Zenith Bank Plc has released its audited 2025 results, reporting a pre-tax profit of N1.26 trillion, representing a 4.78% decline compared to the previous year.
Despite the slight dip, performance was supported by strong top-line growth, with interest income rising to N3.6 trillion from N2.7 trillion recorded in the 2024 financial year.
A closer look shows loans and advances to customers contributed the most at N1.8 trillion, up 20.15%, while treasury bills generated N1.1 trillion in income.
Hence, the group proposed a final dividend of N8.75 per share, up from N4.00, bringing the total FY2025 dividend to N10.00 per share, including the N1.25 interim payout.
Key Highlights (2025 vs 2024)
- Interest income: N3.6 trillion, up 34.97% YoY
- Net interest income: N2.6 trillion, up 52.67% YoY
- Impairment charges: N742.1 billion vs N657 billion
- Net interest after impairment: N1.8 trillion, up 77% YoY
- Net income on fees and commissions: N291.8 billion, up 41.06% YoY
- Trading loss: N63.1 billion vs N1.1 trillion profit
- Pretax profit: N1.26 trillion vs N1.3 trillion
- EPS: N25.32 per share vs N32.87 per share
- Retained earnings: N2.8 trillion, up 39.33% YoY
Driving the numbers
Apart from loans and advances to customers of N1.8 trillion and Treasury bills of N1.1 trillion, the group recorded interest from government and other bonds of N507.9 billion, and placements with banks and discount houses of N210 billion.
- Promissory notes contributed N1.2 billion, while N406 million came from interest on commercial papers.
As expected, interest expenses swelled, reaching N1.03 trillion compared to N992.4 billion the prior year, leaving net interest income at N2.6 trillion, up 52.67% year-on-year.
- After accounting for an impairment on financial instruments of N742.1 billion, net interest income settled at N1.89 trillion.
On the non-interest side, the group earned N291.8 billion from fees and commissions, up 41.06% year-on-year, with other operating income at N176.2 billion, mainly from foreign exchange revaluation gains.
- However, it recorded a trading loss of N63.1 billion, compared to a N1.1 trillion profit the previous year, which affected pretax profitability.
- With personnel expenses of N294.1 billion, up 44.05% YoY, and operating expenses of N669.8 billion, up 14.19%, pretax profit stood at N1.2 trillion, slightly down from N1.3 trillion.
After income tax of N222.8 billion, post-tax profit settled at N1.04 trillion, with earnings per share falling to N25.32 from N32.87.
Balance sheet
On the balance sheet, total assets grew to N31.4 trillion from N29.9 trillion in 2024, showing steady expansion across key asset classes.
- Loans and advances to customers were the largest asset at N10.4 trillion, up 4.85%, followed by cash and balances of N6.9 trillion.
- Investment securities stood at N5.4 trillion, with Treasury bills accounting for N4.6 trillion, reflecting a diversified investment portfolio.
On the liabilities side, total obligations reached N26.5 trillion, up 2.34%, with customer deposits of N24.3 trillion forming the largest portion.
On the equity side, retained earnings rose to N2.8 trillion from N2 trillion, making up the bulk of total shareholder equity of N4.9 trillion.
Market reaction:
As of market open on 7th April 2026, over 9 million units of Zenith Bank have changed hands on the NGX as of 11:03 am.
With a year-to-date performance of over 66% so far in 2026, the market is expected to react to the results subsequently.
