Fidelity Bank Plc has announced a strong financial performance for the 2025 financial year, recording a 45 per cent increase in gross earnings as shareholders’ funds crossed the N1 trillion mark for the first time.
According to the bank’s audited financial statements submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, gross earnings rose to N1.5 trillion in 2025 from N1.04 trillion recorded in 2024. The impressive growth was supported by stronger lending activities, higher interest income, increased digital banking transactions, and fresh capital injection.
The bank’s net interest income also increased significantly to N831.3 billion, compared to N629.7 billion in the previous year. This reflected the bank’s ability to earn more from loans and other interest-generating assets despite the challenging economic environment and high interest rate regime.
Interest income generated through effective interest rates climbed by 38.7 per cent to N1.11 trillion, while other interest-related income also improved during the year.
Fidelity Bank further recorded a major reduction in credit loss expenses, which dropped from N56.44 billion in 2024 to N21.61 billion in 2025. This indicates improvement in loan quality and lower bad debt exposure.
The lender also posted strong growth in non-interest income. Fee and commission income rose by 44.7 per cent to N113.36 billion. The growth was driven by increased earnings from ATM charges, electronic banking transactions, account maintenance fees, foreign trade commissions, and letters of credit.
Foreign exchange-related income also contributed heavily to the bank’s earnings growth. Foreign currency revaluation gains surged sharply to N99.58 billion from N11.72 billion recorded in 2024. Other operating income also more than doubled during the period.
Fidelity Bank expanded its investments in securities and fixed-income instruments as part of efforts to strengthen returns and liquidity. Debt instruments measured at fair value rose significantly, while investment assets held at amortised cost also increased strongly.
The bank’s total assets grew by 18.6 per cent to N10.46 trillion, compared to N8.82 trillion in 2024. Customer deposits equally increased by 16.1 per cent to N6.89 trillion, showing continued confidence from customers and businesses.
Cash and cash equivalents rose sharply to N1.32 trillion, reflecting stronger liquidity levels. Investments in property, equipment, and technology infrastructure also recorded major growth, highlighting the bank’s continued focus on operational expansion and digital transformation.
During the year, the bank reduced its external borrowings, with debts and borrowed funds declining to N888.95 billion from N929.60 billion.
A major highlight of the financial year was the successful completion of a private placement exercise in December 2025. Fidelity Bank issued 12.9 billion ordinary shares and raised about N259 billion in fresh capital after receiving approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The exercise increased the bank’s total issued shares from 50.2 billion units to 63.17 billion units and pushed shareholders’ funds above N1 trillion.
The fresh capital also raised the bank’s eligible capital to N532.6 billion, exceeding the Central Bank’s N500 billion minimum requirement for banks with international banking licences.
With the stronger capital base, Fidelity Bank is expected to improve its ability to finance larger transactions, expand lending operations, and strengthen its regional and international banking ambitions in the coming years.
