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Investors Dump Diamond Bank Shares amid Fears over Company’s Future

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

In order not to be caught unawares, some investors having shares of Diamond Bank Plc in their portfolio are beginning to offload them as a result of uncertainty over the financial institution’s future.

In recent times, Diamond Bank has not been churning out good results, a development Business Post gathered has given some shareholders of the mid-tier lender sleepless nights.

For example, the 2017 full year financial statements of Diamond Bank was nothing to write home about and just when some observers and investors thought things would get better in the first quarter of 2018, their expectations were cut short as the firm further failed to impress.

In its second quarter 2018 results, things did not get any better and so also in the third quarter.

In late September 2018, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank Plc, making shareholders of the lender lose their hard-earned money. This development triggered panic in the banking sector, especially among those in the same tier with Skye Bank, which the bank in focus is among.

Making matter worse for Diamond Bank was the downgrading of firm’s long and short-term issuer credit ratings by S&P as well as the recent reports of a possible acquisition of the company by a tier-1 bank, Access Bank Plc, though both have since denied this.

But what seemed to be more confusing was the resignation of Chairman of the bank, Mr Oluseyi Bickersteth, and three other directors last month, which reports said was to allow the rumoured new investors have their own representatives on the board of the firm.

Even Mr Bickersteth was quoted as saying in an interview that the board considered selling Diamond Bank to another bank, which the present management has described as untrue.

However, in order not to fall into a similar situation with Skye Bank, shareholders of Diamond Bank are already selling off their holdings, Business Post has learnt.

According to data from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), trading in Diamond Bank Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc, and FBN Holdings Plc, (measured by volume) accounted for 708 million shares worth N1.8 billion in 1,957 deals, contributing 55.11 percent and 15.23 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively last week.

Also, Diamond Bank, which opened last week at N1.28k per share, closed last Friday at 90 Kobo per share, indicating as 29.69 percent loss in one trading week.

But despite the troubles, the CEO of Diamond Bank, Mr Uzoma Dozie, has expressed optimism that all will be well.

According to him, the conclusion of the sale of Diamond Bank’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom this quarter and other strategies being put in place should propel the company back to profitability.

“As we move into the final quarter of the year, we expect headwinds to continue driven by emerging situations in developed economies as well as our domestic political realities.

“Despite this, our investors can expect a further decline in Non-Performing Loans (NPLs), a further increase in our digital footprint and completion of the sale of the UK subsidiary.

“Through these actions, we remain optimistic about the medium to long term outlook of Diamond Bank and its return to strong profitability,” Mr Dozie was quoted as saying in a statement issued last week by bank’s PR agency, Prize Communications Limited, which was obtained by Business Post.

Whether investors will take Mr Dozie for his words is one thing many cannot answer at the moment especially when some have blamed him for the bank’s recent misfortunes. In fact, some have even started to call for his removal as Diamond Bank MD/CEO.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Banking

VeendHQ Recoups N69m Overdue Loans Via Vida AI

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VeendHQ Vida AI

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered credit platform designed by VeendHQ, Vida AI, has been used to recoup about N69 million from a N172.5 million portfolio of loans that were more than 90 days overdue.

This feat was achieved through the platform in a pilot that highlights the growing role of technology in loan recovery and portfolio management.

VeendHQ disclosed that the pilot delivered a 40 per cent recovery rate on the overdue loan portfolio, boasting that this significantly outperformed traditional recovery benchmarks, where a 5 per cent recovery rate on a similar loan book would amount to about N8.6 million.

This achievement comes at a time when lenders are under increasing pressure to improve recovery outcomes while managing the cost, reputational risk, and operational burden associated with overdue loans.

For many credit providers, the challenge is no longer only how quickly loans can be approved, but how effectively repayment can be monitored and delinquent loans can be recovered after disbursement.

VeendHQ said the pilot demonstrates how Vida AI can support lenders beyond credit assessment, extending into repayment monitoring, collections, and recovery.

“Credit access is only one side of lending. The bigger challenge for many lenders is what happens after disbursement.

“Vida AI helps lenders make smarter decisions across the credit lifecycle, from approval to repayment and recovery,” the chief executive of VeendHQ, Mr Olufemi Olanipekun, stated.

