Connect with us

brand

ZENITH BANK EMERGES NIGERIA’S BEST BANK AT EUROMONEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2025

Published

14 hours ago

on

  • Photo © 2025 – ASV Photography Ltd.
    www.ASVphotos.com

    ZenithBankPlchasbeennamed“Nigeria’sBestBank”attheEuromoneyAwardsfor
    Excellence2025,emergingasNigeria’sstandoutperformer,andclinchingthebiggestand
    most coveted country award. The award, which was presented to the bank on Thursday, July
    17,2025atThePeninsula,London,isatestament to its commitment to delivering exceptional
    banking services, innovative products and superior value to its customers and shareholders.
    Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are one of the most highly coveted awards that matter to
    banksandbankerswhomatter.TheannualAwardsforExcellencecelebratesfinancial
    institutions that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and resilience in their markets, with this
    year’seditionseeingarecordnumberofover770entriesfromworldclassfinancial
    institutionsincludingHSBC,MorganStanley,CitiBank,Barclays,StandardBankand
    Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), amongst others.
    Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc,
    Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as Nigeria’s
    BestBankbyEuromoney.Thisawardisnotjustatestamenttoourrelentlesspursuitof
    excellence, but also a validation of the unwavering trust and confidence our customers have
    placed in us. We are once again reminded that our success is not just about us, but about the
    impact we continue to have on the financial ecosystem. We will continue to work tirelessly to
    supportthegrowthanddevelopmentofoureconomyandupholdthehigheststandardsof
    governance, integrity and transparency that has earned us this recognition”.
    She dedicated the award to Zenith Bank’s customers across the globe for their loyalty, and to
    the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary leadership and commitment to
    excellencewhichformedthefoundationforthebank’ssuccesses.Shealsothankedthe
    Boardfortheirguidance,aswellasthestafffortheirunwaveringdedicationtobuildinga
    formidable and best in class global financial institution that will outlive generations.
    ZenithBank’strackrecordofexcellentperformancehascontinuedtoearnthebrand
    numerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1
    Capitalforthesixteenthconsecutiveyearinthe2025Top1000WorldBanksRanking,
    publishedbyTheBanker.TheBankwasalsoawardedBankoftheYear(Nigeria)inThe
    Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020
    to2022, 2024and 2025,inthe GlobalFinance World’sBestBanks Awards;Best Bankfor
    DigitalSolutionsinNigeriaintheEuromoneyAwards2023;andwaslistedintheWorld
    Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
    Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for five consecutive years from
    2021 to 2025 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the
    InternationalBanker2023and2024BankingAwards.Additionally,ZenithBankhasbeen
  • acknowledgedastheBestCorporateGovernanceBank,Nigeria,intheWorldFinance
    CorporateGovernanceAwardsforfourconsecutiveyearsfrom2022to2025and‘Bestin
    CorporateGovernance’FinancialServices’Africaforfourconsecutiveyearsfrom2020to
    2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
    The Bank’s commitment to excellence saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand
    inNigeria inThe Banker’sTop 500Banking Brandsfor 2020 and 2021,Bank ofthe Year 2023
    and2024attheBusinessDayBanksandOtherFinancialInstitutions(BAFI)Awards,and
    Retail Bank of the Yearfor three consecutive years from2020 to 2022 and in2024 at the BAFI
    Awards. The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best
    Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.
    ZenithBankwasalsonamedMostResponsibleOrganisationinAfrica,BestCompanyin
    TransparencyandReportingandBestCompanyinGenderEqualityandWomen
    Empowerment atthe SERAS CSRAwards Africa 2024;Bank of theYear 2024by ThisDay
    Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade
    Finance,2023byNairametrics.TheBank’sHybridOfferwasalsoadjudged‘RightsIssue/
    Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025
Post Views: 117
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

brand

FIRSTBANK MARKS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: ₦1 TRILLION IN INSTANT DIGITAL LOAN DISBURSEMENTS

Published

3 days ago

on

July 18, 2025

By

 FirstBank, a leading financial institution and provider of financial inclusion services in West Africa, announces the achievement of ₦1 trillion in cumulative instant digital loan disbursements. This accomplishment further consolidates the Bank’s reputation for innovation, leadership in financial inclusion, and commitment to customer empowerment within.

