Zenith Bank Plc has once again demonstrated its dominance in the African banking industry, emerging as “Africa’s Best Bank” and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.
The awards, presented on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at The Peninsula London Hotel, United Kingdom, saw Zenith Bank secure the coveted Nigerian title for the second consecutive year, while also claiming the top continental banking honour.
The dual recognition underscores the Bank’s sustained excellence in financial performance, customer service, digital innovation, sound risk management and its contribution to economic development across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are among the most respected honours in the global financial industry. Banks are assessed on key parameters including strategy, profitability, risk management, digital transformation and stakeholder impact. This year’s edition attracted more than 770 entries from leading global financial institutions, including HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays, Standard Bank and DBS Bank of Singapore.
Reacting to the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the awards as a significant honour and a reflection of the confidence reposed in the Bank by its customers and stakeholders.
“We are deeply honoured by these recognitions from Euromoney. Being recognised as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our unicorn workforce, and our unwavering commitment to building a truly African global financial institution. These awards inspire us to do even more to deliver superior value, drive financial inclusion, and support the growth of businesses across Africa,” she said.
The GMD also commended regulators across the jurisdictions where Zenith Bank operates for providing an enabling regulatory environment that has contributed to the Bank’s continued growth and success.
She dedicated the awards to the Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, acknowledging his vision, leadership and commitment to excellence, which she said have remained instrumental to the Bank’s remarkable achievements.
Zenith Bank has continued to record strong financial performance while accelerating investments in technology, artificial intelligence and digital banking solutions. In the 2025 financial year, the Bank grew gross earnings by six per cent year-on-year to ₦4.19 trillion and recorded a profit after tax of ₦1.04 trillion. It also reduced its non-performing loan ratio from 4.7 per cent to 3.8 per cent.
In line with its dividend policy, the Bank rewarded shareholders with a record total dividend of ₦10.00 per share, amounting to ₦410.69 billion for the 2025 financial year—representing a 100 per cent increase over the ₦5.00 per share paid in 2024.
The Bank has also continued to strengthen its pan-African presence while expanding its trade and transaction banking capabilities to connect businesses across key markets.
The latest Euromoney recognition adds to Zenith Bank’s growing list of local and international accolades. In 2026, the Bank was recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 17th consecutive year in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks Ranking. It also won “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025.
Zenith Bank has previously been named Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards in 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards in 2020–2022, 2024 and 2025; and Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria at the Euromoney Awards 2023.
The Bank has also been recognised as Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for six consecutive years from 2021 to 2026 at the World Finance Banking Awards, and as Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria at the International Banker Banking Awards in 2023, 2024 and 2026.
Further recognition includes Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, at the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026, as well as Best in Corporate Governance—Financial Services, Africa, by Ethical Boardroom for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023.
Zenith Bank was also named Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands in 2020 and 2021, and won Bank of the Year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards from 2023 to 2025.
Other notable honours include Retail Bank of the Year, Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay and New Telegraph newspapers, and Best in MSME Trade Finance 2023 by Nairametrics.
The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was also adjudged Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
Beyond financial performance, Zenith Bank has received several non-financial recognitions, including 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.
The latest Euromoney honours further reinforce Zenith Bank’s position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions and a major force in shaping the continent’s banking and economic development landscape.