Zenith Bank Achieves Unprecedented N1.041 Trillion Earnings in 2025, Declares N8.75 Per Share Year-End Payout

Zenith Bank PLC has unveiled its audited group financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, showcasing a remarkable five-year profit after tax of N1.041 trillion, which represents a 0.74% increase from N1.033 trillion in 2024.

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The bank's impressive performance can be attributed to the significant growth in interest income, primarily driven by Treasury Bills, loans and advances to customers, and government bonds, which collectively bolstered the bank's financial standing.

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In acknowledgement of the bank's stellar financial performance, the Board of Directors has proposed a final dividend of N8.75 per share, supplementing the interim dividend of N1.25 to bring the total dividend for 2025 to N10.00 per share, a 100.00% increase over the N5.00 total dividend paid in 2024.

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Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, noted that the 2025 results demonstrate the bank's disciplined approach to strategy execution, marked by strengthened asset quality, optimized balance sheet, and strategic investments in future growth drivers.

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The bank's asset quality has indeed shown significant improvement, as evidenced by the decline in the Non-Performing Loan ratio to 3.8% from 4.7% in 2024, a robust coverage ratio of 172.6%, and a lower cost of risk, which decreased by 8.2% to 6.7% in 2025.

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Zenith Bank PLC's record profit after tax of N1.041 trillion in 2025 was driven by a combination of factors, with interest income being the primary contributor, registering a 35% year-on-year growth to reach N3.673 trillion.

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The bank's interest income was fueled by high-yielding assets, such as Treasury Bills, government bonds, and loans and advances to customers, with Treasury Bills alone generating N1.13 trillion in income, and the bank's holding in Treasury Bills increasing by 74% year-on-year to N4.663 trillion.

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The yield from Treasury Bills rose to 24.2% from 21.7% in 2024, while loans and advances, which stood at N10.45 trillion, earned the bank interest of N1.823 trillion, representing a 20% increase over the previous year and a higher yield of 17.45%.

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Investment securities also grew by 18% to N525.7 billion in 2025, underscoring the bank's continued focus on generating stable income streams from government bonds and other secure investments.

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Although interest expenses on customer deposits increased by 23% year-on-year to NGN 764.29 billion, the strong growth in net interest income, which rose by 53% to N2.64 trillion, more than offset this increase.

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Despite a 13% year-on-year increase in loan loss provision to N742.19 billion, the bank's income after impairment still grew by more than 77% to reach N1.9 trillion in 2025.

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Net fees and commission income of N291.8 billion and foreign currency revaluation gains of NGN 106 billion also contributed to the bank's robust financial performance, helping to mitigate the impact of higher personnel and operating expenses, which totaled N963 billion.

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Zenith Bank's total assets expanded to N31.5 trillion, driven primarily by a 73.54% year-on-year increase in customer deposits, which now account for over 77% of the bank's balance sheet size, thereby supporting the bank's liquidity and funding capabilities.

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On April 7, 2026, Zenith Bank's share price closed at N103, marking a 67% year-to-date gain, reflecting the market's positive reception of the bank's record financial results and signaling investor confidence in the bank's growth prospects and financial health.

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The Group's strong financial performance in 2025, characterized by record profit growth, robust interest income, and prudent asset management, sets the stage for continued success in the coming years, according to the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON.

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Looking ahead to 2026, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji expressed confidence in the bank's ability to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders, citing its strong corporate governance, expanding global footprint, and dedicated workforce as key drivers of future success.

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With a firm focus on corporate governance, customer-centric innovation, and sustainable financial practices, Zenith Bank is well-positioned to navigate challenges, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and maintain its leadership in the banking industry, making the outlook for 2026 highly promising.