Zenith Bank Wins Africa’s Best Bank Award

Zenith Bank Plc has secured two major honours at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, winning Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank for the second year running.

The awards were presented on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at The Peninsula London Hotel, London, recognising the bank’s continued success in financial performance, customer service, digital innovation and support for economic growth across Nigeria and Africa.

The Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 are among the world’s most respected banking awards, assessing financial institutions based on strategy, profitability, risk management, digital transformation and stakeholder impact. More than 770 entries from leading global banks, including major international institutions, competed in this year’s edition.

Dr Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, described the recognition as a reflection of customer trust, staff commitment and the bank’s ambition to build a strong African financial institution.

“We are deeply honoured by theserecognitions from Euromoney. Being recognised as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our unicorn 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.”

Umeoji also praised regulators across the countries where Zenith Bank operates for creating supportive environments that helped the institution achieve this milestone. She dedicated the award to founder Jim Ovia, crediting his vision and leadership for the bank’s achievements.

The Africa’s Best Bank recognition follows strong financial results and increased investment in technology, artificial intelligence and digital banking. In the 2025 financial year, Zenith Bank recorded gross earnings of ₦4.19 trillion, profit after tax of ₦1.04 trillion and reduced its non-performing loan ratio from 4.7 per cent to 3.8 per cent.

The bank also rewarded shareholders with a record total dividend of N10.00 per share, worth N410.69 billion, representing a 100 per cent increase from the previous year.

Zenith Bank’s latest achievement adds to its growing list of international honours, reinforcing its position as a leading African financial institution. The bank continues to receive recognition for corporate governance, sustainability, innovation, customer service and banking excellence across multiple global platforms.

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