Category: Banking & Finance

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or “the Group”) has released its Unaudited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements as of September 30, 2025, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group posted profit before tax of ₦900.8billion on the back of strong performance on the core earnings lines of interest income and fee income which grew y-o-y by 25.6% and 16.8% respectively. The strong core-earning performance continued to narrow the y-o-y dip in PBT to 26%, thereby cushioning the impact of the ₦523.2bn fair value…

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FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is proud to announce the commencement of its 2025 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Week, scheduled to hold from 27 October – 1 November 2025. Now in its ninth year, the annual event is a reflection of the Bank’s commitment to community empowerment, environmental stewardship, and the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the ‘Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness’ (SPARK) initiative, FirstBank continues to build on its legacy of sowing seeds…

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Access Holdings Plc (“the Group” or “the Company”) has delivered a profit before tax (PBT) of ₦320.6 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2025, a demonstration of its strategy, diversified growth model, and execution. Profit after tax (PAT) stood at ₦215.9 billion, underscoring the Group’s ability to consistently generate sustainable returns amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Access Holdings recorded gross earnings of ₦2.5 trillion, a 13.8% increase from ₦2.2 trillion in H1 2024, supported by robust growth in interest income, which rose by 38.9% year-on-year to ₦2.0 trillion.…

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Access Holdings Plc (“the Group” or “the Company”) today announced its half-year audited financial results for the period ended June 30, 2025. The Group’s financial results for the half year ended June 30, 2025, reflect the resilience of our business model, the diversification of our revenue streams, and the steady progress to the execution of our five-year strategic plan. Gross earnings increased by 13.8% year-on-year to ₦2.5 trillion in H1 2025 from ₦2.2 trillion in H1 2024, driven by strong growth in interest income which increased by 38.9% year-on-year to…

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FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is thrilled to announce the successful integration of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) into its flagship digital banking platform, the LIT app, enabling customers to make instant, secure, and local currency-based cross-border payments across Africa. PAPSS, developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, enables instant, low-cost payments in local currencies between African countries. Speaking on the integration, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products…

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The Création Africa 2025Forum concluded in Lagos after three days of high-level dialogue, exhibitions, and artistic showcases that celebrated Africa’s creative power and deepened France–Nigeria relations, following its successful debut produced by Mansa productions in Paris in 2023. Held from October 16–18, 2025, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the programmebrought together over 3,000 young creatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. It served as a platform to celebrate African creativity and accelerate collaboration between artists, financiers, and policymakers shaping the continent’s digital and cultural…

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A new chapter in African art history opened this week at Tate Modern, London, with the unveiling of Nigerian Modernism, a landmark exhibition made possible through a partnership with Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group. The exhibition, which officially began with an opening reception at Tate Modern, celebrates Nigeria’s pivotal contribution to global modern art and runs from October 2025 to May 2026. Bringing together 50 artists and 250 works, Nigerian Modernism traces the evolution of Nigeria’s modern art movement from the 1940s to the 1980s, spanning the late colonial…

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The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Kolawole, has said that a service culture built on responsiveness and innovation will differentiate the impact that customer service can make in any organisation. Making the remarks at the flag off of the Customer Service Week 2025 in Unity Bank, Mr. Kolawole stated that “apart from constantly improving the way in which better customer support can be achieved, the increasing sophistication of our customers have made the Bank to also begin to focus more on customer experience innovation with…

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JIM OVIA NAMED DOYEN OF THE NIGERIAN BANKING INDUSTRY AT THE NGX CLOSING GONG CEREMONY Zenith Bank Plc’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, accompanied by the bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. AdaoraUmeoji, OON, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, carried out the prestigious closing gong ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), marking a significant milestone in the bank’s continued partnership with the capital market and the official closing of the trading day. The ceremony highlights Zenith Bank’s strong relationship with the NGX and its commitment to transparency, accountability,…

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Zenith Bank Plc, on Friday, October 10, 2025, made good on its promise as it paid a total interim dividend of N51.3 billion to its shareholders for the Half Year (H1) 2025, at N1.25 per share. This significant payout represents over 60% increase from the N31.4 billion paid in H1 2024, demonstrating the bank’s commitment and enhanced capacity to continually generate value for its shareholders amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment. The dividend payment comes on the heels of the bank’s audited financial results for the half-year ended June 30, 2025,…

