Zenith Bank Plc recorded a 14% growth in its workforce in 2025 as its staff strength increased from 7,704 in 2024 to 8,773.
The financial institution disclosed these figures in its audited financial report for the year ending December 31, 2025.
According to the report, women account for 56% of the workforce, while men make up the remaining 44%.
The bank’s 2025 gender analysis shows that out of its total workforce, 4,900 employees are female, while 3,873 are male.
Of the 1,069 employees added within the year, 810 were female, and 259 were male, indicating that women accounted for about 76% of new hires.
In comparison, the bank recorded 4,090 female employees and 3,614 male employees in 2024, while in 2023, it had 3,351 female employees and 3,330 male employees, a near-even gender distribution at the time.
Women now make up a larger share (56%) of the workforce compared to 53% in 2024.
The bank’s 2025 financial report shows that the composition of its board remained unchanged, with a total of 14 members comprising 9 males (64%) and 5 females (36%), the same ratio recorded in 2024.
At the top management level, which includes Assistant General Managers to General Managers, the bank reported a significant increase in headcount. The total top management staff rose to 124 in 2025, up from 92 recorded in 2024.
Gender gap at this level remains wide, with men continuing to dominate senior executive roles. Out of the 124 at the top management level, 83 are male, representing 67%, and 41 are female, accounting for 33%.
In 2024, out of a total of 92 executives, 63 were males, and 29 were females.
Top Management (AGM–GM): Increased from 92 in 2024 (63 males, 29 females) to 124 in 2025 (83 males, 41 females), with the gender split largely unchanged at about 67% male and 33% female.
Assistant General Managers: Rose from 47 in 2024 (31 males, 16 females) to 77 in 2025 (49 males, 28 females).
Deputy General Managers: Increased from 21 in 2024 (15 males, 6 females) to 29 in 2025 (20 males, 9 females).
General Managers: Increased from 14 in 2024 (10 males, 4 females) to 18 in 2025 (14 males, 4 females), with female representation declining from 29% to 22%.
Zenith Bank Plc reported a pre-tax profit of N1.26 trillion in 2025, representing a 4.78% decline compared to N1.3 trillion recorded in 2024.
The growth was driven primarily by strong interest income, which rose to N3.6 trillion, supported by loans and advances to customers, contributing N1.8 trillion and treasury bills generating N1.1 trillion.
Additional income came from government and other bonds at N507.9 billion and placements with banks and discount houses at N210 billion.
This was further reinforced by higher earnings from fees and commissions, which increased to N291.8 billion, as well as other operating income of N176.2 billion, largely driven by foreign exchange revaluation gains.
However, these gains were offset by rising costs and losses, as interest expenses increased to N1.03 trillion, while impairment charges climbed to N742.1 billion.
The bank also recorded a trading loss of N63.1 billion, compared to a N1.1 trillion profit in 2024.
