Banking
7 Reasons You Need to Become Zenith Bank Customer
By Dipo Olowookere
Being a customer of the numerous banks in Nigeria comes with different perks and challenges, as the sector itself is bedevilled with the infrastructural lapses inherent in Nigeria.
However, of all the commercial banks; Zenith Bank has proven to be the pace setter not only in terms of innovation and infrastructural capabilities; the bank has remained shoulder high above them all since it was founded in 1990.
Zenith Bank currently ranks as the number one commercial bank in Nigeria not only in terms of customer deposits and profits, but in several other aspects of banking. Little wonder, retail and commercial banking customers including investors continue to do business with Zenith Bank.
Zenith Bank has continued to provide quality financial services to different sectors in Nigeria including some Key West African Countries, Asia and Europe.
The bank mirrors the hopes and aspirations of every Nigerian and Africa at large.
As a banking customer who has enjoyed the services of several banks in Nigeria, settling for Zenith as the best did not come off without the bank going beyond others in meeting my high expectations in terms of the service offering and values which they have consistently delivered over the years.
Here are seven reasons, Zenith Bank is the best and why you should use the bank.
- Respect For Individuals:
Ever wander into a banking hall and be unsure of where you are or how to go about what you want to do, this does not apply to Zenith. Right from the entrance you are welcomed by courteous and professional security officers and when ushered into the banking hall, it is another wall entirely. The cuteness and swagger of the bank’s staff is a wonder to behold. If you are like me and you want to save your money where posh and crisp cashiers, tellers, customer service representatives and account officers – welcome to Zenith Bank.
- Integrity/Financial Stability:
Has the financial stability of your bank ever been a source of concern for you?
I was also in that position; but, with Zenith’s position as the number 1 commercial bank in Nigeria and with total assets of more than $14.8 billion and market capitalization of $2.3 billion; be rest assured that your deposit is secure for now and in the future.
- Excellent Customer Service:
We all know that good customer service beats cost most time but Zenith brings that to the table at no extra cost. My experience with Zenith Bank proves that their customer service goes beyond satisfying the customer.
Their goal is to surpass expectations by delighting customers and ensuring their loyalty and the bank has mine.
The bank’s personalized banking service is an experience to look forward to as everything about you as an individual is valued in terms of your – experience, uniqueness, knowledge, skills and potential – regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality or position. No matter the time, no matter the weather, be rest assured that your needs (whether queries or complaints) will be resolved swiftly and with ease. The effectiveness and efficiency of the team is unquestionable and you should come see it for yourself.
- Innovation:
I remember having a chat with one of my colleagues about happenings in the banking sector and how it is slowly turning into a red ocean as every bank tend to copy innovations from other banks with reckless abandon – but if you are an individual with keen eye for innovation like me, someone who likes blazing the trail in everything; Zenith Bank is the answer.
Zenith offers range of products that cuts across both the public and private space, appealing to different strata of the society. With wide spread alternative banking solutions, Life is easy when you bank with Zenith.
- Products For Everyone:
Another reason you should bank with Zenith is because of the different products available at the bank.
Zenith has more than 500 branches spread across Nigeria each with ATMs. The bank also has several digital products which have made banking easy for their customers both within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
Some of these products include:
Zenith Bank Savings Account – The Zenith Individual and Salary Savings Accounts are recommended if you have specific savings goals in mind or you just want to start setting money aside. The account offers competitive interest rates, debit and credit cards, email/SMS transaction notifications and free access to the Bank’s Internet banking platform, mobile app and other digital solutions.
Zenith Bank Individual Current Account – The Zenith Bank Current Account is a flexible current account that allows you bank and perform financial transactions at your convenience from anywhere in the world. Account holders enjoy a branded cheque book, debit and credit cards, email/SMS transaction notifications and free access to the Bank’s internet banking platform, mobile app and other digital solutions.
Zenith Bank Children’s Account (ZECA): Ages 0-12 – The Zenith Children’s Account (ZECA) is a unique savings account designed to allow parents save for their children’s future while teaching children the benefits of financial discipline and savings in a fun way. ZECA offers competitive interest rates and supports cheque, draft and dividend lodgments.
Zenith Bank Children’s Account For Teens (ZECA Teens): Ages 13-17 – ZECA Teens is designed to avail teenagers aged 13 to 17 years with all the benefits of the Zenith Children’s Account and a customized Naira MasterCard (a prepaid card issued upon Parent’s request), so they can start learning to manage money.
Zenith Bank Aspire Account – The Zenith Aspire Account is an interest-bearing savings account for Nigerian undergraduates that offer them competitive savings rates, free access to zenith alternative channels, account transaction notifications, a customized debit card and discounts at select retail partners.
