Demerara Bank reports highest profit in history of banking in Guyana

– records $8.41B profit after tax in 2025 fiscal year

Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) is taking in a landmark performance marked by economic expansion and rapid digitalisation that saw the financial institution delivering record profits and powering unprecedented lending growth at a national scale, to position itself as powerhouse in the local banking industry.
For the financial year ending September 30, 2025, the local commercial bank recorded a net profit after tax of $8.41 billion, representing a whopping 50.5 per cent increase over the previous year and an impressive 184.7 per cent growth over the past five years. This is the highest profit recorded in the history of commercial banking in Guyana.

In the 2024 fiscal year, DBL reported a 37 per cent increase in profit after tax, reaching $5.59 billion – a performance that was driven by growth in both loans and deposits.
According to DBL – Guyana’s only indigenous commercial bank, the 2025 performance not only underscores its exceptional profitability trajectory and prudent management, but also cements Demerara Bank’s position as the most profitable financial institution in Guyana for 2025, achieving the highest net profit among all local financial institutions.
In a statement on Thursday, it was noted that DBL’s Return on Assets reached 3.8 per cent, and Return on Equity climbed to 24.2 per cent, both well above the local banking sector averages. Additionally, deposits rose 19.5 per cent to $208 billion, while the Bank’s loan book expanded by $31 billion in a single year.
According to the Bank of Guyana’s Statistical Abstract (September 2025), total commercial bank loans and advances across the system stood at approximately $510 billion, reflecting a 13.8 per cent year-on-year growth from October 2024 to September 2025, an increase of roughly $62 billion.

Dominating national lending
Demerara Bank’s loan portfolio surged by 32 per cent, more than double the national average, reaching $126 billion by the end of the 2025 financial year. This equates to an increase of approximately $31 billion in just one year, demonstrating that DBL accounted for about 50 per cent of all new lending within Guyana’s financial system over the past 12 months.
This extraordinary achievement, the Bank said, highlights its central role in financing national development and supporting the country’s rapidly-expanding economy.

“Without DBL’s contribution, overall banking sector lending would have grown by only seven per cent,” the Bank’s report highlighted.
Moreover, DBL said its impressive lending growth was a testament to prudent and well-managed expansion, underpinned by a disciplined credit culture and the acquisition of new Tier-One corporate clients; many of whom have transitioned their banking relationships to DBL in recognition of its exceptional customer service, reliability and technologically-advanced delivery channels.
The Bank’s branch network has also significantly contributed to retail portfolio diversification, with strong growth across agriculture, residential housing, automobile financing, and credit cards. This balanced approach to corporate and retail lending has ensured sustained portfolio quality and broad-based support for Guyana’s economic development.
By embedding automation, analytics, and digital monitoring into its core operations, the Bank has achieved faster decision-making without compromising credit quality. As a result, DBL has maintained zero Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) for the fourth consecutive year, a distinction unmatched in the local financial sector and a testament to its disciplined lending culture, robust credit governance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

“In just 30 years, Demerara Bank has achieved what no other bank in Guyana has: record profitability, zero NPLs and the strongest growth in national banking history,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dowlat Parbhu noted.
Crediting its unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, the Bank said it has positioned itself as a formidable force in the country’s financial progress, setting new benchmarks for performance and shaping the future of banking in Guyana.

Efficiency and innovation
In fact, Demerara Bank continues to operate as Guyana’s most efficient financial institution, maintaining a cost-to-income ratio of just 28 per cent, compared with a sector average of roughly 45 per cent. This efficiency is not merely owing to cost restraint, but rather is a result of exceptional income growth outpacing expenditure – a direct outcome of its digital transformation and technology-driven operating model.
By automating processes, integrating digital platforms, and expanding service delivery through innovation, DBL has enhanced productivity and revenue generation across all business lines. The result is a model of modern banking efficiency, where technology and prudent management combine to deliver sustained profitability without compromising on service quality, investment, or growth.
In 2025, the Bank has also completed several landmark digital integrations, enhancing customer service and demonstrating its commitment to innovation. These integrations position the Bank to support customers with advanced technological solutions.
Building on this success, DBL announced that it would soon launch new platforms, including a mobile banking service. These additions will enrich its suite of services, offering customers a seamless banking experience.
“Our digital-first model enhances customer trust while achieving operational excellence,” stated the Chairman, Komal Samaroo. “It’s the perfect balance between innovation and prudence.”