Banking
Fitch Affirms Diamond Bank at ‘B-‘ With Negative Outlook
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Fitch Ratings has announced affirming Diamond Bank Plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B-‘ with the outlook negative. Also, Fitch affirmed all of Diamond’s other ratings.
The rating agency said Diamond Bank’s IDRs are driven by the bank’s intrinsic creditworthiness as defined by its Viability Rating (VR).
Diamond Bank’s VR considers its vulnerable asset quality. Loan impairment charges are consistently above peers and impaired loans as a percentage of gross loans was 9.6% at end-9M17, well above the sector average for rated banks, as reported under IFRS.
Reported impaired loans are not indicative of a very high level of problem loans. Around 20% of Diamond Bank’s loan portfolio is considered impaired under local prudential classification rules (90 days overdue). The bank has also restructured a sizeable proportion of its upstream oil portfolio.
Asset quality is indicative of the challenging operating conditions in Nigeria, including tight liquidity in both local and foreign currency. Tight liquidity dates back to the sharp fall in oil prices, which has adversely impacted asset quality sector-wide. Liquidity in foreign currency is particularly tight at Diamond Bank.
The bank holds almost $400 million of deposits from state oil enterprises, which should have been moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under new federal regulations, but Diamond Bank has been unable to meet this requirement given an acute shortage of dollars.
High loan impairment charges (averaging around 5% of gross loans per year) undermine solid pre-impairment earnings, which are the strongest among mid-sized and small Nigerian banks.
Strong pre-impairment earnings reflect a solid franchise, including a good base of retail deposits, providing a cheap local currency funding base. Cost efficiency is also stronger than peers.
The Negative Outlook on Diamond Bank’s Long-Term IDR reflects a precarious foreign currency liquidity position and pressure on capital from asset quality weakness.
Diamond Bank’s National Ratings are a reflection of its creditworthiness relative to the best credits in Nigeria.
Diamond Bank’s National Ratings consider generally weaker financial metrics than peers and the senior debt rating is in line with the Long-Term IDR and has a Recovery Rating of ‘RR4’ indicating average recovery prospects, Fitch said.
Fitch said in a statement that it believes that sovereign support to Nigerian banks cannot be relied on given Nigeria’s (B+/Negative) weak ability to provide support, particularly in foreign currency.
In addition, it noted that there are no clear messages from the authorities regarding their willingness to support the banking system. Therefore, the Support Rating Floor of all Nigerian banks is ‘No Floor’ and all Support Ratings are ‘5’. This reflects our view that senior creditors cannot rely on receiving full and timely extraordinary support from the Nigerian sovereign if any of the banks become non-viable, it said.
The rating firm said Diamond Bank’s IDRs are sensitive to a rating action on its VR and its VR is sensitive to a material weakening of liquidity, particularly in foreign currency. It is also sensitive to a sharp deterioration in asset quality that would erode capital and threaten the bank’s viability.
An upgrade of the bank’s VR would require a material improvement in the Nigerian operating environment and a significant improvement in the bank’s financial metrics.
An upgrade of Diamond’s IDRs may also result from sovereign support being factored into the bank’s ratings.
Banking
Proxy Share Acquisition: Nothing to Worry About—LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Assures Shareholders
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The board of LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc has assured the investing public, particularly its shareholders, that its operations are not being affected by reports of an alleged proxy share acquisition surrounding the organisation.
It was claimed that an investor attempted to take over the control of the real estate lender with funds alleged to have been from questionable sources.
In a clarification to the investing public through the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the company said it cannot confirm if security operatives investigating the claims have submitted their report to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
However, it assured that, “Our bank is stable and that in the event of any change in ownership, we will file the necessary formal notifications and publish detailed announcements.”
In the notice today, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank narrated that, “As a company listed on the Growth Board of NGX, there are regular movements on the bank’s shareholder register.
“The bank’s monitoring of material movements showed an acquisition of 2.24 per cent of its shareholding by Apel Asset Ltd-Nominee, as per its register of June 25, 2025, as obtained from our registrar. However, one month later, in July 2025, the register obtained from the bank’s registrar showed the same shares to be listed in favour of Deril Academy Limited. We are further aware that in July 2025, Deril Academy Limited teamed up with some other shareholders in a takeover attempt via a matter filed in the Federal High Court, Lagos. The attempt failed, and the matter has now been withdrawn.
“Please note that we do not reveal the veil of corporations of juridical entities investing in the shares of the bank, below the level considered statutorily significant.
“While the CBN assesses the source of funds invested in financial institutions, persons purchasing shares of less than 5 per cent of total shareholdings in the open market are not required to be reported to the CBN.”
Business Post reports that the majority shareholders of LivingTrust Mortgage Bank, formerly Omoluabi Mortgage Bank, are Cititrust Holdings Plc and the Osun State Government.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) registry surged to 68.6 million in the first three months of 2026 from 67.8 million in the last quarter of 2025, reflecting continued uptake of the unique identity platform for bank customers amid new regulatory directives to strengthen the Nigerian financial landscape further.
Data released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) showed that the database expanded by 754,128 in the first quarter of the year.
Last year, the sector recorded 4.3 million new registrations, largely driven by the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to register remotely, thereby boosting cross-border financial inclusion.
The data for fresh enrolments in 2026 showed a slowing rate of registrations, with fewer than one million recorded in the first three months. The total number of active bank accounts in Nigeria stood at over 320 million as of March 2025, highlighting a gap between BVN coverage and the broader banking population. While a single BVN can be linked to multiple accounts, unlinked accounts remain a challenge for financial oversight.
Last month, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a revised BVN regulatory framework to strengthen identity verification and fraud prevention. Among the new provisions, only individuals aged 18 and above are eligible for BVN enrolment, and customers are now permitted to update the phone number linked to their BVN only once.
The apex bank also directed financial institutions to maintain a temporary watch list of BVNs associated with suspected fraudulent transactions. Affected BVNs remain on the list for up to 24 hours, during which owners are contacted for clarification before further action is taken.
According to the CBN, the measures are designed to tighten fraud monitoring, protect transaction integrity, and enhance identity management across Nigeria’s banking system.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One tune that is on the lips of young and energetic Nigerians is the new ALAT: The Evolution jingle.
The melodious clink was designed to capture the energy of a smarter and more seamless banking experience. It is bright, catchy, and full of life.
The lender said the ALAT: The Evolution jingle is more than just music, as it represents a clear statement of intent. It signals a shift towards banking that feels natural, responsive, and in tune with the user.
As customers update their app and explore ALAT: The Evolution, the jingle serves as a reminder that a better, smoother way to bank is already here. Wema Bank is not just evolving its technology; it is shaping how banking feels.
It was stated that the tune was introduced to mark the next phase of the financial institution’s digital banking journey.
Everyday banking can often feel routine or even stressful, with multiple steps and delays slowing things down. The ALAT: The Evolution jingle reimagines that experience with a lively and confident tone that mirrors the app’s capabilities.
From voice banking with SAW to Tap and Pay and bank uptime prediction, each feature is echoed in the rhythm and flow of the sound. It brings to life the speed, convenience, and reliability that define this new phase of ALAT: The Evolution.
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