By 
Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s largest financial institution by Tier-1 Capital, has announced its commitment to meet all regulatory requirements necessary to exit the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory forbearance regime by June 30, 2025.
The assurance was issued in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in response to increased regulatory scrutiny following the CBN’s recent directive suspending dividend payouts for banks with unresolved forbearance-related exposures or breaches of the Single Obligor Limit (SOL).
According to the bank, its exposure under the SOL framework relates to a single obligor, and efforts are underway to bring the facility within permissible thresholds on or before the June 2025 deadline.
“Zenith Bank has made significant progress in managing the limited exposures covered under regulatory forbearance. These relate to only two customers, for which appropriate provisions have already been made. We are on track to achieve full provisioning and compliance within the stipulated timeline,” the bank stated.
Strengthening Capital Resilience
Zenith Bank further disclosed that it has surpassed the CBN’s new minimum capital requirement of ₦500 billion, reinforcing its robust capital position and ability to continue delivering strong returns to shareholders.
The bank also reassured stakeholders of its capacity to sustain dividend payments in the 2025 financial year, despite the current regulatory restrictions imposed on a subset of industry players.
Industry Leadership and Digital Innovation
Renowned for its innovation-led banking model, Zenith Bank continues to lead in Nigeria’s digital financial services landscape through the deployment of cutting-edge digital products, customer-centric platforms, and alternative transaction channels that promote convenience, security, and efficiency.
Its consistent performance has earned it both domestic and international recognition. Zenith Bank was recently ranked the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 15th consecutive year in the 2024 edition of The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking.
Additional accolades include:
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Bank of the Year (Nigeria) by The Banker (2020, 2022, 2024)
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Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance (2020–2022, 2024, 2025)
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Best Digital Solutions Bank by Euromoney (2023)
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Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria (2021–2024) by World Finance
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Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria by International Banker (2023, 2024)
Commitment to Corporate Governance and Inclusion
Zenith Bank has also been consistently recognised for excellence in corporate governance, transparency, and social impact, including:
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Best in Corporate Governance (Africa) by Ethical Boardroom (2020–2023)
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Most Responsible Organisation in Africa at the SERAS CSR Awards (2024)
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Best in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, among others.
These distinctions underscore the bank’s commitment to sustainability, stakeholder inclusivity, and adherence to global best practices.
“We remain committed to operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and shareholder value creation,” the bank said.
As Zenith Bank works toward full regulatory alignment, it continues to position itself as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s financial stability and a trusted partner in driving inclusive economic growth.
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