ZENITH BANK CROSSES N1 TRILLION MARK IN Q1 2026 GROSS EARNINGS

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2026, with a 6% growth in Gross Earnings, from N950 billion reported in Q1 2025 to N1.01 trillion in Q1 2026. This is despite the challenging operating environment and tightening monetary policy stance.

From the unaudited statement of account submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Thursday, 30th April 2026, this growth was driven by increase in interest income and non-interest income. The increase in interest income was primarily due to the expansion of the Bank’s risk asset portfolio, supported by disciplined, risk adjusted pricing. Interest expense moderated by 5% YoY in Q1 2026 underscored by a continued optimisation of the Bank’s deposit mix and funding structure. This resulted in a 7% growth in net interest income from N591 billion in Q1 2025 to N634 billion in Q1 2026. Non-interest income also improved 19% year on year, rising from N89 billion to N106 billion, highlighting an improvement in fees and commissions and higher contributions from other operating income streams. This performance reflects stronger customer activity and deeper transaction volumes across key business channels.

As a result, the Group recorded a 3% year on year increase in profit before tax, which rose to N361 billion compared with N351 billion in Q1 2025. Profit after tax also increased by 1% to N314 billion.

Profitability was further supported by a decline in cost of funds to 3.76% in Q1 2026 from 3.90% in Q1 2025; while cost of risk moderated to 2% in Q1 2026, reflecting a prudent and proactive risk management stance in an elevated yield environment.

Gross loans increased by 9% from N11.06 trillion as at full year 2025 to N12.04 trillion in Q1 2026, reflecting the continued commitment to carefully deploying credit into high growth sectors of the economy that enhance portfolio returns. Asset quality strengthened as Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio eased to 3.79%, from 3.82% reported in December 2025, underpinned by disciplined credit risk management. Customer deposits rose to N24.47 trillion in Q1 2026, while total assets increased by 2% to N32.01 trillion over the same period.

Return on Average Equity (ROAE) and Return on Average Assets (ROAA) stood at 24.9% and 4% respectively, supported by strong top line earnings and enhanced balance sheet efficiency. Net interest margin (NIM) strengthened to 12.5%, up from 10.3% in Q1 2025, underscoring the Group’s ability to preserve its margins and deliver improved shareholder returns. Prudential ratios remained strong and comfortably above regulatory requirements.

The Group’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Liquidity Ratio stood at 23.5% and 71% respectively, while the coverage ratio remained strong at 169%, reinforcing the Bank’s resilient capital and liquidity position.

The Group’s Q1 2026 performance underscores its continued focus on sustaining high quality earnings growth, further strengthening asset quality, and deepening customer engagement through continued digital innovation. The Bank remains firmly committed to delivering sustainable growth anchored on sound corporate governance, prudent risk oversight, and disciplined capital allocation.

Enough Is the New Powerful: Imperfectly Awesome Conversations IAC 4.0 Ignites Bold Conversation on Resilience, Tenacity and Authenticity

The fourth edition of the Imperfectly Awesome Conversations Summit is set to take center stage on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. Building on the growing momentum of previous editions, this year’s summit signals a deliberate and powerful shift from inspiration to activation with a structured intervention aimed at reshaping how individuals navigate identity, adversity, and personal growth in an increasingly demanding world.

Accordingly, IAC 4.0 is positioned as a catalytic platform designed to challenge existing narratives, provoke deeper thinking, and ultimately drive a new paradigm across leadership, personal development, and the broader communications ecosystem.

Convened by renowned marketing and communications leader, Omotola Bamigbaiye, the Imperfectly Awesome movement has steadily evolved from a deeply personal literary expression into a dynamic, living experience. Initially birthed through her book, Imperfectly Awesome, the initiative has, over time, transformed into an influential annual convergence where authenticity takes precedence and real-life journeys redefine success.

By centering the message of “being enough,” the summit challenges limiting narratives that hinder innovation, leadership, and inclusive progress. The summit will deliver two high-impact panel sessions:

* Resilience & Tenacity — examining how individuals and organizations can sustain performance and purpose amid disruption

* Authenticity: Embracing Your Whole Self — exploring the role of self-awareness and identity in effective leadership and lived experience

Additionally, a maiden edition of IAC awards to recognize and spotlight individuals and organizations whose journeys exemplify courage, consistency, and meaningful societal impact.

As anticipation intensifies, attention increasingly turns to the calibre of speakers confirmed for this year’s edition, these are individuals whose personal and professional trajectories reflect resilience, leadership, and transformative impact.

