Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-1 Capital, has confirmed that it will exit the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory forbearance by June 30, 2025. The bank has also assured its shareholders that it remains committed to meeting their dividend expectations for the 2025 financial year.
This announcement comes amid tighter oversight from the CBN, which recently suspended dividend payments for banks with unresolved forbearance-related issues or breaches of the Single Obligor Limit (SOL). As a result, banks are now under increased scrutiny regarding their capital health and compliance with regulatory standards.
In a statement issued to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on June 17, 2025, Zenith Bank clarified that its SOL forbearance involves only one customer and that the exposure will be reduced to within the regulatory threshold before the June 30 deadline.
Additionally, the bank noted that forbearance related to other credit facilities concerns just two customers. Zenith stated it has already made significant provisions for these loans and is taking all necessary steps to ensure full provisioning by the end of June.
Zenith Bank also highlighted its solid financial standing, revealing it has successfully raised and exceeded the CBN’s new capital requirement of ₦500 billion. This milestone places the bank in a strong position to continue offering value to stakeholders and to maintain its leadership role in Nigeria’s banking industry.
The bank’s consistent performance and innovation have earned it numerous awards, including being named Nigeria’s top bank by Tier-1 Capital for 15 consecutive years by The Banker magazine. It has also won accolades such as Bank of the Year by The Banker in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria by Euromoney in 2023.
Zenith Bank has also been recognised for excellence in corporate governance, sustainability, retail innovation, and MSME finance. Its Hybrid Offer was named ‘Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year’ at the 2025 Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards.
With its strong track record and commitment to regulatory compliance, Zenith Bank appears well prepared to maintain its leadership and deliver long-term value in a changing financial landscape.
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