The Group recorded gross earnings of NGN4.19 trillion in 2025, representing a 6% year-on-year growth from NGN3.97 trillion in 2024.

This was driven by a 35% increase in interest income to NGN3.7 trillion, anchored by high asset yields, an increase in interest earning assets and effective pricing”.

Net interest income grew by 53% to NGN2.6 trillion, highlighting the Bank’s ability to maintain a healthy spread between asset yields and funding costs.

Despite a 5% drop in Profit Before Tax to NGN1.26 trillion, due to a bold and prudent cleanup of facilities which were under regulatory forbearance, Profit After Tax grew slightly by 1% to close at NGN1.04 trillion, with an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of NGN25.32.

Commenting on the results, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, the group managing director/CEO, stated:

“Our 2025 results are a reflection of the discipline and focus with which we executed our strategy. We successfully strengthened our asset quality, optimized our balance sheet, and invested in the capabilities that will propel our next phase of growth”.

Meanwhile, Zenith Banks’ customer deposits grew by 11% from NGN22 trillion to NGN24 trillion, as a result of a sustained increase in both corporate and retail deposits, affirming the enduring depth of the Bank’s funding base.

Gross loans moderately rose to NGN11 trillion, with the underlying growth offset by the write off of forbearance related exposures, a move that has markedly improved the quality of the Bank’s risk asset portfolio.

Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio improved to 3.8% in December 2025 from 4.7% in December 2024.

The coverage ratio remained robust at 173%, underscoring the Bank’s commitment to prudent provisioning and a culture of strict regulatory compliance.

Return on Average Equity (ROAE) and Return on Average Assets (ROAA) stood at 23.2%, and 3.4% respectively.

“Our Net Interest Margin (NIM) of 13.7% for the full year reinforces the sustainability of the Group’s core earnings”, she said.

The Group’s cost-to-income ratio increased to 45.2%, stemming from an increase in impairment charge and sustained inflationary pressure.

“Our Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Liquidity Ratio stood at 25% and 71% respectively, well above regulatory minimum and reflective of the Group’s robust capital and liquidity position”, the GMD added.

In recognition of the Group’s strong full-year performance and our promise to consistently deliver superior shareholder returns, the Board has proposed a final dividend of NGN8.75 per ordinary share. In addition to the interim dividend of NGN1.25, this brings the total dividend for the 2025 financial year to NGN10.00 per ordinary share. This represents a 100% increase over the total dividend of NGN5.00 paid for the 2024 financial year.

The Group Managing Director/CEO added:

“2025 was a year of purposeful execution. We grew our core business and improved the quality of our risk assets. We are investing for the future and delivering value to our customers and shareholders with the consistency that defines the Zenith Bank brand. We entered 2026 as a stronger, more resilient institution that remains dedicated to supporting our customers as they build scale and capture emerging business opportunities. With our strong corporate governance, an expanding global footprint, and above all, our unicorn workforce, we remain confident in our ability to continue to deliver long term value for all our stakeholders”.

The grand event, hosted at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, brought together an array of distinguished guests, including Senator Kashim Shettima, vice president of Nigeria, state governors, business leaders, and cultural icons.

In his goodwill message, Vice President Shettima applauded Zenith Bank for its transformative role in Nigeria’s banking sector, crediting founder Chief Jim Ovia, with pioneering technology-driven banking in Nigeria and building a culture rooted in innovation, integrity, and service to humanity.

He also praised the bank’s seamless leadership transition, describing current GMD/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, as “a deserving trailblazer whose leadership embodies strategic foresight and empathy.”

35 Years of Growth and Innovation

Founded in May 1990, Zenith Bank began operations in a modest office on Victoria Island and has grown into a global brand synonymous with trust, excellence, and cutting-edge financial services. Notable achievements include:

• First Nigerian bank to adopt internet banking (1999), setting the pace for digital transformation.
• 16 consecutive years as Nigeria’s top Tier-1 bank by capital strength.
• Shareholders’ funds of ₦4.44 trillion and market capitalization of about ₦3 trillion.
• Expansion into key markets, while financing critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, telecoms, and manufacturing.

Commitment to Service Excellence

Speaking at the event, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, Nigeria’s first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank PLC, a Tier-1 bank, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to customers and communities:

“This celebration is not just about our past; it is about the people who have trusted us for 35 years and the future we are building together. Our promise is to continue redefining service, leveraging technology, and making a positive impact on lives and businesses.”

Looking to the Future

With its legacy of bold innovation and customer-first service, Zenith Bank is positioning for the next decades with renewed focus on:

• Sustainability and Green Banking
• Deepening financial inclusion through agent banking (Z-Money) and digital platforms.
• Investments in people and technology to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation.

As Zenith Bank marks 35 years of excellence, its story remains a powerful symbol of what is possible when vision, innovation, and service are woven together for national and global impact.

Summary Snapshot

Held at Eko Hotel, the Zenith Tech Fair 4.0 brought together industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, startups, and stakeholders to explore cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of business and lifestyle.

Highlights of Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0

Dr. Jim Ovia, the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, inspired thousands of people who gathered at the event, emphasizing the importance of the annual tech fair.

