Another historic year of growth for DBL as taxed profit rises to $9.82B

In a year marked by sustained revenue growth and continued digital transformation, Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) has reported After Tax Profits of a whopping $9.82 billion, further cementing its position as one of Guyana’s leading financial institutions. For the financial year ended September 30, 2026, the Group delivered another year of strong financial performance.

The $9.82 billion Profit After Tax reflects a 16.8 per cent increase over the $8.41 billion recorded in 2025. This was driven by a growth in Profit Before Tax, which moved by 20.6 per cent to $13.36 billion, compared with $11.07 billion in the previous year. The Group maintained strong profitability indicators, recording a Return on Average Assets (ROAA) of 3.6 per cent and Return on Equity (ROE) of 25 per cent.

Additionally, DBL’s loans and advances increased by 26 per cent to $158.51 billion, compared with $126.02 billion in the previous year. Excluding Demerara Bank’s contribution, lending across the remainder of the banking industry expanded by approximately 15 per cent, compared with the Group’s growth of 26 per cent.

During the financial year, Demerara Bank extended an additional $32.49 billion in credit, reflecting its growing contribution the Guyana’s economic development through increased financing for housing, agriculture, manufacturing, services and other productive sectors of the economy.

Over the past five years, the Group’s lending portfolio expanded by approximately 172 per cent, representing an increase of $100.32 billion.

During this period, Demerara Bank accounted for approximately 33 per cent of the commercial banking industry’s total lending growth, increasing its lending market share from 17.7 per cent in 2022 to approximately 25 per cent in 2026.

Equally significant was the growth in customer deposits, which increased by 27.6 per cent to $265.53 billion, compared with $208.15 billion in 2025, substantially outperforming industry deposit growth of approximately 15 per cent.

Moreover, the Group’s deposit market share reached approximately 20 per cent, reflecting increasing customer confidence and the continued expansion of its banking relationships. Total Group assets also increased by 26.8 per cent to $307.36 billion, surpassing the $300 billion milestone for the first time.

Importantly, it was noted that this expansion has been accompanied by disciplined credit management, with Demerara Bank maintaining zero non-performing loans for the fifth consecutive year, notwithstanding the significant increase in its lending portfolio.

On the other hand, a defining achievement of 2026 was the Group’s continued technological transformation. The implementation of Salesforce Financial Services Cloud, automated account origination, digital customer onboarding and the launch of its new mobile and internet banking platforms have all significantly modernised DBL’s delivery of financial services. These initiatives now enable customers to open accounts, access banking services, transfer funds, make payments and manage their finances with greater convenience and reduced dependence on traditional branch visits.

According to the Group’s Chairman, Komal Samaroo, the performance over the past year marks another significant milestone in the Group’s history.

“This performance was underpinned by sustained growth across our core revenue streams, including interest income from lending, investment income and other income, reflecting the strength and diversification of the Group’s earnings,” Samaroo noted in his Chairman’s Report.

At its meeting held on October 21, 2026, the Board of Directors approved the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements.

The Chairman further noted in his report that the Board has proposed a final dividend of $3.75 per share, which brings the total dividend for the year to $4.75 per share. This is an increase of 18.8 per cent on the $4.00 paid in 2025.

Looking forward, Samaroo declared, “Together, we will continue to build on this strong foundation, driving innovation and growth while upholding the values that define Demerara Bank Limited.”

Meanwhile, also commenting on the Group’s performance, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dowlat Parbhu said, “Demerara Bank’s progress reflects a deliberate strategy of expanding financial accessibility, supporting productive economic activity and leveraging technology to deliver faster, more efficient and customer-focused banking services.”

As the Group advances through the 2027 financial year, it was noted that Demerara Bank’s priorities remain centred on expanding responsible lending, strengthening customer relationships, accelerating digital adoption and further enhancing service delivery.

With a growing market presence, strong deposit base and continued investment in innovation, DBL remains committed to supporting Guyana’s economic transformation while building a more accessible, efficient and technologically advanced financial institution.