VeendHQ said Vida AI’s recovery workflow enables lenders to upload overdue loan records, verify borrower information, assess repayment capacity, and trigger automated recovery actions. This gives lenders better visibility after disbursement and allows recovery teams to prioritise overdue portfolios more effectively.

“If lenders cannot recover efficiently, they become more conservative with lending. That affects consumers, small businesses, and the wider credit market. Better recovery infrastructure gives lenders more confidence to lend, manage risk, and keep credit flowing,” Mr Olanipekun added.

VeendHQ, a Nigerian fintech company building digital credit infrastructure, developed Vida AI as an AI -powered platform for lenders, merchants, and financial institutions. The platform supports credit assessment, identity verification, repayment collections, and loan management workflows.

With the recovery pilot, the company is positioning Vida AI beyond loan origination, as a tool for lenders seeking to improve repayment performance and manage overdue portfolios more efficiently.

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Banking

273 Wema Bank Customers Win N17.96m in 5 for 5 Rewards Promo

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wema bank SPV Bond

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The sum of N17.97 million has been won by at least 273 customers of Wema Bank Plc through its 5 for 5 Rewards campaign launched on May 2, 2026.

At the activation of the promo at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, 81 customers were given N81,000 each, resulting in N6.56 million in rewards on launch day. Since then, the campaign has continued to reward customers through daily and monthly draws, with an additional 192 winners emerging within the first month.

Across the Youth segment, 37 students have received rewards worth N4.4 million, including 20 students who got N50,000 PocketMoni rewards and 17 university students who received N200,000 each in Tuition Support.

The Women segment also recorded strong participation, with 12 customers receiving N150,000 each through the #SelfCare category, while the Mass Market segment recorded the highest number of winners.

Within the first month, 120 customers received daily cash rewards, and 23 customers won N200,000 each in the monthly draw, bringing total rewards in the category to N5.2 million.

These have demonstrated the strong early impact of its refreshed customer rewards platform and reinforced its commitment to rewarding everyday banking.

“At Wema Bank, we believe loyalty should be rewarded in ways that are meaningful, transparent and accessible.

“The response to Season 5 of the 5 for 5 Rewards campaign has been encouraging, and seeing hundreds of customers benefit within just one month reinforces our belief that everyday banking should create everyday opportunities,” the chief executive of Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, stated.

“Beyond rewarding transactions, we are encouraging positive financial habits while delivering real value to our customers.

“This is only the beginning. With more reward categories, more winners and more opportunities still ahead, we remain committed to creating meaningful impact for our customers and ensuring more Nigerians experience the value of banking with Wema,” he added.

Customers can participate by opening or reactivating a Wema Bank account, funding it with a minimum of N5,000, maintaining an average monthly balance of N5,000, and completing at least five transactions every month using the ALAT app, Wema or ALAT cards, or *945#.

With over N170 million earmarked for rewards between May and December 2026, thousands more customers are expected to benefit as the campaign continues, reaffirming Wema Bank’s commitment to rewarding loyalty, promoting positive financial behaviour and delivering value beyond banking.

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Banking

AG Mortgage Bank N3.97bn Commercial Paper Closes June 18

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AG Mortgage Bank

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The N3.97 billion commercial paper issuance of AG Mortgage Bank Plc will close on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The sale of the debt instrument by the real estate lender commenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

It is under the N5 billion commercial paper issuance programme of the lending firm aimed to support its short-term working capital and funding requirements.

The company is selling the papers in two series, with Series 2 offered at a discounted rate of 19.2895 per cent for 270 days, and Series 3 at a discounted rate of 19.3651 per cent for 364 days.

The minimum subscription is N5 million, and subsequent additions of N1 million.

AG Mortgage Bank is a leading primary mortgage bank in Nigeria with over two decades of experience in providing affordable mortgage financing and housing finance solutions.

The bank has grown its asset base to over N33 billion and remains a key participant in major housing intervention programmes, including the National Housing Fund Scheme and other government-backed mortgage initiatives.

Supported by a diversified product offering, strong institutional credibility, and an experienced management team, AG Mortgage Bank continues to deliver solid financial performance.

For FY 2025, interest income increased by 28.1 per cent to N3.65 billion, while profit after tax rose by 130.0 per cent to N1.05 billion, reflecting strong earnings growth, operational efficiency, and prudent risk management.

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