– Group Surpasses N30trn Assets Mark
April 19, (THEWILL) — Zenith Bank Plc’s offshore subsidiaries reported a combined post-tax profit of N116.43 billion in 2025, representing an increase of N23 billion, compared to the N93.39 billion achieved in the previous year. This reflects a growth of 24.67 percent, highlighting the expanding global impact of Nigeria’s most profitable financial services institution and its steadfast position as an industry leader.
Data from the Group’s financial statements for 2025 indicated that the performance of the four foreign subsidiaries in 2025 greatly exceeded their results from the previous year, with Ghana leading the way at N118.83 billion compared to N15.19 billion in 2024, marking a remarkable growth of 682.2 percent.
This was followed by the UK subsidiary, which reported a profit of N74.10 billion in 2025, reflecting an 18.1 percent increase from N62.74 billion in 2024.
The Sierra Leone subsidiary of the Bank nearly doubled its profit, rising from N12.70 billion in the previous year to N24.63 billion during the review period, which signifies a growth of 94 percent.
In line with this growth trend, the Gambia subsidiary achieved a 112.6 percent increase, reaching N5.87 billion from N2.76 billion in the prior year.
“The remarkable outcomes from the offshore sites, amid global and domestic economic challenges, confirm the vigorous effort towards achieving exceptional performance and the resolve to maintain a competitive edge as the post-recapitalisation rivalry commences following the March 31, 2026 deadline set by the CBN,” stated Mike Akannor, an investment banker.
The exceptional performance exhibited by the offshore locations demonstrates the Group’s improved operational infrastructure, which is designed to better accommodate its expanding customer base and enhance service delivery.
This is particularly evident through its banking subsidiary, Zenith Bank, which strategically upgraded its electronic banking platform during the year.
According to the financial statements, the commissions and fees generated from the e-banking channels increased to N89.12 billion in 2025, up from N80 billion in 2024, marking a growth of 11.4 percent.
“Throughout 2025, Zenith Bank enhanced its operational infrastructure to better serve our growing customer base and improve service delivery. We expanded our physical presence by opening two new branches, bringing our total network to 456 branches and 84 cash centres.
“Our commitment to digital innovation and accessibility is evident in our extensive network of 2,148 ATM terminals and 473,123 POS terminals. We also grew our customer base, with the number of cards issued increasing to over 30.2 million, up from 27.9 million in the previous year, demonstrating our continued success in customer acquisition and digital adoption,” the Group said while unveiling the 2025 results.
Overall, Zenith Bank Group delivered a resilient financial performance for the year ended 31 December 2025, maintaining a strong growth trajectory in its top-line figures, thus reinforcing its topmost market position.
The financial statements showed that Gross Earnings increased by 6 percent to N4.19 trillion, up from N3.97 trillion in 2024. Profit Before Tax recorded at N1.26 trillion, a slight decrease of 5 percent from N1.33 trillion in 2024, while Profit After Tax stood strong at N1.04 trillion, consistent with the N1.03 trillion recorded in the previous year.
Profit Attributable to Equity Holders reached N1.04 trillion as Earnings Per Share (EPS) – Basic and diluted EPS -was N25.32. A total dividend of N10.00 per share has been proposed for the 2025 financial year, a significant increase from N5.00 in 2024. The Group also exceeded the N30 trillion assets mark, hitting N31.45 trillion against N29.95 trillion in 2024.
“A key highlight for our shareholders is the Board’s proposal of a total dividend of N10.00 per share, a 100% increase from the previous year, reflecting our confidence in the Bank’s financial health and our commitment to delivering superior shareholder value,” the banking Group said.
It added, “We are committed to strengthening our resilience and embedding the principles of sustainable banking across all our operations to ensure long-term success and a positive impact on the communities we serve.”
This is more remarkable as the Bank embraces the highly post-recapitalisation era following the completion of the March 31, 2026 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks to reinforce their capital base on prescribed thresholds – international, national, regional banking licences.
Analysts say the clear winners of the 2026 recapitalisation are Tier 1 banks, whose dominance has been reinforced, and new-generation banks, which fast-tracked credibility and market recognition. Investors who participated in capital raises enjoyed significant upside through stock appreciation and strengthened market positioning.
Zenith Bank concluded the recapitalization requirements in September 2024 through public offer, which was heavily oversubscribed. The exercise contributed N350.46 billion to its total capital raise, bringing its capital base to N614.65 billion. The performance positioned Zenith Bank comfortably above the N500 billion regulatory threshold for banks with international authorisation and underscored the strong confidence investors continued to place in the institution’s leadership, performance, and growth strategy.
Reflecting on the achievement, the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, Dr Jim Ovia, expressed gratitude to the investing public for their trust and support, saying, “This successful capital raise, which secures our regulatory standing, is a vote of confidence in our legacy and our future growth trajectory.”
Ovia stated this at the symbolic Bank’s Closing Gong Ceremony on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX)in October 2024, to celebrate the successful conclusion of its public offer and the achievement of the CBN recapitalisation target.
The group managing director/chief executive officer of Zenith Bank, Dame Adaora Umeoji, described the accomplishment as a regulatory milestone and a springboard for sustainable growth.
She also acknowledged the role of NGX Invest as a vital enabler in achieving the Bank’s goals. “Reaching a capital base exceeding N600 billion is not just a compliance achievement; it’s a foundation for the future. Through platforms like NGX Invest, which expanded access and simplified participation, we were able to reach a broader pool of investors. This underscores how innovation within our market ecosystem can drive inclusivity and accelerate growth,” she stated.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
