Zenith Bank Emerges as ‘Bank of the Year, Nigeria’ at The Banker’s Awards 2024
Zenith Bank Plc has been honoured as the ‘Bank of the Year, Nigeria’ at The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2024, a prestigious ceremony hosted by The Banker magazine, part of the Financial Times Group, in London on December 4, 2024.
The recognition celebrates Zenith Bank’s robust management, strategic business model, and innovative approach to sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) banking practices. This award, one of the most esteemed in the global banking sector, is fiercely contested by leading financial institutions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
Speaking on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, expressed gratitude:
“We are delighted and honoured to have been recognised as the Bank of the Year, Nigeria in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2024. This award is a testament to the unwavering trust and loyalty of our esteemed customers, the unparalleled leadership of the Board and Management, and the hard work and dedication of our staff. It underscores our commitment to delivering excellent services to our customers and contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.”
She further acknowledged the visionary leadership of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for laying the foundation of Zenith Bank as a globally recognised financial institution known for innovation, superior performance, and premium value creation for stakeholders.
The award builds on Zenith Bank’s longstanding reputation for excellence. In November 2024, the bank marked a milestone by inaugurating its Paris Branch following regulatory approval from France’s banking authority, the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR). This expansion reflects the bank’s global strategy to support clients worldwide.
Zenith Bank has consistently earned numerous accolades, including being ranked the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the fifteenth consecutive year in The Banker’s 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking.
Previous awards include Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in 2020 and 2022, and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards.
Other recent recognitions include:
Best Bank in Nigeria (2020–2024) – Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards
Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria (2021–2024) – World Finance Banking Awards
Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria (2022–2024) – World Finance Corporate Governance Awards
Best in Corporate Governance Financial Services, Africa (2020–2023) – Ethical Boardroom
Zenith Bank was also named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria by The Banker Magazine in 2020 and 2021 and has won multiple local awards such as Bank of the Year (2021) by Champion Newspaper, and Bank of the Year (2022) by New Telegraph Newspaper.
Dame Umeoji reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s commitment to leveraging innovative technologies, expanding its product offerings, and maintaining exceptional customer service to reinforce its position as Nigeria’s leading bank.
With a track record of operational excellence and a steadfast focus on sustainability, Zenith Bank Plc continues to set benchmarks in Nigeria and beyond, solidifying its place as a beacon of innovation and resilience in the banking industry.
