Business
Zenith Bank Sustains Market Leadership with 189% Growth in Q1 Earnings

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2024, with an impressive triple-digit growth of 189% in Gross Earnings, from ₦270 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦781 billion in Q1 2024. 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 Friday, 3rd May 2024, this impressive growth in the topline also enhanced the bottom line, as profit before tax (PBT) rose to ₦320 billion in Q1 2024, representing an increase of 270% from the ₦87 billion reported in Q1 2023. Profit after tax (PAT) equally grew significantly by 291% from the ₦66 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦258 billion in the current period.
Interest and non-interest income contributed significantly to the growth in gross earnings. Interest income grew by 155% from the ₦192billion reported in the quarter ended March 2023 to ₦489 billion in the period to 31 March2024. The growth in interest income is due to the repricing of risk assets, owing to the increase in the central bank’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which currently stands at 24.75%.The growth in net interest income is primarily due to the increase in fees and commissions as well as trading grains.
The Group reported an impairment charge of ₦56 billion for Q1 2024, up from ₦8 billion recorded in Q1 2023. This is attributable to significant growth in risk assets, primarily driven by the revaluation of its USD loans, which necessitated additional impairment on the bank’s foreign currency-denominated loans.
The cost of funds grew by 48% from 2.7% in Q1 2023 to 4% in Q1 2024 due to the high-interest rate environment, while interest expense increased by 157% from ₦71 billion reported inQ1 2023 to ₦182 billion in the period to March 2024. Notwithstanding the year-on-year(YoY) increase in interest expense, net interest margin (NIM) grew by 20% from 6.9% in the3 months ended March 2023 to 8.3% in the current period ending 31 March 2024. Return on Average Equity (ROAE) and Return on Average Assets (ROAA) increased year-on-year (YoY) by 114% and 119%, respectively, due to improved profitability.
Gross loans, which are largely funded by customer deposits, grew by 30% from ₦7.1 trillion in December 2023 to ₦9.2 trillion in March 2024. Customer deposits also grew by 11%from ₦15.2 trillion in December 2023 to ₦16.8 trillion in March 2024, underpinning continued customer confidence in the Zenith brand. Total assets increased by 19% to ₦24 trillion within the same period.
The Group has consistently maintained all prudential ratios well above the minimum regulatory requirement. At the end of Q1 2024,Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) andLiquidity Ratio stood at 20% and 67%, respectively, demonstrating the Group’s ability to maintain a strong and liquid balance sheet.
The Group is making progress on the planned capital raise to support future growth and is very optimistic about meeting the new minimum capital requirements in line with the CBN’s recapitalisation directive. As the Group accelerates migration to its new technology architecture and alsotransitions into a holding company, it remains poised to maximise value for all stakeholders.
Business
Naira Gains over Dollar for Three Straight Days in Parallel FX Market

The Naira recorded three consecutive days of appreciation against the dollar in the parallel foreign exchange market, ending the week on a high note on Friday.
According to Abubakar Alhasan, a Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, the Naira strengthened to N1,565 per dollar on Friday, up from N1,570 on Thursday.
On a day-to-day basis, the Naira gained N5 against the dollar compared to the N1,570 traded on Thursday.
In the last three days, the Naira has gained N15 against the dollar in the black market.
In contrast, in the official market, the Naira continued to depreciate as of Thursday, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The apex bank’s exchange rate data showed that the Naira fell to N1,507.88 per dollar on Thursday from N1,504.30 on Wednesday.
Overall, exchange rate movements across FX markets showed that the Naira ended the week with mixed sentiments of losses and gains against other foreign currencies.
Business
MoneyMaster Enriches Service Delivery with New Agency Software

Payment service bank, MoneyMaster PSB, has announced the integration of a new agent banking software with powerful and secured features to enhance its agency banking offerings and encourage financial inclusion.
The new agency banking software extensively supports a variety of agency banking services, such as paying bills, instantly reversing unsuccessful transactions, paying for lottery and betting, checking customers’ balances, linking cards to point-of-sale systems, and retrieving transaction histories from other channels.
The basic banking platform of MMPSB has been connected with the new software to enhance the experience of agents, clients, and other value chain stakeholders in their daily transactions.
The bank disclosed that the new software was implemented “to provide a seamless banking experience to customers using our POS terminals across the country. Customers can now enjoy a wide range of banking transactions from a single point while improving revenue streams for Agents.
MoneyMaster has now joined the league of leading financial institutions with state-of-the-art technology for POS terminal operations thanks to the implementation of the new software. The bank was among the first to promote USSD banking among the financially excluded population after obtaining its payment service banking license. Later on, it added internet and mobile banking apps to its list of banking channels.
In addition to supporting customers with creative, customer-focused solutions to improve their banking experience, Moneymaster PSB is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion among the unbanked and underbanked population. Because of the smooth payments made on its point-of-sale terminals. the Lagos State government last year chose MoneyMaster as a payment partner for the Ounje Eko food discount store in order to collect payments on its market days.
Business
CBN Reviews ATM Fees, Imposes N100-600 Charges for N20k Withdrawal

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a withdrawal charge of between N100 and N600 for every N20,000 worth of interbank ATM withdrawals.
The new policy eliminates the three free monthly withdrawals that customers enjoy on interbank ATM withdrawals.
According to a CBN circular, FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/001/002 with title, ‘Review of Automated Teller Machine Transaction Fee,’ dated February 10, 2025, the new fees would take effect March 1, 2025.
The apex bank said: “In response to rising costs and the need to improve the efficiency of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the ATM transaction fees prescribed in Section 10.7 of the extant CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2020 (the Guide)”.
The CBN said customers withdrawing at the ATM of their financial institution in Nigeria would not be charged.
“Withdrawal from another institution’s ATM in Nigeria (Not-On-Us): On-site ATMs (within bank premises): A fee of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal will apply,” the apex bank further directed.
For Off-site ATMs (outside bank premises), the apex bank said a charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 for every N20,000 withdrawal would be applicable.
It said that international withdrawals would be based on the exact amount imposed by the international acquirer.
The CBN added: “This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service.
“Accordingly, banks and other financial institutions are advised to apply the following fees with effect from March 1, 2025.”