Zenith Bank Plc has announced its consolidated financial results for the first half of 2025, showcasing a remarkable profit before tax of N625.629 billion. The Board has approved an interim dividend of N1.25 per share, marking a 25% increase from the N1.00 dividend paid in H1 2024. This move underscores Zenith Bank’s reputation as a top dividend distributor and highlights its enduring dedication to delivering value to shareholders.
Despite the increased provisioning demands triggered by the industry-wide cessation of the CBN forbearance policy, the Bank achieved a solid 20% year-over-year growth in gross earnings, rising from N2.1 trillion to N2.5 trillion in the first half of 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by a 60% surge in interest income, which climbed from N1.1 trillion to N1.8 trillion.
Reflecting on these results, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director and CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, emphasized that the Bank’s achievements highlight the ingenuity and resilience of its workforce amid a rapidly evolving business landscape.
“Although the transition out of the CBN forbearance regime required significant provisioning, we have witnessed notable enhancements in our asset quality. Our balance sheet remains strong with ample capital buffers, enabling us to capitalize on opportunities across our core markets,” she stated.
Building on this solid base, Umeoji expressed confidence that the Bank will accelerate its growth momentum in the latter half of 2025. She reassured investors that the combination of strong financial performance and improved asset quality positions Zenith Bank to deliver outstanding returns, with expectations of a substantial year-end dividend for 2025.
“Our shareholders can anticipate ongoing value creation as we harness emerging prospects and sustain our strategic expansion, all while upholding a culture of robust corporate governance,” she added, underscoring the Bank’s consistent track record of increasing dividend payouts even during challenging economic periods.
Looking ahead beyond mid-2025, she maintained an optimistic outlook: “We are firmly on a growth trajectory that we intend to maintain through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. Our priorities include innovation, digital transformation, and crafting solutions tailored to our clients’ evolving needs. With improving market dynamics, we are well-positioned to continue this positive momentum while exercising responsible leadership and delivering exceptional value to all stakeholders.”
Zenith Bank’s financial indicators reflect strong fundamentals amid a shifting macroeconomic environment, with profit after tax reaching N532 billion and earnings per share at N12.95 for the period under review.
Net interest income exhibited outstanding growth, soaring 90% year-on-year from N715 billion to N1.4 trillion, while non-interest income contributed N613 billion in H1 2025.
The Bank’s total assets grew steadily to N31 trillion as of June 2025, up from N30 trillion in December 2024, supported by a resilient and well-structured balance sheet. Customer trust remained robust, with deposits increasing by 7% from N22 trillion to N23 trillion in June 2025. The loan portfolio stood at N10.2 trillion in June 2025, compared to N11 trillion in December 2024, reflecting the Bank’s cautious and prudent risk management strategy.
Zenith Bank delivered impressive returns, with a Return on Average Equity (ROAE) of 24.8% and Return on Average Assets (ROAA) of 3.5% as at June 2025. The cost-to-income ratio was 48.2%, accounting for necessary provisioning to meet regulatory standards and inflationary impacts. Asset quality saw significant improvement, with the Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio declining to 3.1% in June 2025 from 4.7% in December 2024. The Bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at a robust 26%, and liquidity ratio at 69%, both comfortably surpassing regulatory thresholds.
