Zenith Bank Plc has announced a significant expansion of its operations and workforce, with its staff strength increasing by 14% in 2025. The bank's audited financial report for the year ending December 31, 2025, revealed that its workforce grew from 7,704 in 2024 to 8,773 employees.
The report also highlighted a notable increase in female representation among new hires. Out of the 1,069 employees added during the year, 810 were women, constituting approximately 76% of the new workforce. Overall, women now make up 56% of Zenith Bank's total staff, an increase from 53% in 2024.
In parallel with its internal growth, Zenith Bank has also been actively pursuing strategic acquisitions. The bank confirmed the completion of its acquisition of Paramount Bank in Kenya, a move that marks a significant step in its pan-African expansion strategy. This acquisition makes Zenith Bank the fourth Nigerian bank to establish operations in Kenya, joining United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), and Access Bank.
The acquisition of Paramount Bank, which involved acquiring 100% of its issued share capital, received all necessary regulatory approvals from both Nigerian and Kenyan authorities. The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) had approved the deal in January 2026, with a condition that Zenith Bank retain all 78 employees of Paramount Bank for at least 12 months. The CAK noted that the acquisition posed no risks to market competition as Zenith Bank had no prior operations in Kenya.
Zenith Bank Ghana has also demonstrated strong financial performance. The subsidiary reported a pretax profit of N193.3 billion in 2025, a substantial increase from N82.2 billion in the previous year. This growth was driven by a surge in operating income, which rose to N483.5 billion from N247 billion. After accounting for expenses and impairments, the pretax profit stood at N193.3 billion, with profit after tax reaching N118.8 billion, contributing 11.42% to the group's total earnings.
The Ghanaian subsidiary's balance sheet also showed robust growth in customer deposits, which climbed to N2.8 trillion in 2025, representing 11.9% of the group's N24.3 trillion in deposits. This is a significant rise from N1.6 trillion in the prior year. Key asset classes also saw substantial increases, with cash and cash equivalents at N1 trillion and loans and advances to customers growing to N993.5 billion.
In terms of fee and commission income, Zenith Bank earned N291.8 billion in the 2025 financial year. The bank reported total fees and commissions of N405.8 billion, with N114 billion spent in generating this income. Major contributors to this income included account maintenance fees (N91.9 billion), fees on electronic products (N89.1 billion), and foreign currency transaction fees and commissions (N29.4 billion).
Despite a slight dip in its overall group pretax profit to N1.26 trillion (down 4.78% from the previous year), Zenith Bank's financial results for 2025 indicate a strategic focus on expansion and a diversified income stream. The bank's commitment to growth across Africa, coupled with its strong performance in key subsidiaries and continued revenue generation from fees and commissions, positions it for sustained development in the region.
