Chairman, Statutory Audit Committee, Wema Bank PLC, Joseph Anosike (left); Company Secretary/General Counsel, Wema Bank PLC, Johnson Lebile; Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank PLC, Dr. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola; MD/CEO, Wema Bank PLC, Moruf Oseni and Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank PLC, Oluwole Ajimisinmi, during the 2025 Wema Bank Annual General Meeting held in Lagos today.
Wema Bank Plc has reported gross earnings of N660.59 billion for the 2025 financial year, as shareholders approved a final dividend of N1.25 per ordinary share at a hybrid yearly general meeting held yesterday.
The bank’s audited results showed gross earnings rose by 52.79 per cent from N432.34 billion recorded in 2024, while profit before tax (PBT) climbed by 116.42 per cent to N221.85 billion, compared with N102.51 billion in the preceding year.
Profit after tax (PAT) also grew by 125.36 per cent to N194.46 billion from N86.29 billion in 2024, underscoring what its management described as one of the strongest performances in the bank’s history.
Total assets rose by 41.48 per cent to N5.072 trillion, while customer deposits increased by 30.34 per cent to N3.289 trillion.
Loans to customers expanded by 44.68 per cent to N1.737 trillion from N1.201 trillion recorded at the end of 2024.
The bank’s earnings per share stood at 712.80 kobo, while its non-performing loan ratio closed the year at 4.9 per cent (lower than the five per cent regulatory threshold), reflecting improvements in asset quality.
Shareholders are expected to receive a total dividend payout of N50.14 billion, based on the bank’s 40.118 billion outstanding shares. The dividend represents a 25 per cent increase over the N1.00 per share distributed for the 2024 financial year.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Board, Dr Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, described 2025 as a defining year for the bank as it marked its 80th anniversary.
“The year 2025 was particularly significant for Wema Bank as we marked our 80th anniversary on May 2, 2025. The milestone provided an opportunity not only to celebrate eight decades of resilience and service but also to reaffirm our commitment to building a future-ready institution,” she said.
Olorunshola noted that despite global economic uncertainties, including persistent inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates and geopolitical tensions, the Nigerian economy showed resilience, with growth remaining above three per cent.
She added that easing inflationary trends and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s gradual policy adjustment toward the end of the year signalled improving macroeconomic stability.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the bank recorded significant progress under its ‘Top Tier in Three (TTT)’ transformation strategy, which is aimed at enlisting the lender among Nigeria’s systemically important banks (SIBs).
According to him, the bank has deepened its digital banking operations, expanded its corporate and commercial banking footprint and strengthened operational efficiency during the year.
Oseni said the successful completion of the bank’s N200 billion capital raise ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2026 recapitalisation deadline marked a major milestone for the institution.
The capital raise comprised a N150 billion Rights Issue and a N50 billion Private Placement.
“Wema Bank fully raised the required capital ahead of the 2026 deadline. This achievement reinforces the confidence of our shareholders and partners and strengthens our balance sheet to support future growth,” he said.
The bank also sustained the expansion of its digital banking operations through its ALAT platform, including the rollout of ALAT Xplore for teenagers and the launch of ALAT 2.0 in January 2026.
