Zenith Bank’s financial strength recognized globally with 16-year tier-1 dominance

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

Zenith Bank Plc has once again demonstrated its financial strength and stability by retaining its position as the number one bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year.

The bank’s ranking was confirmed in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks’ Rankings published by The Banker, Financial Times Group, United Kingdom, which placed Zenith Bank Plc as the 581st bank globally with a Tier-1 Capital of $2 billion.

The ranking was based on the 2024 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks, which is a core measure of a bank’s financial strength from a regulator’s perspective. Tier-1 Capital describes capital adequacy and includes loss-absorbing capital, such as common stock, disclosed reserves, retained earnings, and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, expressed her delight at the bank’s achievement, attributing it to the bank’s robust financial performance, prudent risk management, and dedication to delivering exceptional value to customers and stakeholders.

The bank’s strong financial performance was evident in its audited financial results for the 2024 financial year, which showed a double-digit growth of 86% in gross earnings, increasing from N2.13 trillion in 2023 to N3.97 trillion in 2024.

This growth was driven by a 138% increase in interest income, supported by investment in high-yield government securities and growth in the bank’s loan book.

Zenith Bank’s profit before tax rose by 67% to N1.3 trillion in 2024 from N796 billion in 2023, resulting in a total dividend payout of N195.67 billion at N5.00 per ordinary share in the 2024 financial year.

The bank’s strong financial performance and commitment to delivering value to its customers and stakeholders have solidified its position as a leading financial institution in Nigeria.