Zenith Bank Plc has been named “Africa’s Best Bank” and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.
The “Nigeria’s Best Bank” award marks the second consecutive year the Bank has received the national recognition.
The awards were presented on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at The Peninsula London Hotel, London.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence evaluate banks on strategy, profitability, risk management, digital transformation, customer service, and contribution to stakeholders.
Euromoney described this year’s edition as its largest to date, with over 770 entries from financial institutions including HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays, Standard Bank, and DBS Bank of Singapore.
According to the Bank, the dual recognition reflects sustained performance across financial results, digital innovation, and support for economic development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, commented on the awards:
“We are deeply honoured by these recognitions from Euromoney. Being recognised as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our workforce, and our unwavering commitment to building a truly African global financial institution. These awards inspire us to do even more to deliver superior value, drive financial inclusion, and support the growth of businesses across Africa.”
She also acknowledged regulators in jurisdictions where the Bank operates for providing an enabling environment, and dedicated the award to the Bank’s Founder, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his leadership and vision.
Zenith Bank reported continued investment in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital banking. For the 2025 financial year, the Bank stated:
– Gross earnings: grew by 6% year-on-year to ₦4.19 trillion
– Profit after tax: ₦1.04 trillion
– Non-performing loan ratio: reduced from 4.7% to 3.8%
– Dividend: a total of ₦10.00 per share for 2025, totaling ₦410.69 billion. This represents a 100% increase over the ₦5.00 per share paid in 2024
The Bank also noted expansion of its pan-African presence and growth in trade and transaction banking services.
Euromoney’s recognition adds to a series of awards received by Zenith Bank in recent years, including:
– The Banker: Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 17th consecutive year in the 2026 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in 2020, 2022, and 2024; Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in 2020 and 2021
– Global Finance: Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024, and 2025
– Euromoney: Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in 2023
– World Finance: Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, from 2021 to 2026; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, from 2022 to 2026
– International Banker: Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria, in 2023, 2024, and 2026
– BusinessDay BAFI Awards: Bank of the Year from 2023 to 2025
– SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024: Most Responsible Organisation in Africa; Best Company in Transparency and Reporting; Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
Euromoney is an international publication covering global banking and financial markets. Its Awards for Excellence are presented annually to institutions recognized for performance and innovation across regions and product areas.
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