Zenith Bank Plc has announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, posting a record profit after tax of ₦1.041 trillion a marginal increase from ₦1.033 trillion recorded in 2024.
The strong performance was largely driven by a significant rise in interest income, particularly from treasury bills, customer loans, and government bonds, reflecting the bank’s strategic focus on high-yield assets.
In line with its robust earnings, the bank’s Board of Directors proposed a final dividend of ₦8.75 per share. Combined with the interim dividend of ₦1.25, total dividend for the 2025 financial year stands at ₦10.00 per share — a 100% increase from ₦5.00 paid in 2024.
Speaking on the results, Group Managing Director and CEO, Adaora Umeoji, said the performance highlights disciplined execution of strategy, improved asset quality, and continued investment in growth capacity.
The bank recorded notable improvements in key risk metrics. Its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declined to 3.8% from 4.7% in 2024, while the coverage ratio remained strong at 172.6%. The cost of risk also dropped to 6.7%, underscoring effective credit risk management.
Interest income grew by 35% year-on-year to ₦3.67 trillion, accounting for 88% of gross earnings, up from 60% in the previous year. This was supported by increased exposure to high-yield instruments, including treasury bills, which alone generated ₦1.13 trillion, and customer loans, which contributed ₦1.82 trillion in interest income.
Despite a 23% rise in interest expenses on deposits, net interest income surged by 53% to ₦2.64 trillion. Loan loss provisions increased by 13% to ₦742.19 billion, but income after impairment still rose sharply by over 77% to ₦1.9 trillion.
Non-interest income also contributed positively, with net fees and commissions at ₦291.8 billion and foreign exchange revaluation gains of ₦106 billion, helping offset higher operating and personnel costs totaling ₦963 billion.
On the balance sheet, total assets expanded to ₦31.5 trillion, driven largely by a 73.5% growth in customer deposits to ₦23.33 trillion, which now accounts for over 77% of total assets.
In the equities market, the bank’s share price closed at ₦103 on April 7, 2026, reflecting a 67% year-to-date increase and strong investor confidence in its performance.
Looking ahead, Umeoji expressed optimism about the bank’s prospects, noting that it has entered 2026 in a stronger and more resilient position, with a commitment to delivering sustained value through sound governance, innovation, and strategic expansion.
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