% increase in its interim dividend compared to the previous year.
Financial Performance at a Glance (FY 2025)
While gross earnings showed resilience, the group reported a slight contraction in its bottom line compared to the record-breaking figures of 2024.
| Metric | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | Change |
| Gross Earnings | ₦2.215 Trillion | ₦1.8 Trillion (approx) | Increase |
| Profit Before Tax | ₦1.23 Trillion | ₦1.27 Trillion | -2.78% |
| Profit After Tax | ₦865 Billion | ₦1 Trillion | -14.94% |
| Interim Dividend | ₦11.76 | ₦7.03 | +67% |
Why the Zero POS Policy Matters
By making this policy permanent, GTCO is positioning itself as a primary partner for Nigeria’s informal and semi-formal business sectors. In an economy where margins are often thin, the removal of the standard Merchant Service Charge allows SMEs to retain more capital, improve customer experiences, and accelerate the transition toward a cashless ecosystem.
