Fidelity Bank Grows Gross Earnings By 45% Amid N1trn Shareholders’ Funds

Fidelity Bank Plc has reported a 45 per cent increase in gross earnings for the 2025 financial year, as the lender’s shareholders’ funds crossed the N1 trillion mark, driven by sustained balance sheet expansion and a fresh capital injection.

Analysis from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, reveals that the bank delivered robust results across key financial metrics, including Gross Earnings, which stood at N1.5 trillion, up from N1,04 trillion reported in 2024.

Net Interest Income rose to N831.3 billion, compared to N629.7 billion in 2024, reflecting the bank’s stronger earnings capacity amid elevated interest rates and growth in interest-earning assets.

Interest and similar income calculated using the effective interest rate rose by 38.7 per cent to N1.11 trillion in 2025 from N803.05 billion in 2024, while other interest and similar income increased by 25.1 per cent to N184.51 billion.

Net interest income after credit loss also rose significantly by 41.2 per cent to N809.74 billion from N573.33 billion. The bank also recorded an improvement in asset quality costs, as credit loss expense moderated to N21.61 billion from N56.44 billion, representing a 61.7 per cent improvement year-on-year.

Fidelity Bank continued to expand its digital banking footprint, enhance customer experience, and support key sectors of the economy. Non-interest revenue performance remained strong during the period, with fee and commission income increasing by 44.7 per cent to N113.36 billion from N78.36 billion. This was driven by letters of credit commissions and fees (N12.5 billion), ATM charges (N11.6 billion), commission on travellers’ cheques and foreign bills (N8.9 billion), accounts maintenance charges (N7.13 billion), and commission on E-banking activities (N2.2 billion).

The lender’s total assets grew by 18.6 per cent to N10.46 trillion from N8.82 trillion, driven by growth in liquid assets and investment securities. Customer deposits rose by 16.1 per cent to N6.89 trillion from N5.94 trillion, reflecting sustained customer confidence and expansion in the bank’s funding base.

Fidelity Bank also strengthened its capital position during the year as total equity increased by 21.1 per cent to N1.09 trillion from N897.87 billion, pushing shareholders’ funds above the N1 trillion mark, reinforcing the lender’s capacity to support larger transactions, absorb shocks, and expand its regional and international banking ambitions.

The bank disclosed that it completed a private placement of 12.9 billion ordinary shares in December 2025, raising fresh capital that increased eligible capital to N532.6 billion, above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum requirements of N500 billion for banks with international authorisation.

The exercise increased total issued shares from 50.2 billion units to 63.17 billion units, significantly boosting shareholders’ funds beyond the N1 trillion threshold.

The stronger capital base is expected to improve the lender’s capacity to finance larger transactions, expand lending activities, and support future regional growth opportunities.