Zenith Bank: Best among equals

With an unbroken 16-year run as Nigeria’s number one bank by Tier-1 capital and a consistent place among the world’s top 600 banks, Zenith Bank has continued to set industry benchmarks in resilience, governance and innovation.

Zenith Bank’s growth since it was established in 1990 has been powered by its strength in digital and technology-driven banking, with industry-leading online platforms and fintech-aligned services that have helped redefine customer experience. The bank also maintains a strong regional footprint, with operations and representative offices in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Sierra Leone and China, enabling seamless cross-border banking and trade support. The bank’s corporate social responsibility efforts have equally been robust. Over a five-year period, Zenith Bank invested more than ₦12 billion in nationwide projects spanning health, education, sports development, public infrastructure and financial literacy.

In 2024 alone, it committed ₦4.75 billion to CSR, including upgrading community health centres, supporting disaster relief efforts and sustained sponsorship of the Zenith Women Basketball League. Through these interventions and business strategies, Zenith Bank continues to position itself as a leader in banking and inclusive economic development in Nigeria.

With the coming of Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, the first female Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank in June 2024, the bank’s fortunes took a dramatic leap. By early 2024, she announced that the bank, riding on a Profit Before Tax of ₦796 billion for 2023 and strong first quarter numbers, was on track to cross the ₦1 trillion Profit Before Tax.

Dame Adaora Umeoji has led Zenith Bank to raise additional capital, leading a successful hybrid offer that raised ₦350.4 billion, to boost the bank’s market capitalisation and reposition it for regulatory capital requirements.

Beyond the numbers, she has driven innovation and digital transformation at Zenith Bank, championing financial inclusion via technology and backing the establishment of a fintech subsidiary, ZenPay, to extend retail and corporate banking reach. Her leadership also emphasises international growth. She has also floated plans for expansion into France and other Francophone African markets.

Zenith Bank is the winner of The Sun Bank of the Year Award for 2025.