Key Features of these Accounts include
- Zero Account Opening Balance
- Earn competitive interest on your deposits
- Zenith MasterCard/Visa/Verve Debit Card
- Free access to Zenith Internet and Mobile Banking Platforms
- Email/SMS Alerts notifications on your account
- Free access to Scan to Pay app.
- Lodgement of Dividend Warrants, Drafts and other third party banking instruments
- Customized Debit Card (Aspire Account)
- Discounted Debit Card Fee (Aspire Account)
- Invitation to the annual Zenith Children’s Parade (ZECA Account)
- Participation in the Children’s Day scholarship raffle draw (ZECA Account)
No matter your status there is a product for you at Zenith Bank
- Zenith Digital Banking:
If you are a fan of convenience in all form, this is for you; Zenith Mobile App leverages the growing ubiquity of smart phones to allow users access all their Zenith Bank accounts and perform a myriad of transactions at their own convenience. These include account opening, balance enquiries, funds transfers, payments, card request, activation and hot listing, airline and hotel bookings and lots more. Visit www.zenithbank.com/smartlink to download.
The Zenith Bank Internet Banking platform is a dynamic solution hosted on the Bank’s website (www.zenithbank.com) that enables individual and corporate customers to perform most of their banking transactions online. Account holders can make transfers, payments, view/download account activity in any format and get real-time account balances on transactions amongst other things.
To request for Internet Bank log on details today, please call Zenith Direct on:
– 0700 ZENITHBANK
– +234 1 278 7000
– +234 1 292 7000
Zenith’s *966# Eazy banking is a convenient, fast and secure way to bank on any mobile phone (feature or Internet enabled). The solution does not involve the use of Internet/data and users perform a plethora of transactions by simply dialing short codes. Registering for *966# Eazy banking can be done by simply dialing *966# and following the prompts.
Available *966# Eazybanking Strings:
Ø Airtime Purchase: Dial *966*Amount*Mobile Number#
Ø Funds Transfers to Any Nigerian Bank Account: Dial *966*Amount*Account Number#
Ø Bank Verification Number (BVN) Confirmation: Dial *966*BVN#
Ø Password and Pin Reset: Dial *966*60#
Ø DSTV, PHCN Bill Payments: Dial *966*7*Amount*Customer ID#
Ø Payments to Zenith Billers: Dial *966*Biller Code*Amount#
Visit www.zenithbank.com/966 for more information.
- Zenith Thinks Tomorrow:
Have you ever thought about the things you used and you feel confident, not only about the present but about the future. Zenith Bank is the bank with a future outlook that gives pride to every customer.
The bank sees technology as an enabler and as a generator of new opportunities.
As a leader in setting trends that shape the financial services sector in Nigeria, the bank’s practical delivery across its automated platforms is unique and it helps serve its customers with services that transcend other providers in the industry.
In all these, one needs a bank that has maintained cleanliness, smartness and style for twenty-eight (28) years and counting. Everybody needs that bank that will match up to ego and class and can represent at any point; Zenith bank raises your standard, sustains it and gives you that best branding that only you deserve!
Remember all these are stories until you become a Zenith bank customer!
By Adedapo Adesanya
First Holdco Plc has commenced a public offer to raise about N1.4 trillion (approximately $1 billion) after securing approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The offer, which opened on Monday, involves the sale of 10.4 billion ordinary shares, according to the chief executive of its banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr Olusegun Alebiosu.
The capital raise follows the company’s earlier plan to transfer about a quarter of its shares to RC Investment Management Ltd., which served as a bridge holder after Barbican Capital Limited exited its investment in the lender amid a prolonged ownership and leadership dispute.
First Holdco had previously indicated that the shares would eventually be offered to the investing public once the necessary regulatory approvals were obtained.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, Mr Alebiosu said proceeds from the offer would strengthen the capital base of First Bank and support the holding company’s expansion strategy.
According to him, the group intends to diversify beyond banking by establishing an insurance underwriting business and a fintech services company.
“The sale is starting today — the reality here is that I am not sure it will stay more than one week based on the pressure we are getting,” Mr Alebiosu said, expressing confidence in strong investor demand.
Investors appeared to respond positively to the announcement, with First HoldCo’s shares climbing as much as 5.9 per cent to a record high during trading on Monday before easing to a 3.1 per cent gain at N133.60 by early afternoon in Lagos.
The lender has been one of the best-performing banking stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited over the past year, with its share price rising more than fourfold since July 2025, when Barbican Capital’s stake was transferred to RC Investment Management.
