Bukola Afeni
Zenith Bank Plc has once again recognized as a leader in Nigeria’s financial services sector, having been named the “Best Bank in Nigeria” in the Global Finance Best Banks Awards 2025.
The Bank was among the winners from 36 African countries honored by Global Finance in its prestigious 32nd Annual Best Bank Awards.
In her reaction to the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, expressed gratitude and pride in the bank’s continued recognition.
“We are thrilled to retain our 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,” she stated.
Dr. Umeoji also acknowledged the vital roles played by the bank’s stakeholders, crediting the visionary leadership of the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, the guidance of the Board, the dedication of staff, and the loyalty of the bank’s customers.
The publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, Joseph D. Giarraputo noted that banking globally is undergoing rapid transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a pivotal role.
“Global banking continues to adapt and evolve, meeting challenges and capitalizing 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,” he said.
He added that Global Finance’s awards honor institutions that demonstrate excellence in innovation, long-term stability, and service delivery.
The banks recognized this year were those that effectively responded to their customers’ needs in challenging market conditions ; while achieving solid performance and building strong foundations for long-term growth.
“The institutions demonstrated skillful management of assets and liabilities amid rapidly shifting interest rate environments.
“The winners were chosen by the editors of Global Finance following in-depth consultations with corporate finance executives, bankers, banking consultants, and analysts from around the world.”
The selection process combined both objective and subjective criteria. Objective factors included asset growth, profitability, geographic expansion, strategic partnerships, new business development, and product innovation. Subjective assessments were drawn from the insights of equity and credit analysts, industry consultants, and other financial professionals.
Zenith Bank’s consistent high performance has earned it numerous accolades over the years.
These include being ranked as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the fifteenth consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking by The Banker Magazine, and being named Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