Dr. Ovia also spoke about future plans to properly integrate technology in Zenith Bank for better and more efficient services.

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, the group managing director of Zenith Bank Plc, in her welcome address, appreciated the chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, for birthing the idea that led to the establishment of the tech fair initiative five years ago.

She thanked him for his vision in utilising technology to revolutionise the world of business and banking.

Dame Umeoji also stressed the importance of innovation and embedded finance in ensuring strong and enduring institutions.

According to her,

“It is paramount that we adapt and adopt technology to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen various cases of companies that failed because of their lack of innovation. It is quite obvious that when companies fail to innovate, they can easily be displaced. So, this is not the time to be orthodox; innovation should be a top priority for us.”

The GMD said Zenith Bank remains committed to providing digital solutions that empower businesses and individuals.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, called for a global approach to doing business in the country.

“What we need to do is to be able to enhance our product and services in order to compete in the world. We can’t continue to act local, we need to think global. Anything that we’re doing now, we need to be able to know that we are not just serving a local market, we actually want to serve the global market, and I’m glad that consistently, for the past four years, I have kept up with the Zenith Tech Fair.

Inspiring Keynote presentation

Robin Speculand, an expert digital implementation specialist graced the event all the way from Singapore.

He took the audience through series of trivia and quizzes to help them understand the evolving digital transformation landscape.

Speculand stated that for business to grow and evolve its technology there has to be a digital mindset. He expatiated on digital mindset thus;

“Empowerment: every business must carry the mindset that their services must empower people

“Platforms: the digital mindset allows businesses make use of multiple platforms that can be accessible by anyone

“Experimentation: a business must be ready to try out new things and take risks.

“Asking the right questions: a digitally minded person must know the right questions to ask

“Customer centric: the business must focus on what the customers want and tailor the products or services to suit their needs.

“Stakeholders: the business must have powerful stakeholders that are also very knowledgeable and experienced in the tech space

“Agility: a digitally minded business must be active and quick

He also mentioned that, digital transformation fails sometimes because some companies want to change the entire culture of the people or because they are transforming their entire business thereby losing the policy that the customers have come to trust.

“Digital transformation is not about having a digital strategy it is about having strategies in a digital world. Also, at the heart of digital transformation always comes the customer”, he said.

Danilo McGary,  a renowned expert in digital transformation and AI, also enlightened the audience about the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI has been in existence for over 60 years but was not really developed until now. There are three kinds of AI; Narrow AI; Traditional AI which is the regular AI that helps in answering questions just like ChatGPT or Gemini, and Artificial Generative Intelligence (AGI) is an AI system that can do anything a human or a group of humans can do and do it even better”.

“The Generative AI has advanced so much that it can learn things on its own without any prompt or instruction”, he said.

Dr. Jania Okwechime, the partner and AI | data leader for Deloitte, Africa, added that generative AI helps to increase efficiency and transform businesses.

“Gen AI can be used for fraud detection to prevent cybercrimes. It can also be used for document search and synthesis”, she said.

Panel Discussions | Technology in Business and Governance

The Zenith Tech Fair 4.0 also featured panel session with Wole Olutoye, Ada Jabaru, Funke Opeke, Guy Kuti, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Dr. Anuwal Adam Sa’ad, speaking.

They unanimously agreed on the need to cautiously improve application of technology to every sector of the economy, especially the health sector to promote efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness, securing of documents to avoid impersonation and theft, amongst other discussions.

Innovative Product Launches and Exhibitions

The tech fair served as a platform for unveiling groundbreaking solutions. Leading exhibitors, including Ethnos, ZOHO, Zone, Vertiv, ZamZamPay, Dataflex, Zenith Insurance, etc, showcased products ranging from AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, data centre tools to cutting-edge fintech innovations.

Zecathon

Meanwhile, 10 contestants in the hackathon session at the fourth edition of the Zenith Tech Fair (#ZenithBankTechfair2024) received a total of N77.5m in prize money.

The winners emerged at the tech fair themed ‘Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI,’ held on Thursday in Lagos.

The prize money was shared among 10 finalists who emerged from the over 1,700 contestants took part in the hackathon [READ MORE HERE].

Zenith Bank’s Digital Innovation

The bank demonstrated its pioneering digital banking services, reinforcing its role as a leader in Nigeria’s financial technology space. Attendees experienced live demonstrations of the bank’s seamless payment solutions, mobile apps, and innovative tools designed to enhance user experience.

Driving Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem Forward

Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0 emphasized collaboration as the key to accelerating Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. By connecting innovators, investors, and businesses, the event underscored Zenith Bank’s leadership in promoting technology as a driver of sustainable development.

Social Media Buzz

The event trended on social media platforms, with the hashtag #ZenithBankTechFair4 gaining traction among attendees and tech enthusiasts. Users shared highlights, photos, and key takeaways, further amplifying the fair’s impact.

Looking Ahead

As Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0 concludes, anticipation builds for the next edition. With its dedication to championing innovation, Zenith Bank continues to pave the way for technological progress and digital transformation in Nigeria.

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