Zenith Bank Plc, on Friday, October 10, 2025, made good on its promise because it paid a complete interim dividend of N51.3 billion to its shareholders for the Half Year (H1) 2025, at N1.25 per share. This vital payout represents over 60% enhance from the N31.4 billion paid in H1 2024, demonstrating the {bank}’s dedication and enhanced capability to repeatedly generate worth for its shareholders amidst a difficult macroeconomic surroundings.
The dividend fee comes on the heels of the {bank}’s audited {financial} outcomes for the half-year ended June 30, 2025, launched to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in September 2025, which showcased a sturdy {financial} place and progress trajectory.
Commenting on the dividend payout, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, mentioned, “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.”
The substantial dividend payout displays distinctive underlying efficiency because the Bank recorded a sturdy 20% year-on-year enhance in gross earnings, rising from N2.1 trillion to N2.5 trillion in H1 2025. Interest revenue drove this efficiency with a formidable 60% progress, climbing from N1.1 trillion to N1.8 trillion. The Bank achieved this spectacular enhance in curiosity revenue by strategic repricing of danger belongings and efficient treasury administration.
The Bank’s complete belongings additionally expanded to N31 trillion in June 2025, representing regular progress from N30 trillion in December 2024, underpinned by a sturdy and well-structured stability sheet. Customer confidence remained robust, with deposits rising by 7% from N22 trillion to N23 trillion in June 2025.
Zenith Bank’s shareholders might be assured of the {bank}’s continued concentrate on delivering distinctive worth and progress, pushed by its robust {financial} fundamentals and strategic initiatives.
The Bank’s monitor document of wonderful efficiency has continued to earn the model quite a few awards, together with being recognised because the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive yr within the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, revealed by The Banker and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” on the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. The Bank was additionally awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, within the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria within the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed within the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
Further recognitions embrace Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for 5 consecutive years from 2021 to 2025 within the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria within the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards. Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged because the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, within the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for 4 consecutive years from 2022 to 2025 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for 4 consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
The Bank’s dedication to excellence noticed it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 to 2025 on the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for 3 consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and 2024 to 2025 on the BAFI Awards. The Bank additionally obtained the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, within the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.
Zenith Bank was additionally named Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment on the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024; Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was additionally adjudged ‘Rights Issue/ Public Offer of the Year’ on the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
