Zenith Bank Plc has announced that it will exit the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s regulatory forbearance list by June 30, 2025.
Disclosed in a statement dated June 17, 2025, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange, Michael Otu, the bank’s Company Secretary, confirmed that Zenith Bank has successfully surpassed the CBN’s N500 billion minimum capital requirement.
The bank noted that its remaining exposure under the forbearance arrangement concerns only a single obligor.
“With respect to the forbearance granted on other credit facilities, the Bank confirms that this applies to only two (2) customers. We have made substantial provisions in respect of these facilities and have taken appropriate and comprehensive steps to ensure full provisioning by 30 June 2025. Upon completion, the Bank will no longer be under any forbearance arrangements in this regard. The Bank expects to have exited all forbearance arrangements by the end of the first half of 2025.”
Zenith Bank also assured shareholders of its readiness to resume dividend payments in the 2025 financial year, once regulatory conditions are fully met.
This follows the CBN’s directive that banks under forbearance suspend dividends, bonuses, and investment in foreign subsidiaries.
However, this affected the banking sector stocks on the Nigerian Exchange as some investors resulted in profit-taking and panic selling of banking stock to secure their capital.
What is CBN Forbearance?
CBN Forbearance refers to a temporary regulatory relief granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to financial institutions, allowing them to delay certain financial obligations or adjust their credit exposures without immediate penalties. This measure is often introduced during economic crises or financial instability to help banks manage risks and maintain stability.
