Zenith Bank Plc has reported a 16 per cent rise in its gross earnings for the first nine months of 2025 to N3.37tn compared to N2.9tn recorded in Q3 2024.
This was disclosed in its unaudited financial results for the first three quarters ended 30 September 2025, filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
Zenith Bank is one of the top banks in Nigeria, with a presence in multiple countries.
According to the financial results presented to the NGX, growth in gross earnings was driven by interest income, which rose 41 per cent year-on-year to N2.7tn. The lender said that the growth in interest income was supported by a high-yield rate environment and an expansion in the Bank’s investment portfolio.
In the same period, interest expense rose by 22 per cent to N814bn on the back of a tightening monetary cycle and a growth in the Bank’s funding base; however, the bank was able to achieve a healthy Net Interest Margin of 12 per cent as against 10 per cent in September 2024. Non-interest income declined by 38 per cent to N535bn, underpinned by a 60 per cent decline in trading gains.
Zenith Bank’s profit before tax marginally declined to N917bn as against N1.00tn reported in September 2024. Profit after tax also declined by eight per cent to N764bn, and Earnings Per Share came in at N18.60 as against N26.34 in September 2024, as the Bank took bold measures to improve the quality of its loan portfolio.
The Bank’s total assets grew by four per cent from N30tn in December 2024 to N31tn as at September 2025, supported by customer deposits, which rose by eight per cent to N23.7tn within the same period. Gross loans declined by nine per cent to N10tn as at September 2025, while Non-Performing Loan ratio improved to three per cent due to the write-off of non-performing loans.
Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adaora Umeoji, said, “The Bank’s robust performance is an attestation to the resilience of the Zenith brand, result-driven strategy, and the adaptability of our people in an evolving operating environment. We have fortified our capital base, reset our asset quality, and are well-positioned for sustainable and profitable growth”.
On the outlook for the last quarter of the year, Umeoji said, “This result confirms 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 the Bank’s 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,” she asserted.
