Maputo, May 13, 2026 (Lusa) - Losses at Mozambique's Moza bank, which was placed under administration in 2016, surged to 3,919 million meticais (€52.3 million) in 2025 following a strategic decision to write off impairments and credit exposures, according to the bank’s annual report.
“This reflects a strategic decision to structurally strengthen the balance sheet, embodied in the provisioning for bad debts and the write-down of exposures, within the framework of the prudential and risk management policy adopted,” states the chairman of the board, Manuel Soares, in the message included in the document, which was consulted on Wednesday by Lusa.
In the message, he also assures that the decision has placed Moza "on a more solid footing for the coming cycles".
In 2024, the bank, one of the five largest in Mozambique, recorded losses of 103.8 million meticais (€1.4 million), following two consecutive years of positive results.
The director said that the bank “focused its efforts on strengthening financial soundness, asset quality and financial resilience”, whilst continuing to “expand its operations, consolidating its presence in the financial system and strengthening its market position”.
He also said that in 2025 the bank "adopted a prudent approach to credit risk management, liquidity consolidation and balance sheet optimisation", ensuring alignment with greater prudential practices and current regulatory requirements.
"This strategic positioning resulted in the adoption of structural measures to strengthen the institution's resilience and consolidate the pillars supporting its consistent trajectory of balanced and sustainable growth," he added, assuring that these measures aim to bolster confidence.
Despite a challenging environment, the bank reported a 16.5% growth in its customer base, reaching 305,051 clients by the end of 2025, demonstrating the consolidation of its presence in the domestic financial system.
In terms of customer deposits, these grew by 7.15% in 2025 to 53,782 million meticais (€718.6 million), whilst net customer lending fell by 29.36% to 14,744 million meticais (€197 million), with market shares of 5.55% and 6.69% respectively.
Regarding asset quality, which fell by 1% in 2025 to 64,071 million meticais (€856 million), loan impairment charges fell by 18.85% to 1,533 million meticais (€20.5 million), and non-performing loans fell by 5%, although they accounted for 29.21% of the total.
Control of Moza bank shifted in 2016 to Kuhanha, the pension fund management company for Bank of Mozambique employees, at a time when the Portuguese Novo Banco was a major shareholder with a 49% stake.
Currently, Kuhanha holds a 66% majority stake, followed by Arise B.V. with 30.7%, among other shareholders.
By the end of 2025, the bank was operating 61 branches across Mozambique and employed 949 staff.
PVJ/MYAL // AYLS
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