Zenith Bank Plc has retained its position as the number one bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital rating for the 16th consecutive year. It clinched the position in the 2025 Top 1,000 World Banks Rankings published by The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times Group, United Kingdom.

The ranking places Zenith Bank at 581st globally, with a Tier-1 capital of $2 billion. The global ranking, published in the July 2025 edition of The Banker, was based on banks’ Tier-1 capital as of year-end 2024.

This remains the key measure used by most international organisations to assess banks financial strength. Commenting on the achievement, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji, said the bank is thrilled to have retained its position once again as the number one bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital for the 16th consecutive year.

She said the milestone reflects the bank’s robust financial performance, prudent risk management and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value to its customers and stakeholders.

Umeoji expressed gratitude to the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, for his visionary and transformative leadership, which she said has been instrumental in building a resilient and thriving institution.

She also appreciated the bank’s customers for their continued loyalty; the board for its sound corporate governance and the staff for their relentless efforts in driving the bank’s sustained success. Tier-1 capital represents capital adequacy, which is the core measure of a bank’s financial strength from a regulatory perspective.

According to The Banker rankings, Tier-1 capital, as defined by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) guidelines, comprises loss-absorbing capital such as common stock, disclosed reserves, retained earnings and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries that are not wholly owned.

A strong Tier-1 capital ratio enhances investor and depositor confidence, indicating that the bank is well-capitalised and financially stable. According to its audited financial results for the 2024 financial year submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), Zenith Bank recorded an 86 per cent year-on-year growth in gross earnings, rising from N2.13 trillion in 2023 to N3.97 trillion in 2024.

The impressive growth was driven by a 138 per cent increase in interest income, supported by investments in high-yield government securities and expansion of the bank’s loan portfolio.

Zenith Bank’s profit before tax (PBT) rose by 67 per cent, climbing from N796 billion in 2023 to N1.3 trillion in 2024. The strong performance led to a record total dividend payout of N195.67 billion at N5 per ordinary share for the 2024 financial year.

Zenith Bank’s consistent track record of outstanding performance has earned it numerous prestigious awards, which include, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

Zenith Bank also clinched the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards for 2020 to 2022, as well as in 2024 and 2025; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023, while World Finance listed it among the Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.

The bank was also recognised as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria for four consecutive years, from 2021 to 2024, in the World Finance Banking Awards and also received the Most Sustainable Bank in Nigeria award from International Banker in both 2023 and 2024.

Additionally, Zenith Bank was acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank in Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards from 2022 to 2024 and was Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services Africa by the Ethical Boardroom for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023.

The Bank’s commitment to excellence earned it the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands ranking for 2020 and 2021; Bank of the Year 2023 and 2024 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024 at the BAFI Awards.

Additional recognitions include Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.

At the 2024 SERAS CSR Awards Africa, Zenith Bank was named Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting, and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.

The bank was also named Bank of the Year 2024 by both ThisDay and New Telegraph newspapers and further won Best in MSME Trade Finance 2023 from Nairametrics.

Zenith Bank’s Hybrid Offering was also adjudged as the ‘Rights Issue/ Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.