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At Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited, sustainability is not an afterthought, it is a core value that shapes how we innovate, operate, and lead within the financial services industry. Earlier this year, we launched our flagship E-Waste Initiative in partnership with Umpaya, a leading environmental solutions provider, with support from the Rotary Club of Akowonjo District 9111. The initiative began with in-house sensitization on the dangers of electronic waste, followed by Hydrogen and it staff donating end-of-life devices ranging from laptops and phones to household electronics. For every device collected,…

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Access Bank has reinforced its drive for inclusive development by hosting a rural health outreach in Ikotun, Lagos, under its “One Bank, One Continent – Together for Health” campaign. The outreach is part of the Bank’s wider ESG and CSI commitments to improving quality of life and driving real impact across Africa. The outreach, held recently, delivered free medical services and essential relief materials to over 300 residents of Ikotun. Services ranged from general health screenings and consultations to the distribution of vital supplies aimed at addressing both immediate healthcare…

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The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has transferred its 34 per cent equity stake in Unity Bank Plc to Providus Bank. The deal, valued at N6.5 billion, covers 4 billion Unity Bank shares sold at N1.66 per share. The transaction paves the way for Unity Bank’s full integration into Providus Bank, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance. The merger is designed to establish a stronger financial institution with an extensive retail network and advanced digital capacity, positioned to drive growth and stability in Nigeria’s banking sector. A source…

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OxygenX, a leading digital lending company committed to empowering people and businesses to thrive, has taken its impact beyond financial solutions by leading an environmental sustainability effort in Lagos. The Oxygen X team, in partnership with the JOMO Climate Change Initiative, executed a cleanup and advocacy drive at Ketu Market, Lagos on the 3rd of September,2025. The initiative was fully sponsored by Oxygen X and engaged key community stakeholders, including the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Ketu Market Leader (Baba Oloja). The market cleanup initiative directly reached…

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FirstBank, the premier West African bank and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is set to introduce tailored financial services for blind, partially sighted, and physically challenged customers across its operations. This initiative is part of FirstBank’s broader continuous commitment to promoting Financial Inclusion and Diversity, which is shown in its policies, partnerships and initiatives such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 41%:59%; and 37% women in management roles) as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase…

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has released its Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2025, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group recorded profit before tax of ₦600.9billionon the back of strong performance on core earning lines of interest income and fee income, which grew y-o-y by 31.5% and 33.0%, respectively. The strong core-earning performance doused the impact of the ₦493.01bn fair value gains recognised in H1-2024 which did not recur in H1-2025, thereby…

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In line with its commitments of promoting sports and developmental initiatives at all levels, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is partnering the organizers of the first of its kind E1 Lagos GP an all-electric powerboat racing championship, set to hold between the 3rd and 5th of October 2025. Disclosing this at the E1 Lagos GP Stakeholder Immersion session in Lagos recently, Olayinka Ijabiyi, the Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication of FirstBank, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives that engender human development across the country while cementing legacies.…

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ZENITH BANK’S GROSS EARNINGS HIT N2.5 TRILLION, FETES SHAREHOLDERS WITH AN INTERIM DIVIDEND OF N1.25 IN H1 2025 Zenith Bank Plc has released its Group financial results for the half year ending June 2025, posting an impressive profit before tax of N625.629 billion. Following this robust performance, the Board has approved an interim dividend of N1.25 per share, a 25% increase over the N1.00 paid in the first half of 2024, maintaining the Bank’s position as a leading dividend-paying Bank and reinforcing its longstanding commitment to rewarding its esteemed shareholders.…

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Access Bank, in partnership with Help the Woman Initiative, has launched Project UWUS (Unstoppable Woman, Unbreakable Spirit), a cervical cancer awareness and screening campaign, designed to improve early detection, promote preventive healthcare, and empower women across Akwa Ibom State. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Akwa Ibom, with a prevalence rate of 22.1%. Limited access to healthcare, cultural barriers, and low awareness contribute to delayed diagnosis and high mortality rates. Through Project UWUS, Access Bank is working with partners to close this gap by delivering…

