Zenith Bank Posts Impressive Half-Year Results with N625.629 Billion Profit Before Tax

Strategic Insights -

Zenith Bank Plc has released its Group financial results for the half-year ending June 2025, showcasing a remarkable turnaround with a profit before tax of N625.629 billion. The stellar performance has led to an interim dividend of N1.25 per share, a 25% increase over the N1.00 paid in the first half of 2024. Despite industry-wide exit of the CBN forbearance regime and heightened provisioning requirements, the Bank achieved a 20% year-on-year increase in gross earnings, driven by an impressive 60% growth in interest income.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bank's profit before tax stood at N625.629 billion in H1 2025, a testament to its robust performance.
  • The Board approved an interim dividend of N1.25 per share, a 25% increase from the previous year.
  • Gross earnings grew by 20% year-on-year, reaching N2.5 trillion in H1 2025, driven by a 60% increase in interest income.
  • Interest income surged to N1.8 trillion, up from N1.1 trillion in the preceding period.
  • The Bank's asset quality improved significantly, with the NPL ratio dropping to 3.1% in June 2025 from 4.7% in December 2024.
  • The cost-to-income ratio stood at 48.2%, reflecting necessary provisioning for regulatory compliance and the impact of inflationary pressures.
  • The Bank maintains a fortress balance sheet with capital adequacy at 26% and liquidity ratio at 69%, both comfortably exceeding regulatory requirements.
  • Zenith Bank has been recognized as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year and Nigeria's Best Bank at The Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025.
  • The Bank's commitment to excellence has earned it numerous awards, including Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for four consecutive years.

Statistics:

  • N625.629 billion: Zenith Bank's profit before tax for the half-year ending June 2025.
  • 25%: Increase in the interim dividend from N1.00 to N1.25 per share.
  • 20%: Year-on-year growth in gross earnings.
  • 60%: Growth in interest income.
  • N2.5 trillion: Gross earnings for the half-year ending June 2025.
  • N1.8 trillion: Interest income in the half-year ending June 2025.
  • 3.1%: NPL ratio in June 2025.
  • 4.7%: NPL ratio in December 2024.
  • 48.2%: Cost-to-income ratio.
  • 26%: Capital adequacy ratio.
  • 69%: Liquidity ratio.
  • 16: Consecutive years as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital.
  • 4: Consecutive years as Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria.

Sources:

  • Zenith Bank Plc's Group financial results for the half-year ending June 2025.
  • The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks Ranking 2025.
  • Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025.
  • BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
  • International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.
  • Seras CSR Awards Africa 2024.
  • ThisDay Newspaper.
  • New Telegraph Newspaper.