BREAKING; Zenith Bank H1 2026 pre-tax profit rises 1.9% to N637.6 billion

Zenith Bank Plc reported a modest increase in profit before tax for the half-year ended June 30, 2026, with a 1.9% rise to N637.6 billion compared to N625.6 billion in the same period of 2025. The financial statements, released by the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), highlight that this growth was accompanied by a notable decline in impairment charges, which offset a reversal in foreign exchange trading gains to losses. However, an increased tax liability resulted in profit after tax falling by 19.1% to N430.8 billion.

Separately, the standalone second-quarter pre-tax profit for the same period was N276.68 billion, a significant drop of 23.34% from N360.92 billion in the previous quarter. Despite this decline, the pre-tax profit increased by 0.68% compared to Q2 2025, when it stood at N274.81 billion. The bank's board has proposed an interim dividend of N1.50 per share, an increase from N1.25 paid last year.

Zenith Bank's shares concluded trading at N134.70 on Friday, marking a 1.32% decrease in value. The company's upcoming earnings growth will likely hinge on their performance in lending, fees, and effective cost control measures.