Since its inaugural digital loan in August 2019, FirstBank has developed an unconventional and robust digital lending ecosystem designed with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to improve access to finance, especially to the high-risk customer segment. The Bank created a multi- channel loan disbursement service that requires no collaterals, zero documentation and is void of human interactions. Through its FirstAdvance, FirstCredit and AgentCredit products, 1.5 million unique borrowers enjoyed instant and secure access to credit. This is irrespective of whether they are salary earners, non-salary earners, or micro business owners. They also have the convenient options of accessing these loans through platforms such as *894# (FirstBank’s USSD service), FirstMobile, LitApp and the FirstMonie Agent App.

Regarding this milestone, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products at FirstBank, stated: “This success underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach, which are central to FirstBank’s core values. Beyond achieving substantial figures, we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities for financial independence across Nigeria in particular, and in Africa at large.’’

He added, “We value the trust our customers place in us to support their financial aspirations. Our efforts to advance digital lending will persist, especially to the excluded and underserved customer segments, while effectively managing risks in the process.”

FirstBank currently disburses about N1 Billion daily in digital loans, demonstrating its commitment to fostering an inclusive, technology-driven future for Nigerians. By consistently investing in advanced technologies and developing customised financial solutions, the Bank seeks to improve the financial well-being of individuals and businesses across the nation.

Post Views: 42
Continue Reading

brand

FIRSTBANK PARTNERS UNGC TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND UNLOCK CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT

Published

5 days ago

on

July 16, 2025

By

FirstBank, the West Africa premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to reaffirm its commitment to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development. This ongoing partnership was reinforced at the recently concluded Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in Seville, Spain.

 The FfD4 Conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and private sector experts to discuss innovative solutions to address the growing SDG financing gap and unlock capital for development in fragile and underserved regions.

FirstBank’s Chief Risk Officer, Patrick Akhidenor, represented the bank at the conference and highlighted two FirstBank flagship initiatives driving resilience finance in Nigeria: The Solar Equipment Financing initiative and the revamped FirstGem Fund. The Solar Equipment Financing initiative offers tailored financing options for the purchase and installation of solar power systems, ensuring access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. The FirstGem Fund, a women-focused proposition, provides single-digit interest loans to women entrepreneurs without collateral requirements, targeting funding gaps in critical sectors.

‘’We are committed to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development,” said Patrick Akhidenor. “Our partnership with UNGC and participation in the FfD4 Conference demonstrate our dedication to innovative finance solutions that address the SDG financing gap.”

Sanda Ojambo, CEO of UNGC, emphasized the need for innovative, inclusive financial models for underserved regions. “The private sector must play a central role in shaping fit-for-purpose, scalable finance solutions,” she said. “De-risking tools and blended finance can help unlock capital and drive meaningful impact.

FirstBank’s partnership with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and its SMEConnect hub demonstrate its capacity to lead efforts in sustainable finance. The bank provides training, networking, and tailored financing to SMEs across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and retail

 

Post Views: 48
Continue Reading

brand

Access Holdings Reaffirms Strategic Growth Plan from Expansion to Optimisation

Published

5 days ago

on

July 16, 2025

By


Access Holdings PLC, the parent company of Access
Bank, has reaffirmed its long-term strategic blueprint anchored on a deliberate and
structured progression: scale, optimise, and sustain.
This roadmap, which has driven the Group’s aggressive expansion across Africa and
into key global markets, is now entering a crucial optimisation phase, expected to unlock
significant value for stakeholders as the organisation heads toward 2027.
Speaking on the strategy, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, noted:
“Our approach has always been clear: scale first through strategic expansion, then
optimise through consolidation, synergy realisation, and operational efficiency. During
the scale-up phase, a considerable amount of funding is required to drive investments in
people, systems, infrastructure, and acquisitions.
“But as we move deeper into the optimisation phase, we will begin to see the full benefits
manifest, especially in terms of profitability, capital efficiency, and shareholder returns.”
Access Holdings’ five-year strategic plan, which runs through to 2027, also places
financial inclusion and impact at the core of its growth agenda. By expanding digital
access and scaling low-cost delivery platforms, the Group aims to onboard millions of
previously unbanked and underserved individuals and MSMEs across Africa into the
formal financial system. This is part of a broader strategy to enhance intra-Africa trade,
empower smallholder businesses, and strengthen the value chain across key sectors
including agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing.
The Full Year 2024 financial results demonstrate that the Group’s investments are
already yielding meaningful outcomes. Gross earnings rose to N4.878 trillion from
₦2.594 trillion in 2023, while profit before tax increased by 19% to N867.0 billion. Total
assets surged by 55.5% to N41.498 trillion, reinforcing Access Holdings’ position as one
of Africa’s most formidable financial services institutions.
Post Views: 46
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Newsthumb Magazine | All rights reserved