Zenith Bank Plc has told shareholders that its dividend freeze is only temporary, following a new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that suspends dividend payments, executive bonuses, and fresh foreign investments for banks still under regulatory forbearance.
In a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange on June 17, Zenith Bank explained that it has already surpassed the CBN’s new capital requirement of N500 billion. The bank clarified that its forbearance status is tied to just one major customer, and it expects to resolve this issue by June 30, 2025.
The CBN directive, issued June 13, aims to strengthen the financial system by phasing out pandemic-era leniency measures. This move has sparked concerns among investors, as several top banks, including Zenith, FirstBank, and Access, have seen their dividend payments halted until they clear outstanding regulatory issues.
Zenith Bank emphasized that it has made substantial provisions for the affected loans and expects to exit all CBN forbearance arrangements by the end of the first half of 2025. “We remain confident that the Bank will satisfy all relevant conditions to enable it to pay dividends to shareholders in the current year,” the statement read.
The bank’s swift communication is seen as an attempt to calm investor nerves, as the new rules have already impacted banking stocks on the Nigerian Exchange.
For now, Zenith Bank says it is on track to resume dividend payments later in 2025, provided it meets all CBN conditions and receives regulatory clearance.
Paystack launches new holding company
January 21, 2026
