Fidelity Bank Posts 45% Gross Earnings Growth, Shareholders’ Funds Exceed N1 Trillion
Abayomi Susan
Fidelity Bank Plc has reported a 45 per cent increase in gross earnings for the 2025 financial year, with shareholders’ funds surpassing the N1 trillion mark following sustained balance sheet growth and fresh capital injection.
Analysis of the bank’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, showed strong performance across major financial indicators. Gross earnings rose to N1.5 trillion from N1.04 trillion recorded in 2024.
Net interest income climbed to N831.3 billion, up from N629.7 billion in the previous year, underscoring the bank’s stronger earnings capacity amid high interest rates and expansion in interest-earning assets.
Interest and similar income calculated using the effective interest rate increased by 38.7 per cent to N1.11 trillion in 2025 from N803.05 billion in 2024, while other interest and similar income rose by 25.1 per cent to N184.51 billion.
Net interest income after credit losses also improved significantly, rising by 41.2 per cent to N809.74 billion from N573.33 billion. Credit loss expense moderated sharply to N21.61 billion from N56.44 billion, representing a 61.7 per cent year-on-year improvement in asset quality costs.
The bank continued to deepen its digital banking operations, enhance customer experience, and support critical sectors of the economy. Non-interest revenue remained strong during the period, with fee and commission income growing by 44.7 per cent to N113.36 billion from N78.36 billion. The growth was driven by higher earnings from letters of credit commissions and fees (N12.5 billion), ATM charges (N11.6 billion), commissions on travellers’ cheques and foreign bills (N8.9 billion), account maintenance charges (N7.13 billion), and e-banking commissions (N2.2 billion).
Other operating income rose by 200.5 per cent to N8.24 billion, while foreign currency revaluation gains surged by 749.9 per cent to N99.58 billion from N11.72 billion in 2024.
The bank’s investment portfolio also recorded significant growth during the year, reflecting stronger positioning in fixed income and securities markets. Debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) rose by 199 per cent to N557.78 billion from N186.57 billion, while debt instruments at amortised cost increased by 27.2 per cent to N1.97 trillion from N1.55 trillion. Equity instruments at FVOCI also grew by 26.2 per cent to N87.85 billion.
Gains from financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) increased by 280.7 per cent to N2.75 billion, while the bank also recorded a fresh gain of N988 million from derecognition activities during the year.
On the balance sheet side, cash and cash equivalents surged by 87 per cent to N1.32 trillion from N707.45 billion, reflecting stronger liquidity buffers. Restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria also increased to N1.65 trillion from N1.59 trillion.
Other assets rose by 76.4 per cent to N278.89 billion, while investment in property, plant and equipment increased by 161.6 per cent to N203.72 billion. Intangible assets climbed by 147.5 per cent to N50.44 billion, highlighting continued investment in technology and operational infrastructure. Deferred tax assets also rose significantly to N33.10 billion from N5.31 billion.
The bank further reduced debts issued and other borrowed funds to N888.95 billion from N929.60 billion, indicating lower dependence on external borrowings. Deferred tax liabilities also declined from N727 million in 2024 to zero in 2025.
Total assets expanded 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 growth in the lender’s funding base.
The bank also strengthened its capital position, with total equity increasing by 21.1 per cent to N1.09 trillion from N897.87 billion, pushing shareholders’ funds above the N1 trillion threshold. This is expected to reinforce the lender’s capacity to support larger transactions, absorb shocks, and drive regional and international expansion plans.
The lender disclosed that it completed a private placement of 12.9 billion ordinary shares in December 2025, raising fresh capital that lifted eligible capital to N532.6 billion, above the minimum requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria 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 mark.
The stronger capital base is expected to enhance the bank’s capacity to finance larger transactions, expand lending activities, and pursue future regional growth opportunities.