Leading the conversation will be Dr Segun Ogunsanya , Chairman Airtel Africa Foundation and  Mrs Godrey Ogbechie, Group Executive Director, Rain Oil Limited.  Additionally, Hon Mojisola Meranda, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Moremi Ojudu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and New Media,  Dr Folayinka Dania, Chief Resilience Officer for Lagos State and CEO of the Lagos State Resilience Office, Princess Sarah Sosan, Former Deputy Governor of Lagos Sate and others whose presence is expected to bring strong perspectives on governance, inclusion, and purposeful leadership. Furthermore, panelists will offer critical insights into grassroots connection, deepen discussions around adaptability, systems thinking, sustainable leadership in uncertain environments. Citizen engagement, and the power of community-driven change.

Collectively, these speakers will not only share success stories; rather, they will unpack the realities behind those successes, moments of doubt, setbacks, recalibration, and eventual triumph. Consequently, attendees will engage with narratives that are honest, unfiltered, and deeply human, thereby reinforcing the summit’s core philosophy, which is, that imperfection, when embraced, becomes a powerful driver of growth.

Moreover, the 2026 edition introduces a sharpened thematic focus centred on courage over comfort, consistency over perfection, and action over Fear. Through this lens, the summit will actively encourage participants to move beyond passive inspiration and instead adopt deliberate, actionable mindsets capable of reshaping both personal and professional trajectories.

Attendance remains open to the public and notably, participation is free.

Interested individuals are encouraged to register via the official links:

[https://luma.com/5r5s19u9](https://luma.com/5r5s19u9)

About Imperfectly Awesome Conversations

Imperfectly Awesome Conversations is a purpose-driven platform inspired by Dr. Omotola Bamigbaiye’s work and philosophy. It is dedicated to fostering authenticity, resilience, and personal transformation by creating spaces where people can share their journeys, embrace their stories, and realize their inherent worth.

IAC 4.0 is deliberately designed to:

* Amplify underrepresented voices and lived experiences often excluded from mainstream narratives

* Promote practical inclusion as an everyday responsibility across workplaces and communities

* Advance mental well-being conversations by normalizing vulnerability and self-acceptance

* Encourage actionable change, equipping attendees to translate insights into personal and professional impact

WEMA BANK CELEBRATES 81ST ANNIVERSARY AND 9TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALAT

…Set to Reward Hundreds of Customers, Launch 5 for 5 Season 5

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous national bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has simultaneously marked its 81st anniversary and the 9th anniversary of ALAT on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026.

Adopting a different approach from its grand 80th anniversary celebration in 2025, Wema Bank is set to celebrate its 81st anniversary this year by giving back to its customers. The Bank’s anniversary celebration features rewards for customers on the ALAT App in celebration of ALAT at 9 as well as rewards for Wema Bank customers at the launch event for the 5th Season of the Bank’s 5 for 5 Reward Initiative, happening on the Bank’s anniversary day, May 2nd 2026.

In line with the Bank’s 81st anniversary theme, “Your Future of Possibilities, Powered by Wema Bank”, the Bank will also rollout a specialised customer success initiative dedicated to helping different demographics of its customers to map out and build the future of their dreams. From businesses to students, working class women, creatives and more, Wema Bank will provide tailored, practical and strategic insights and support that will help these unique demographics access better opportunities, receive useful support and make accelerated progress towards meeting their goals.

Commenting on the Bank’s motive behind its approach to celebrating its 81st anniversary, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said, “The world is rapidly evolving. Digital evolution and emerging technologies continue to present newer opportunities and realities. To thrive, one must be prepared to adapt where needed and ready to leverage the possibilities ahead; and this is what we want to help our customers achieve. With millions of individuals and businesses in our care, we have a deep sense of responsibility towards helping them make meaningful progress and our 81st anniversary presents the perfect opportunity for us to deepen our efforts towards fulfilling that responsibility”.

“We are building a smarter and more secure financial future for our customers, one where banking is effortlessly aligned with their goals, intelligently anticipating their needs and proactively providing the right solutions. Beyond banking solutions, we are curating opportunities, providing platforms, building an entire ecosystem engineered in the best interests of every unique Wema Bank customer. Our goal is for our customers to grow as we grow, to always be one step ahead, and to make accelerated progress towards their future of possibilities as we journey with them”.

“To every stakeholder who has been a part of Wema Bank’s 81-year journey: our investors, regulators, partners, esteemed customers and dearest employees; this anniversary is dedicated to you, and this is why we have chosen to celebrate this way. On behalf of the entire board and management of Wema Bank, I say THANK YOU for 81 historic years. We have, we are, and we will be with you, all the way. Happy 81st Anniversary to us all”, Oseni concluded.

Wema Bank has established a proven track record of empowering lives, supporting businesses and providing tailored solutions that meet real needs. From financial support to digital solutions, unique opportunities and customised service, Wema Bank continues to show that it is a Bank that truly cares, understands and is committed to helping individuals and businesses thrive and achieve their goals.

For more information on how to tap into the rewards curated by Wema Bank, isit wemabank.com