Zenith Bank pays N51.3bn dividend, pledges better performance
Zenith Bank Plc has vowed to exceed the expectations of shareholders as it paid about N51.3bn as an interim dividend for the period ended June 30, 2025.
Zenith Bank Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, made this pledge in a statement on Sunday.
On Friday, the banking group paid a total interim dividend of N51.3bn to its shareholders for the half year 2025, at N1.25 per share. This payout represented about a 60 per cent increase from the N31.4bn paid in H1 2024.
Commenting on the dividend payout, Umeoji said, “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’s end.”
The substantial dividend payout reflected the financial performance of the bank in the period under review. Zenith Bank recorded a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in gross earnings, rising from N2.1tn to N2.5tn in H1 2025. Interest income drove this performance with an impressive 60 per cent growth, climbing from N1.1tn to N1.8tn. The bank said that it achieved this impressive increase in interest income through strategic repricing of risk assets and effective treasury management.
Total assets also expanded to N31tn in June 2025, representing steady growth from N30tn in December 2024, underpinned by a robust and well-structured balance sheet. Customer confidence remained strong, with deposits growing by seven per cent from N22tn to N23tn in June 2025.
Zenith Bank is one of the few banks that have paid an interim dividend to their shareholders for the half-year ended June 30, 2025. The Nigerian largest lender by market capitalisation, approved an interim dividend of N1.25 per share across its 41,069,830,001 issued shares. In its interim report, Zenith explained that the dividend would be paid from its retained earnings, emphasising that the move reflected its robust financial position and resilience in navigating Nigeria’s evolving banking landscape.
