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Fitch Ratings assigned Invest Bank P.S.C. a long-term issuer default rating of ‘BBB+’ with a stable outlook and a government support rating of ‘bbb+’, marking the Sharjah-based lender’s first such assessment at investment grade. The rating agency pointed to expected government support alongside adequate capitalisation, good liquidity coverage and improving financial performance as the primary drivers. Fitch Ratings added that the stable outlook assumes the bank will sustain its strategy execution while preserving capital and liquidity buffers through the rebuilding phase.
Invest Bank returned to profitability in 2025 with a net profit of AED 161 million after eight years of losses, according to the bank’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025. Operating income climbed 105.6 percent to AED 435 million from AED 211 million a year earlier, driven by higher net interest income, fee and commission revenue and gains on disposal of repossessed properties. The statements also recorded net recoveries of AED 91 million against an impairment charge of AED 120 million in 2024.
Total assets stood at AED 14.2 billion at the end of 2025 while net loans and advances rose 51 percent to AED 7.2 billion and customer deposits increased 30 percent to AED 11.3 billion, the bank’s financial statements showed. Capital adequacy reached 20.2 percent and the liquidity coverage ratio under ELAR hit 20.7 percent, well above the 10 percent regulatory minimum. Fitch Ratings observed that legacy impaired assets are expected to decline further over the medium term as the transformation advances.
The bank maintains a relatively small domestic franchise and remains in a rebuilding phase even after completing a multi-year program to strengthen its balance sheet, enhance governance and risk management, according to the Fitch assessment. Invest Bank has focused on diversification, digitisation and disciplined growth since the Government of Sharjah became a strategic partner in 2019, with shares traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The lender was founded in 1975 and offers retail banking, corporate banking and investment services.
Chief Executive Officer Edris Al Rafi said in the bank’s announcement, “Receiving our inaugural investment-grade rating from Fitch is a defining milestone for Invest Bank and an important validation of the progress we have made over the past few years.” Al Rafi added that the rating reflects the dedication of staff, shareholder support and focus on execution while viewing it as a stepping stone toward creating long-term value for stakeholders. The statement noted that the rating should help the bank engage with investors, counterparties and funding markets.
Invest Bank reported profit before tax of AED 102 million for the first nine months of 2025 and a 97 percent year-on-year increase in first-quarter 2026 profit before tax to AED 22.4 million, according to separate bank disclosures. These results build on the 2025 turnaround and align with the improved operating trends highlighted in the Fitch Ratings review. The agency continues to monitor the bank’s ability to expand its franchise while maintaining the buffers that supported the initial investment-grade assignment.
