Zenith Bank Rakes in N837.6 Billion Interest Income in Q1 2025

Zenith Bank Plc has announced a historic financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, posting an all-time high quarterly interest income of N837.64 billion.

This represents a remarkable 71.46% increase compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring the bank’s strategic investment focus and strong operational efficiency.

According to the bank’s unaudited financial statements for Q1 2025:

Interest Income surged to N837.64 billion, up from N488.6 billion in Q1 2024.
Net Interest Income rose by 92.92% to N591.19 billion.

Gross Earnings increased by 21.68%, reaching N949.86 billion.
Profit Before Tax climbed to N350.82 billion, a 9.56% increase year-on-year.

Profit After Tax grew by 20.7% to N311.83 billion.
Drivers of Growth
The record performance was driven primarily by a sharp increase in interest income from investments in securities, particularly treasury bills, which rose by 113.24% to N328.8 billion. Zenith Bank strategically invested an additional N2.68 trillion in treasury bills during the quarter, capitalizing on high-yield opportunities in the current interest rate environment.

Income from loans and advances to customers and other financial institutions also rose by 53.4% year-on-year, totaling N460.97 billion. This segment contributed 55% of the total interest income, reflecting an expanding loan book and healthy lending activity.

Balance Sheet Expansion
Zenith Bank’s total assets grew to N32.42 trillion, representing a 33.50% increase from Q1 2024. Key contributors to the asset growth include:

A 35.14% increase in customer deposits, now at N22.68 trillion.
A 16.19% rise in loans and advances to customers, now at N10.05 trillion.
An increase in restricted deposits with the Central Bank of Nigeria by N2.24 trillion, reflecting mandatory reserve requirements.
Despite a 35.34% rise in interest expenses to N246.45 billion—mainly due to higher customer deposit and borrowing costs—Zenith Bank maintained a strong interest margin, with net interest income accounting for over 70% of its gross interest revenue.

Outlook
Zenith Bank’s exceptional Q1 2025 performance highlights its resilience, prudent risk management, and strategic focus in navigating Nigeria’s complex economic terrain. Analysts believe the bank is well-positioned to sustain its momentum through the rest of the year.

The strong quarterly results reaffirm Zenith Bank’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, delivering consistent value to shareholders and stakeholders.