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Access Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Africa–Caribbean economic collaboration at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025. During the event, Sunmbo Olatunji, Chief Executive Officer, The Caribbean Expansion at Access Bank, underscored the importance of leveraging Africa’s demographic advantage, strategic resources, and diaspora linkages to create new pathways for sustainable growth.She spoke on “The Global Africa We Want: Business Collaboration Without Borders”. “The Global Africa we want is one without borders in spirit, vision, or opportunity, an Africa where our youth, diaspora, and private sector drive collaboration that makes…

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (NGX: GTCO; LSE: GTCO), today announced that it has increased its investment in its wholly owned Banking subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (“GTBank”) to ₦504 billion through a rights issue subscription for 6,994,050,290 ordinary shares of fifty kobo each made by GTBank for a total consideration of ₦365,850,403,572.67, thus increasing GTBank’s paid-up share capital from ₦138,186,703,485.78 to ₦504,037,107,058.45. This Capital Injection ensures GTBank’s compliance with the new minimum capital requirement for commercial banks with international authorisation stipulated by the CBN. The Capital Injection was funded…

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Access Holdings Plc has announced the resignation of Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, a Non-Executive Director, from its Board after three and a half years of dedicated service. The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi. According to the statement, Mr. Ogbonna will continue in his role as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, the Group’s flagship banking subsidiary. The company explained that his resignation became necessary to ensure compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Corporate…

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For decades, Nigeria’s credit system posed significant challenges for small businesses and low-income earners, who often struggled to qualify for loans. Traditional banks demanded collaterals, guarantors, and endless paperwork, effectively shutting out a large portion of the population working in the informal economy. FirstBank’s digital lending model flipped the script. With the launch of its digital lending model, the bank eliminated collateral requirements and slashed approval times from weeks to under five minutes. Loans now flow through multiple channels including *894# (the Bank’s USSD service), FirstMobile, LitApp, and the FirstMonie…

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L-R: Representative of the Nigerian First Lady and Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo; Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Wife of the Founder & Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mrs. Kay Ovia; Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON; Founder & Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky…

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Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman, Access Holdings Plc (left), and Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema (right), during a courtesy visit by Aig-Imoukhuede to the President at the State House in Lusaka, on Wednesday. Access HoldingsPLC has pledged its continued support for Zambia’s energy and agriculture sectors, following a courtesy visit and high-level discussion with Zambia’s President, President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House in Lusaka. During the meeting, President Hichilema noted that Zambia currently faces a shortage in power generation and transmission, and emphasised the need for increased investment following the recent openaccess…

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FirstBank, the premier West African financial institution and financial inclusion service provider is proud to announce the 2025 edition of the FirstBank Agric and Export Conference themed “The Fundamentals of Building a Non-Oil Export Driven Economy“, which will take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre. Building on the momentum of previous successful editions, this year’s Expo reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural and non-oil export sectors as key drivers of economic development. The FirstBank Agric and Export Conference aims to keep Nigerians abreast…

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United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, has been ordered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, to pay ₦30 million in damages for unlawfully restricting a company’s account for more than a year. Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment, also directed the bank to immediately refund $163,592 wrongfully withheld from Micoz Bluelink Enterprise. Mr Lifu ruled that the bank had no legal basis for freezing the firm’s domiciliary account or transferring funds without a court order or notifying the customer. He described the bank’s conduct as “a breach of the banker-customer’s…

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FirstBank proudly sponsored the recently held Canada-Africa Fintech Summit (CAFS 2025), which took place from August 5–8 at the Sheraton Centre in Downtown Toronto. Convened by Dr. Segun Aina, President of the African Fintech Network, CAFS 2025 was a landmark event that united fintech leaders, regulators, startups, and investors from Africa and Canada to explore scalable digital solutions, encourage investment, and promote inclusive economic development across both continents. As a legacy institution with over 131 years of leadership in financial services, FirstBank’s sponsorship highlights its commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration,…

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As part of its growing commitment to environmental sustainability, Hydrogen Payment Services has launched a bold e-waste initiative focused not just on responsible disposal, but on environmental renewal—turning discarded devices into trees. With Nigeria generating over 500 tons of electronic waste annually—making it the largest e-waste producer in West Africa—Hydrogen is stepping up to address a critical but often ignored threat in the digital finance ecosystem. From outdated POS terminals to unused card readers, electronic waste poses environmental and health risks that demand urgent attention. “At Hydrogen, we understand that…

