Standard Bank Group Limited (JSE:SBK) reported earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders of R38.966 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2026. That is 8.5% more than in the same period of 2025, according to a press release statement. The bank disclosed the financial information to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC), which holds a stake in the group.
Ordinary shareholders' equity stood at R268.115 billion on 30 September, up from R264.158 billion at the start of the year. The group declared R29 billion in ordinary dividends in March and August 2026.
EQUITY, DIVIDENDS AND RESERVES
Retained earnings rose to R263.279 billion from R251.949 billion at the beginning of 2026. Other movements in retained earnings primarily comprised the R29 billion in ordinary dividends declared in March and August. The foreign currency translation reserve moved the other way, decreasing to a negative R25.527 billion from a negative R20.251 billion at the start of the year.
ASSOCIATE AND INSURANCE GROWTH SLOWS
Growth in earnings from Standard Bank's 40% stake in ICBC Standard Bank plc slowed in constant currency terms compared with the first half of 2026. The bank attributed this to strong performance in the second half of 2025 and to currency movements.
The insurance and asset management business also recorded slower headline earnings growth over the nine months than the 15% reported in the first half of 2026, the bank said.
HOW THE PERIOD COMPARES WITH EARLIER RESULTS
For the period ended 30 June 2026, the group delivered earnings growth of 10% and a return on equity of 19.8%. Its credit loss ratio fell to 73 basis points in the first half of 2026 from 93 basis points in the first half of 2025.
A year earlier, earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders for the nine months to 30 September 2025 were 10% higher than in the same period of 2024. Headline earnings growth in that nine-month period was in line with the 8% recorded in the first six months of 2025.
The 2025 balance sheet showed a similar pattern. Ordinary shareholders' equity rose from 250,655 million Rand to 253,139 million Rand, and retained earnings increased from 229,896 million Rand to 240,910 million Rand, primarily because of R26 billion in ordinary dividends declared in March and August 2025. The foreign currency translation reserve fell from negative 11,850 million Rand to negative 17,955 million Rand over the same nine months.
BASIS OF PREPARATION AND AUDIT STATUS
The data was prepared on an International Financial Reporting Standards basis to enable ICBC to equity account the group's results. Standard Bank discloses sufficient information to ICBC on a quarterly basis for that purpose.
The nine-month financial information for 2026 has not been reviewed by the group's external auditors.
Related: Standard Bank agreed OPay investment tied to New York listing