By Mary Onyia
Zenith Bank Plc has rewarded its shareholders with an interim dividend of N1.25 per share, amounting to N51.3 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2025, a 60% increase from the N31.4 billion paid in the corresponding period of 2024. The payout underscores the bank’s commitment to sustained value creation despite prevailing economic headwinds.
The announcement follows the release of Zenith Bank’s audited half-year financial results to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), which revealed solid growth across key performance indicators. Gross earnings rose by 20% year-on-year from N2.1 trillion to N2.5 trillion, driven mainly by a 60% surge in interest income to N1.8 trillion, reflecting effective treasury operations and strategic repricing of risk assets.
Commenting on the performance, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, said the results highlight the bank’s resilience and strategic focus. “We are pleased to have paid this significant interim dividend to our shareholders. Based on the momentum achieved in the first half, we are confident in our full-year outlook and expect to exceed shareholders’ expectations by year’s end,” she stated.
Zenith Bank’s total assets grew to N31 trillion as of June 2025, up from N30 trillion in December 2024, while customer deposits rose by 7%, from N22 trillion to N23 trillion, underscoring continued customer confidence and a strong balance sheet.
The robust results reaffirm Zenith Bank’s leadership position in Nigeria’s banking industry and its strategic focus on profitability, risk management, and customer-driven innovation.
Over the years, Zenith Bank’s consistent performance has earned it multiple recognitions, including being named Nigeria’s Number One Bank by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks 2025 ranking. The bank also received the “Nigeria’s Best Bank” award at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 and has been honoured multiple times by Global Finance and The Banker for outstanding performance.
With these achievements and a strong H1 performance, Zenith Bank is firmly positioned to deliver record full-year returns and sustain its legacy of excellence in the Nigerian banking sector.