Fidelity Bank Cuts Bad Loans Ratio To 2.4%

Fidelity Bank Plc has reduced its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio to 2.4 per cent from 3.1 per cent, while its eligible capital rose to N532.6bn following a N227.05bn private placement completed in December 2025.

The improvements in the bank’s asset quality and capital position were disclosed at its 38th Annual General Meeting held virtually on Friday, October 9, 2026, where shareholders reviewed the lender’s 2025 financial performance and corporate governance matters.

The bank’s eligible capital of N532.6bn places it above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500bn minimum capital requirement for banks with international authorisation under the ongoing banking sector recapitalisation exercise.

The capital increase followed the private placement, which raised Fidelity Bank’s eligible capital from N305.5bn to N532.6bn, strengthening its capacity to meet regulatory requirements and support its banking operations.

Shareholders at the meeting also drew attention to the bank’s capital adequacy ratio of approximately 16.1 per cent, describing the figure, alongside the improvement in asset quality, as an indication of its financial position.

National Coordinator of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Bisi Bakare said the bank’s NPL ratio, capital adequacy ratio and customer base of 16 million were important indicators of its performance.

According to him, the bank’s financial indicators provide grounds for shareholders to support its board and management.

Another shareholder,Chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association, Boniface Okezie commended the bank for completing its capital-raising exercise and exceeding the regulatory minimum capital threshold for internationally authorised banks.

However, shareholders urged the board and management to sustain the bank’s performance, improve its competitiveness and strengthen returns to investors.

Fidelity Bank’s gross earnings increased by 45.6 per cent to N1.52tn in the 2025 financial year, compared with N1.04tn recorded in 2024.

Fidelity Bank Begins Disbursement Of N5bn Credit Guarantee Facility

Fidelity Bank Begins Disbursement of FGN MSME Intervention Funds

The bank reported a profit before tax of N347.7bn, while profit after tax stood at N242.4bn for the year ended December 31, 2025.

The performance came amid a challenging operating environment characterised by economic pressures and changing conditions in the financial services sector.

Beyond earnings growth, the bank recorded improvements in some of its asset quality indicators, with its NPL ratio declining to 2.4 per cent from 3.1 per cent in the preceding period.

Its loan-loss coverage ratio also increased to 203.9 per cent from 138.4 per cent, indicating a higher level of coverage for non-performing loans.

The bank’s liquidity ratio stood at 66.5 per cent, significantly above the regulatory minimum of 30 per cent, while total equity increased to N1.09tn from N897.9bn.

These indicators featured prominently in the review of the bank’s financial position at the AGM, as shareholders assessed its earnings, capital adequacy, liquidity and risk management.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu, said the board remained focused on building a sustainable institution capable of delivering long-term value.

She said the bank’s strategy was guided by trust, innovation and responsible business practices, with an emphasis on strengthening its capacity to operate in a changing financial services environment.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said the bank would continue to focus on improving customer access to financial services, deepening customer relationships and building institutional resilience.

She added that the bank’s priorities included making financial services more accessible while creating value for shareholders, employees and the communities in which it operates.

Kano Phone Traders Confront Chinese Nationals Over Direct Sales