Growing pains at the new Absa

• Absa's Africa Regions business saw headline earnings decline by 10% to R3.62 billion, which is a cause for concern as it contributes 30% of Absai's group revenue and 28% of headline earnings.
• The bank operates across 17 countries and boasts 13.4 million customers, with many analysts believing much of its future growth lies outside South Africa.
• Analysts expect the restructuring efforts to pay off in the long run, but for now, Absa still needs to address its weak points, particularly in Africa Regions and PPB business.