Invest Bank’s Transformation Gathers Momentum with Robust Nine-Month Growth

Strong gains in lending and deposits signal a financial institution entering a new phase of expansion, with pre-tax profit climbing 41 per cent and assets reaching record levels.

The rhythm of financial health pulses through a bank’s numbers, and for Invest Bank, the nine months to September have told a story of deliberate, measured expansion. Pre-tax profit rose to AED143.7 million, a 41 per cent increase year on year, underscored by a broadening of the institution’s revenue streams and a widening of its customer base.

Operating income climbed 62 per cent to AED408 million, propelled by net interest income that surged 79 per cent to AED266 million and fee income that increased 38 per cent to AED142 million. The expansion signals a bank growing not merely through volume, but through the quality and diversity of how it generates revenue. The net interest margin improved to 2.2 per cent from 1.6 per cent in the same period last year, a refinement that speaks to both balance sheet expansion and sharper management of the spread between lending and deposit rates.

Total assets reached AED17 billion, a 24 per cent climb year on year and the highest balance sheet size since the bank’s establishment. Net loans grew 50 per cent to AED10.2 billion, whilst customer deposits increased 24 per cent to AED13.8 billion, a foundation of stable, lower-cost funding that includes a current and savings account base of AED4.2 billion, itself up 29 per cent. The wholesale loan portfolio expanded 25 per cent to AED8 billion, while the retail portfolio crossed AED2 billion to settle at AED2.1 billion, marking a deliberate broadening of the bank’s reach.

As the broader UAE banking sector expands sharply, with assets now reaching AED5.815 trillion, Invest Bank’s performance reflects the strengthening of the financial ecosystem. The bank’s asset quality has sharpened, with the Stage 3 loans ratio falling to 24 per cent from 41 per cent a year earlier, whilst coverage remained steady at 100 per cent. The capital adequacy ratio stands at 17 per cent and the eligible liquid assets ratio at 17.2 per cent, both soundly positioned. Fitch rates the bank BBB+/F2, and Capital Intelligence recently upgraded its long-term foreign-currency rating to BBB+ from BBB and its short-term rating to A2 from A3.

Edris Al Rafi, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Bank, framed these results as evidence of the bank’s strategic transformation. He spoke of higher pre-tax profit and record balance sheet growth as markers of stronger fundamentals across the business, and pointed to the expansion of the retail portfolio alongside the core wholesale operations as proof of the scalability and sustainability of the model. This diversification matters as institutions navigate an increasingly sophisticated market and as they build digital capabilities to serve customers with greater agility.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Invest Bank’s performance underscores the robust health of the emirates’ banking sector, which continues to be a cornerstone of economic growth and stability. The bank’s expansion in lending and deposits reflects growing confidence among customers and demonstrates how local financial institutions are meeting the capital needs of both wholesale and retail markets. This strength in the banking system provides the foundation upon which businesses and individuals build their ambitions across the emirate.

The bank’s cautious optimism for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, tempered by regional uncertainty, signals a measured and prudent approach to stewardship. As Abu Dhabi’s financial institutions mature and diversify their revenue streams, they reinforce the emirate’s position as a centre of regional financial stability and sophistication, capable of supporting continued economic expansion regardless of external headwinds.

Source: WAM