The fresh capital injection comes as its largest shareholder, Mr Femi Otedola, continues to strengthen his stake in Nigeria’s oldest bank. With the billionaire holding around a 26 per cent stake in the company, analysts say he has his eyes set on full control once his equity crosses the 30 per cent mark.
By Adedapo Adesanya
One of Nigeria’s top digital banks, PalmPay, has appointed a former executive of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr Samuel Oluyemi, as its chief operating officer.
In his new role, Mr Oluyemi will oversee the financial technology company’s operations in Nigeria, where it offers a broad range of digital financial services to individuals and businesses.
Mr Oluyemi will also engage with regulators to ensure the company’s expansion aligns with Nigeria’s financial, digital and social inclusion objectives.
Prior to joining the company, Mr Oluyemi spent more than two decades at NIBSS, where he served as business development lead.
During his tenure, he drove the development of several critical payment infrastructure projects, including the digital validation of Nigerian international passports, e-Dividend Mandate Management System (e-DMMS), and the Electronic Pensions Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS).
Also, he played a key role in the introduction and early adoption of the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) platform, Nigeria’s first real-time interbank transfer system launched in 2011, and later supported its extension to other financial institutions.
Mr Oluyemi obtained a master’s degree in Monetary Economics from the University of Ibadan and has participated in several local and international professional training programmes.
Commenting on the appointment, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, Mr Chika Nwosu, said that the company was strengthening its leadership team to support its longterm vision.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Africa’s most valuable fintech, Flutterwave, has signalled that its long-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) remains firmly on the back burner as the company intensifies efforts to transform itself into a licensed financial institution across the continent.
The firm’s chief executive, Mr Olugbenga Agboola, said the firm is focused on building sustainable profitability, diversifying its revenue streams and expanding its banking footprint before considering a stock market listing.
Speaking to The Africa Report, Mr Agboola described an IPO as a future financing milestone rather than an immediate strategic objective.
“An IPO is a financing event, not a strategy,” he said. “We are not holding any pressure to go public. This gives us the flexibility to be patient and ensure when we do list, we’re doing so from a position of strength.”
The comments come as Flutterwave embarks on an acquisition-led expansion strategy aimed at securing banking licences and deeper regulatory access across Africa.
Mr Agboola revealed that the company is currently in the process of acquiring a bank in East Africa, though he declined to disclose the institution or country involved.
The planned acquisition is expected to provide Flutterwave with an established customer base, existing banking infrastructure and regulatory approvals, significantly shortening the time required to enter new financial services markets.
According to Mr Agboola, the company’s expansion priorities include Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa and Egypt, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia remain under consideration for future growth.
Rather than building banks from scratch in every market, Flutterwave intends to adopt a mix of acquisitions, licences and strategic partnerships depending on local regulatory conditions.
“The vision is not to form a bank in every country but to ensure that every African business has access to more than financial services,” Mr Agboola said in the interview.
The banking push follows recent regulatory and corporate developments, including the Central Bank of Nigeria’s approval of Flutterwave’s banking licence and the acquisition of open banking startup Mono.
Together, the moves underscore a broader strategy to expand beyond payments and establish new revenue streams in lending, liquidity management and business banking services.
Flutterwave plans to focus on institutional deposits from businesses already using its platform rather than competing aggressively for retail deposits.
The company intends to leverage transaction data from its payments network to provide short-term working capital, merchant financing, invoice discounting and trade finance products for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Agboola disclosed that the bulk of the capital earmarked for banking operations will be directed toward credit support and liquidity buffers, with additional allocations for lending and banking infrastructure.
The strategy reflects a growing trend among African fintech firms seeking banking licences to reduce dependence on traditional financial institutions and gain greater control over settlement, liquidity management and product development.
Despite speculation about a near-term public listing, Mr Agboola maintained that Flutterwave’s immediate focus remains execution and growth.
He noted that the company will only consider an IPO after achieving stronger profitability and establishing scale across its payments, banking and remittance businesses.
In February 2025, he told Bloomberg that Flutterwave would only pursue a public offering after becoming profitable. He also stated in late 2024 that the company was “not in the IPO race.”
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave has processed more than one billion transactions valued at over $40 billion across 35 African countries. The company recently secured fresh funding that lifted its valuation to $3.3 billion, with American blockchain firm Ripple leading the investment round.
For now, however, Flutterwave appears more interested in building the foundations of a pan-African financial institution than rushing to the public markets, positioning banking expansion as the next phase of its growth story while keeping an eventual IPO firmly on the long-term horizon.
