Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s largest lender by Tier-1 capital, has reaffirmed its commitment to meet all conditions required to exit the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory forbearance framework by June 30, 2025.
In a statement to the Nigeria Exchange (NGX) Group, the bank also expressed confidence in satisfying shareholders’ dividend expectations for the 2025 financial year.
The assurance follows a June 13 circular from the CBN, which suspended dividend payments and tightened oversight for banks still under forbearance or in breach of the Single Obligor Limit (SOL).
Regulatory forbearance allows banks to continue operations despite temporarily falling below prescribed capital thresholds, often enabling the restructuring of non-performing loans.
Zenith Bank clarified that its SOL forbearance pertains exclusively to a single obligor and that exposures will be brought within regulatory limits by the end of June. It further disclosed that forbearance on other credit facilities applies to just two customers.
The bank has already made substantial provisions against these exposures and expects full provisioning to be completed by June 30.
Highlighting its robust capital position, Zenith Bank confirmed it has raised and exceeded the CBN’s new minimum capital requirement of ₦500 billion.
“This strong financial footing positions us to continue delivering value to all our stakeholders,” the statement read.
The bank also states its leadership in digital banking, noting a track record of “firsts” in innovative products and alternative channels designed to enhance transaction speed, convenience and security.
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