Zenith Bank Records N917.4bn 9-Month Profit, Remains Nigeria’s Most profitable Financial Powerhouse

Zenith Bank Plc on Thursday, released its group financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 to the Nigerian Exchange, revealing a consistency of incremental growth across key measurement metrics over the past 30 years.

The group’s gross earnings grew by 16% year-on-year to N3.37 trillion from N2.90 trillion in the corresponding nine months of 2024, supported by strong net interest income, scooping a profit before tax of N917.4 billion and profit after tax of N764.2 billion for the period to remain the most profitable financial institution on the Nigerian bourse. Earnings per share for the period stood at N18.60, down from N26.34 last year, owing to the latest round of capital raising as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with the bank leading its peers having a princely N614.65 billion war-chest.

Zenith Bank remains one company that has consistently put smiles on the faces of investors, rewarding them with robust year-end dividend, as well as half-year interim payout that continues to excite investors. A fortnight ago, on October 10, 2025, the group paid an interim dividend of N1.25 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2025, a 25 percent increase over the previous half-year.

Topline was driven by interest income of N2.74 trillion, compared to N1.95 trillion in the same period of 2024, reflecting deliberate repricing and effective treasury deployment, just as net interest income rose to N1.93 trillion, whilst prudential provisioning was maintained in line with the group’s conservative risk posture.

Total assets closed at N31.18 trillion as at 30 September 2025, from N29.957 trillion at the end of December 2024, with customer deposits accounting for N23.69 trillion, up from N21.57 trillion in the comparative period of last year, underscoring what analysts say is a sustained customer confidence. Shareholders’ equity similarly strengthened to N4.73 trillion, reinforcing Zenith Bank’s capacity to support customers and the broader economy.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Adaora Umeoji described it as a solid performance despite what she said was “a demanding backdrop.”

The performance, she explained, was possible because Zenith Bank “stayed disciplined on risk, deepened customer relationships across retail and corporate segments, and deployed our balance sheet where we saw quality opportunities. As we enter the final quarter, our priorities are clear: service excellence, prudent growth, and sustained value creation for our shareholders.”

Building on this momentum, the group management expects a strong finish to the year, just as the bank assured of continued growth in low-cost deposits, support customers in key sectors, and invest in digital platforms that enhance service and efficiency.

Asset quality, the statement continued, remains a priority, with provisioning aligned to observed risks and regulatory guidance.

Sounding optimistic ahead of Q4 2025, Dr. Umeoji assured that the nine-month “results confirm the resilience of both our business model and our people. We’re on a solid growth path that we expect to maintain through the remainder of the year. Our focus on innovation, digital transformation, and developing solutions that address our clients’ changing needs positions us to capitalise on emerging opportunities whilst maintaining our disciplined approach to growth.”

She assured shareholders that the robust performance, combined with improved asset quality and a strong capital base, positions Zenith Bank to deliver exceptional returns with expectations of sustained value creation. “We’re well placed to sustain this momentum whilst maintaining responsible leadership in the Nigerian banking industry and delivering exceptional value to all our stakeholders.”

Technically, Zenith Bank is forming a double bottom chart pattern that signals a reversal is underway, given the strong fundamental sentiment around its Q3 results as Nigeria’s most profitable bank.  Positive sentiment that comes with pullbacks in a value company like Zenith Bank, which creates a new buying opportunity for smart traders and value investors