Zenith Bank Plc recorded a 14% increase in its workforce in 2025, with total staff strength rising from 7,704 in 2024 to 8,773, according to its audited financial report for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The report highlights a strong female presence across the organisation, with women accounting for 56% of the workforce, while men make up 44%. Out of the total employees, 4,900 are female and 3,873 are male.
Notably, women dominated new hires during the year, representing about 76% of the 1,069 employees added. Of this number, 810 were female, while 259 were male, reflecting the bank’s growing gender inclusion at entry and mid levels.
This marks a steady increase from previous years. In 2024, the bank had 4,090 female employees and 3,614 male employees, while in 2023, the figures were nearly equal, with 3,351 females and 3,330 males.
Despite this progress, the gender gap remains evident at the senior level. The bank’s top management staff, comprising Assistant General Managers to General Managers, increased significantly from 92 in 2024 to 124 in 2025. However, men continue to dominate these roles, accounting for 67% (83 executives), while women make up 33% (41 executives).
A breakdown of top management shows:
Assistant General Managers rose from 47 to 77, with male representation still leading.
Deputy General Managers increased from 21 to 29.
General Managers grew from 14 to 18, though female representation dropped from 29% to 22%.
Meanwhile, the composition of the bank’s board remained unchanged, with 14 members – 9 males (64%) and 5 females (36%).
Financially, the bank posted a pre-tax profit of N1.26 trillion in 2025, representing a 4.78% decline from N1.3 trillion recorded in 2024. The performance was driven largely by strong interest income, which rose to N3.6 trillion.
Key contributors included loans and advances to customers, treasury bills, government bonds, and placements with financial institutions. Additional support came from increased fees and commissions, as well as other operating income boosted by foreign exchange revaluation gains.
However, rising costs weighed on performance. Interest expenses climbed to N1.03 trillion, while impairment charges surged to N742.1 billion. The bank also recorded a trading loss of N63.1 billion, a sharp contrast to the N1.1 trillion trading profit reported in 2024.
Overall, while Zenith Bank Plc achieved workforce expansion and improved gender representation, its 2025 financial performance reflects the impact of increased operational costs and market pressures.
