For the fifth time in six years, Zenith Bank Plc has emerged “Best Bank in Nigeria” at the Global Finance Best Banks Awards 2025.
The bank said in a statement that it was among winners from 36 countries in Africa recognised by the Global Finance in its 32nd Annual Best Bank Awards.
“The winners of this year’s awards are those banks that attended carefully to their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success.
Winning organisations managed their assets and liabilities in a savvy way despite the fast-changing interest rate scenarios,” the bank said.
It explained that the editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, as well as analysts worldwide.
Besides, it said the criteria considered in selecting the top banks ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective.
“Objective criteria considered included growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products.
“Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry,” the financial institution added.
Speaking during the award ceremony, the publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, Mr Joseph Giarraputo, said: “Global Finance’s Best Bank Awards honour financial institutions that excel in diversity of offerings, long-term stability, and technological innovation.”
He added: “Global banking continues to adapt and evolve, meeting challenges and capitalising on opportunities with resilience and innovation. AI has quickly taken a pivotal role in the transformation of banking, and its growth promises to reshape the financial sector at an unprecedented pace.”
In her remarks on the award, the group managing director/chief executive of Zenith Bank, Dr. Adaora Umeoji said the financial institution was thrilled to retain the position as the Best Bank in Nigeria for the fifth year since 2020.
“This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer service, innovative financial solutions and dedication to serving our customers with efficiency and a strong focus on corporate governance. We will continue to invest in our people, technology and processes to ensure that we consistently maintain the highest level of service delivery,” she said.
She commended the contributions and efforts of the bank’s key stakeholders for laying the foundation for an enduring and successful institution, the staff for their commitment and dedication and the customers for their unwavering loyalty and support to the Zenith brand.
Global Finance’s “Best Banks Awards” are recognised among the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in 150 countries and territories across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Zenith Bank has won many awards including being the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the fifteenth consecutive year in the 2024, Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024, Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024 in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards, Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023, and was listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
Other awards include Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024; Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics.
