Nigerian banks generated N224.69bn from electronic banking services and ATM/card-related charges in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 12.56 per cent increase from N199.61bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, an analysis of the unaudited financial statements of 11 listed lenders has shown.
The increase came as banks continued to deepen digital banking adoption and electronic payment services, with income from e-banking channels accounting for a significant share of non-interest revenue during the period under review.
Findings showed that electronic banking and ATM/card management fee income rose by N25.06bn year-on-year, from N199.61bn in Q1 2025 to N224.67bn in Q1 2026. A breakdown showed that income from electronic banking and e-business activities increased by 11.57 per cent to N177.97bn from N159.52bn recorded a year earlier.
Similarly, earnings from ATM and card management fees climbed by 16.48 per cent to N46.70bn from N40.09bn in Q1 2025.
The growth in digital banking revenue coincided with a broader increase in banking sector fee income. The total fee and commission earnings of the 11 lenders rose by 13.64 per cent to N984.47bn from N866.30bn. Also, account maintenance fee income increased by 14.07 per cent to N209.18bn from N183.37bn.
Among the lenders reviewed, Access Holdings recorded the highest earnings from e-banking services, generating N55.71bn in Q1 2026. UBA followed with N46.93bn, while Ecobank earned N35.53bn from card management fees. GTCO posted N21.90bn in e-business income, and Zenith Bank generated N21.54bn from electronic product fees.
Other notable contributors included First Holdco with N20.75bn, Wema Bank with N6.10bn, Fidelity Bank with a combined N8.81bn from ATM charges and e-banking commissions, Stanbic IBTC with N4.33bn from card-based commissions and electronic banking fees, Sterling Financial Holdings with N2.89bn, and Jaiz Bank with N187.05m.
