Zenith Bank Plc has announced the payment of an interim dividend of ₦1.25 per share, amounting to a total payout of ₦51.3 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2025. The payment represents a 60 percent increase compared to the ₦31.4 billion distributed during the same period in 2024, signaling the bank’s strong performance and sustained profitability.
The dividend payment followed the release of the bank’s audited financial statements for the first half of 2025, which reflected significant growth across key performance indicators. The report, submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in September, highlighted Zenith Bank’s solid financial foundation and continued expansion despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the dividend declaration as a demonstration of the bank’s resilience and commitment to value creation. She stated that the strong half-year results provided a clear indication of Zenith Bank’s ability to deliver consistent growth and superior returns to shareholders.
“We are pleased to have paid this significant interim dividend to our valued shareholders. Our half-year results underscore our resilience and commitment to our stakeholders. Based on the momentum achieved in H1, we are confident in our full-year outlook and expect to exceed shareholders’ expectations by year end,” Umeoji said.
The bank’s financial performance showed a 20 percent year-on-year increase in gross earnings, rising from ₦2.1 trillion in the corresponding period of 2024 to ₦2.5 trillion in the first half of 2025. The growth was primarily driven by a surge in interest income, which jumped by 60 percent from ₦1.1 trillion to ₦1.8 trillion during the review period.
Zenith Bank attributed the rise in interest income to strategic repricing of risk assets and improved treasury management. The bank’s focus on optimizing its asset portfolio and expanding interest-earning operations contributed to the robust earnings growth.
Total assets grew from ₦30 trillion as of December 2024 to ₦31 trillion by June 2025, reflecting continued balance sheet expansion. The growth was underpinned by a healthy asset base, prudent risk management, and efficient capital deployment across core business segments.
Customer deposits also rose by seven percent from ₦22 trillion to ₦23 trillion within the six-month period, underscoring customer confidence in the bank’s stability and service excellence. This sustained growth in deposits provided additional liquidity to support lending and investment activities.
The bank reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operational efficiency, digital innovation, and risk management practices that enhance shareholder value. Zenith Bank noted that its consistent investment in technology and human capital has positioned it as a market leader in the evolving financial services landscape.
Zenith Bank’s strong performance has continued to earn it both local and international recognition. It retained its position as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker.
The bank was also named “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, reinforcing its dominance in the Nigerian financial sector. It has previously won the Bank of the Year (Nigeria) award from The Banker in 2020, 2022, and 2024, as well as the Best Bank in Nigeria recognition from Global Finance in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Other notable recognitions include the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria (Euromoney Awards 2023), Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria (World Finance Banking Awards 2021–2025), and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria (International Banker Awards 2023 and 2024).
Zenith Bank also earned the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, title for four consecutive years (2022–2025) from World Finance and was named Best in Corporate Governance – Financial Services Africa by Ethical Boardroom from 2020 to 2023.
Further strengthening its reputation, the bank was named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria by The Banker in 2020 and 2021, and Bank of the Year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards from 2023 to 2025. It also clinched the Retail Bank of the Year award for multiple years between 2020 and 2025.
Zenith Bank’s achievements also extend to corporate social responsibility, having been honoured as the Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting, and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024. These recognitions, coupled with strong financial results, reinforce the bank’s leadership position in the Nigerian banking industry.
