Zenith Bank Plc has strengthened its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions after being named both Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.
The double recognition comes at a time when the lender is reporting record profitability, expanding its digital banking operations, increasing shareholder returns and growing its presence across Africa.
The awards, presented on 16 July at The Peninsula London, recognise outstanding financial institutions based on financial performance, innovation, digital transformation, customer service, risk management and long-term business strategy.
For investors, customers and industry observers, the latest recognition reinforces Zenith Bank’s standing as one of Nigeria’s strongest banking brands.
Why Zenith Bank Won Euromoney’s Top Awards
Euromoney said banks were assessed across several performance indicators, including:
- Financial strength
- Profitability
- Risk management
- Digital transformation
- Innovation
- Customer experience
- Long-term strategy
- Contribution to economic development
More than 770 financial institutions from around the world participated in this year’s competition, including global banking giants such as HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays, Standard Bank and DBS Bank.
Winning both the continental and national awards places Zenith Bank among Africa’s highest-performing financial institutions.
Strong Financial Results Supported the Award
The recognition follows another record financial year for Zenith Bank.
For the 2025 financial year, the bank reported:
| Financial Metric | 2025 Result |
|---|---|
| Gross Earnings | ₦4.19 trillion |
| Profit After Tax | ₦1.04 trillion |
| Total Dividend | ₦10.00 per share |
| Dividend Payout | ₦410.69 billion |
| Non-Performing Loan Ratio | 3.8% (down from 4.7%) |
The results demonstrate continued earnings growth while maintaining stronger asset quality through lower non-performing loans.
For shareholders, the announcement was particularly significant after Zenith Bank doubled its annual dividend from ₦5 per share in 2024 to ₦10 per share for the 2025 financial year.
Digital Banking and Artificial Intelligence Driving Growth
Beyond its financial performance, Zenith Bank has continued investing heavily in technology.
The lender said it expanded investment in:
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital banking platforms
- Payment infrastructure
- Transaction banking
- Cross-border banking services
- Pan-African trade finance
These investments are expected to improve customer experience while supporting future revenue growth as banking becomes increasingly digital.
What the Award Means for Investors
Awards alone do not determine whether a company is a good investment.
However, recognitions from respected international organisations such as Euromoney often reflect consistent operational performance over several years.
For investors, the latest award highlights several positive indicators:
- Strong profitability.
- Consistent dividend growth.
- Improved loan quality.
- Continued investment in innovation.
- Expanding African operations.
- Strong corporate governance.
These factors are closely monitored by both local and international investors when evaluating banking stocks.
CEO Reacts to the Recognition
Reacting to the award, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Adaora Umeoji described the recognition as a reflection of the confidence customers continue to place in the bank.
She said the awards demonstrate the dedication of the bank’s employees and reaffirm Zenith Bank’s ambition to build a globally competitive African financial institution.
Umeoji added that the bank remains committed to expanding financial inclusion, supporting businesses and delivering long-term value to customers and shareholders.
She also acknowledged regulators across the countries where Zenith Bank operates for creating an enabling environment for growth.
The chief executive dedicated the awards to the bank’s founder, Jim Ovia, describing his vision as the foundation of Zenith Bank’s long-term success.
Zenith Bank Continues Award-Winning Streak
The latest recognition adds to an already impressive list of international honours.
Earlier this month, The Banker ranked Zenith Bank as Nigeria’s Number One Bank by Tier-1 Capital for the 17th consecutive year in its 2026 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking.
Over the past several years, the lender has also received awards from:
- The Banker
- Global Finance
- World Finance
- International Banker
- SERAS CSR Africa
The bank has been recognised for excellence in digital banking, sustainability, corporate governance, transparency, financial reporting and gender equality.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Banking Industry
Zenith Bank’s latest achievement comes as Nigerian banks continue strengthening their capital positions ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation programme.
The recognition also highlights the increasing competitiveness of Nigerian financial institutions on the global stage.
As banks invest more in artificial intelligence, digital payments and regional expansion, international awards such as the Euromoney Awards provide additional validation of their progress.
Conclusion
Zenith Bank’s recognition as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects more than another industry award.
It follows a year in which the bank delivered ₦1.04 trillion in profit after tax, doubled its annual dividend, improved asset quality and continued investing heavily in digital banking and artificial intelligence.
For shareholders, customers and investors, the latest award reinforces Zenith Bank’s reputation as one of Africa’s strongest and most consistently performing financial institutions.