Unity Bank Plc said it grew its assets base by 67.9 per cent to N492.02bn as of the end of 2020 from the N293.05bn total assets value recorded in 2019.

During a virtual event to disclose the bank’s audited results for full year ended 31 December 2020 released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, it declared gross earnings of N42.71bn within the period under review.

It showed that the bank improved its bottom line marginally as profit after tax stood at N2.09bn.

Profit before tax closed at N2.22bn despite impact of global pandemic characterised by disruptions in business activities and general downturn that resulted in revenue dip in major leading sectors globally.

The lender grew its customers’ deposit portfolio to N356.62bn from N257.69bn in the corresponding period of 2019, representing a 38.4 per cent growth.

Another major highlight of the audited financial statement related to growth in its net operating income which rose to N25.46bn from N23.21bn in the corresponding period of 2019, representing a 9.71 per cent increase.

The net interest income rose by 7.60 per cent to N17.75bn from N16.49bn in the corresponding period of 2019.

Earnings per share closed at 17.85 kobo.

The bank’s gross loans portfolio increased by 92.9 per cent to N206.2bn in December 2020 from N106.9bn in December 2019.

The bank said its lending strategy was specially tailored to support the nation’s food agenda.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Unity Bank, Mrs Tomi Somefun, stated that the results showed the resilience of the bank during unprecedented times of uncertainties and its ability to innovate and focus on key balance sheet items that would enable it maintain growth trajectory.

She stated, “Consequently, for the year under review, the opportunities to significantly create more quality assets for the business, thought to have sustainable impact, informed part of choices made and we have seen some encouraging market uptake in this regard, apart from the benefits to the enterprise bottom-line that have also started trickling in.

“Other key performance indicators especially on the liability side of the business was equally not left out.”

She said the bank deployed new product features and augmentation supported by omni-channel, USSD promotions and other channels to enhance service delivery efficiency, drive income generation capacities and enhance steady balance sheet growth for the year.