Zenith, GTCO earn N283 billion from account maintenance, digital banking fees in 2025
Nigeria’s tier-one lenders, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, recorded a combined N283.7 billion in income from account maintenance and electronic banking charges in 2025.
Nigeria’s tier-one lenders, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, recorded a combined N283.7 billion in income from account maintenance and electronic banking charges in 2025.
This is according to the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, which the Tier 1 lenders filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The earnings highlight how banks are increasingly monetising digital channels amid rising transaction volumes, driven by mobile banking, USSD services, card payments, and online transfers.
As customer behaviour shifts away from physical banking halls, fee-based income has become a critical buffer against interest rate volatility.
Account maintenance charges—primarily applied to current accounts—alongside e-business income such as ATM withdrawals and transfer fees, continue to provide steady, recurring revenue, reinforcing the banks’ profitability in a high-inflation, technology-driven operating environment.
Combined, both banks earned N129.87 billion from account maintenance and N153.85 billion from e-business transactions, bringing total fee-based income from these segments to N283.7 billion—an indication of how digital banking has evolved into a major revenue driver.
The strong growth in fee income reflects deeper financial inclusion and increased reliance on digital banking platforms across Nigeria, as customers adopt faster and more convenient payment channels.
The group’s management has emphasized earnings sustainability, with improved asset quality, stronger capital buffers, and disciplined execution supporting long-term growth.
Despite being affected by CBN’s forbearance directive in the first half of 2025, both the tier-one lenders reported impressive financial results and went ahead to pay surprising amounts of dividends to their shareholders.
Both banks’ 2025 performances reinforce their dominance in Nigeria’s banking sector, with diversified income streams—spanning interest earnings and digital fees—positioning them to navigate regulatory changes and macroeconomic pressures effectively.