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As part of its commitment to sustainable development and community well-being, Access Bank has launched the Access Clean Water Project, a transformative initiative aimed at improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in 10 communities across Nigeria. Through the Access Clean Water Project, Access Bank has facilitated the installation of boreholes in 10 underserved communities, namely: Arogun, Omu Ishoko, Kemta, Ajibode, Aleku, Ogunrun, Oniwawa, Okeran, Abaren, and Afojupa, ensuring reliable access to clean and safe water for thousands of residents. The project, implemented in partnership with HACEY, a…

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FirstBank, the West African premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has emerged as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, held recently in London. This marks FirstBank’s second consecutive win in the ESG category, affirming its leadership in sustainable finance and responsible banking across Nigeria. The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are regarded as one of the most coveted accolades in the global financial industry. The highly competitive selection process involves rigorous analysis and assessment, measuring performance against strategic…

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Industrialists, entrepreneurs and business owners have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to come to the aid of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by either bringing down interest rates to single digits or creating a special intervention fund for them. They made the call yesterday while reacting to the retention of interest rates at 27.5 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Speaking to Daily Trust, Mohammed Damakka Abubakar, founder and Managing Director of L and Z Ltd said the current rate…

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The United Bank for Africa Plc has announced plans to raise over N157bn through a rights issue. In a notice to trading licence holders on Wednesday, the Nigerian Exchange Limited disclosed that UBA, through its stockbrokers, United Capital Securities Limited, has submitted an application for the approval and listing of a rights issue of 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N50.00 per share. The offer is on the basis of one new ordinary share for every thirteen ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday,…

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Union Bank of Nigeria is currently entangled in a legal battle after a Lagos State High Court nullified its deduction of £130,720,557.06 from the account of NICON Investment Limited over an alleged debt. Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe nullified the bank’s action on the grounds that the deduction was made without authorisation or approval by NICON Investment. The court subsequently awarded £1 million as damages against Union Bank of Nigeria Plc for breaching its fiduciary duties to NICON Investment Limited, which is owned by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. Abike-Fadipe made the ruling…

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), Africa’s leading and most profitable Financial Services Group, has recorded a significant milestone in its growth and expansion journey with the successful admission of its Ordinary Shares to the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. This historic achievement makes GTCO Plc, the 1st Financial Services Institution in West Africa to dual list its Ordinary Shares on…

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Zenith Bank Plc has retained its position as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year, in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks’ Rankings, published by The Banker,Financial Times Group, United Kingdom. This ranking places Zenith Bank Plc as the 581st Bank globally, with a Tier-1 Capital of $2 billion. The global rankings, published in the July 2025 edition of The Banker, was based on the 2024 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks. This is the primary basis for most international organizations’ assessments of banks.…

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Access Bank PLC has once again demonstrated its leadership in sustainable finance with a strong showing at the launch of the Climate Governance Initiative Nigeria (CGIN) Chapter, hosted by Lagos Business School. Dr. Greg Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, was specially invited to speak at the event in recognition of the Bank’s pioneering role in integrating sustainability into its business model and its inspiring leadership within Nigeria’s corporate landscape. In his presentation, Jobome provided a comprehensive overview of how Access Bank has embedded climate risk considerations across…

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FirstBank, the West Africa premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider has launched an advanced facial biometric technology on its mobile banking application- FirstMobile, along with other exciting features that includes: • Facial recognition sign-up and activation • Virtual credit cards for secure online shopping • Instant credit card activation • Flexible salary advances with 3-month repayment options • General improvements, bug fixes, These upgrades all aim to provide customers with a seamless, secure, and efficient digital banking experience. The new facial biometric feature enables users to activate or…

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FirstBank, the West Africa premier bank and financial inclusion services provider, is thrilled to announce that its Corporate University, FirstAcademy, has been awarded the Gold Award for Best Corporate University in Social & Climate Change at the Global Council of Corporate Universities (GlobalCCU) Awards 2025. This highly acclaimed award recognises FirstAcademy’s outstanding commitment to driving social and climate change learning initiatives, aligning its learning and development programs with internal stakeholder needs, and promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The GlobalCCU Awards is a prestigious, biannual recognition of excellence in corporate universities,…

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