Fidelity Bank Plc has reported a 45 per cent increase in gross earnings for the 2025 financial year, as the lender’s shareholders’ funds crossed the N1tn mark following sustained balance sheet expansion and fresh capital injection.

Analysis from the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, submitted to the NGX on Tuesday, reveals that the bank delivered robust results across key financial metrics, including Gross Earnings, which stood at N1.5tn, up from N1.04tn reported in 2024.

Net Interest Income rose to N831.3bn, compared to N629.7bn in 2024, reflecting the bank’s stronger earnings capacity amid elevated interest rates and growth in interest-earning assets.

Interest and similar income calculated using the effective interest rate rose 38.7 per cent to N1.11tn in 2025 from N803.05bn in 2024, while other interest and similar income increased 25.1 per cent to N184.51tn.

Net interest income after credit loss also rose significantly by 41.2 per cent to N809.74bn from N573.33bn. The bank also recorded an improvement in asset quality costs, as credit loss expense moderated to N21.61bn from N56.44bn, representing a 61.7 per cent improvement year-on-year.

Fidelity Bank continued to expand its digital banking footprint, enhance customer experience, and support key sectors of the economy. Non-interest revenue performance remained strong during the period, with fee and commission income increasing 44.7 per cent to N113.36bn from N78.36bn. This was driven by letters of credit commissions and fees (N12.5bn), ATM charges and fees (N11.6bn), commission on travellers’ cheques and foreign bills (N8.9bn), account maintenance charges (N7.13bn) and commission on e-banking activities (N2.2bn).

Other operating income rose 200.5 per cent to N8.24bn, while foreign currency revaluation gains surged 749.9 per cent to N99.58bn from N11.72bn in 2024.

Fidelity Bank’s investment assets expanded significantly during the year, reflecting the bank’s stronger positioning in fixed income and other securities markets. Debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income rose 199 per cent to N557.78bn from N186.57bn, while debt instruments at amortised cost increased 27.2 per cent to N1.97tn from N1.55tn. Equity instruments at FVOCI also rose 26.2 per cent to N87.85bn.

The bank also recorded gains from financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss, which increased 280.7 per cent to N2.75bn. A new gain of N988bn from derecognition activities was also recorded during the period.

On the balance sheet side, cash and cash equivalents increased sharply by 87 per cent to N1.32tn from N707.45bn, indicating stronger liquidity buffers. Restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria also rose to N1.65tn from N1.59tn.

Other assets surged 76.4 per cent to N278.89bn, while investments in property, plant, and equipment rose 161.6 per cent to N203.72bn. Intangible assets climbed 147.5 per cent to N50.44bn, indicating continued investment in technology and operational infrastructure. Deferred tax assets also increased significantly to N33.10bn from N5.31bn.

The bank further reduced debts issued and other borrowed funds to N888.95bn from N929.60bn, reflecting lower reliance on external borrowings. Deferred tax liabilities declined completely from N727m in 2024 to zero in 2025.

The lender’s total assets grew 18.6 per cent to N10.46tn from N8.82tn, driven by growth in liquid assets and investment securities. Customer deposits rose 16.1 per cent to N6.89tn from N5.94tn, reflecting sustained customer confidence and expansion in the bank’s funding base.

Fidelity Bank also strengthened its capital position during the year as total equity increased 21.1 per cent to N1.09tn from N897.87bn, pushing shareholders’ funds above the N1tn mark, reinforcing the lender’s capacity to support larger transactions, absorb shocks, and expand its regional and international banking ambitions.

The bank disclosed that it completed a private placement of 12.9 billion ordinary shares in December 2025, raising fresh capital that increased eligible capital to N532.6bn, above the CBN’s N500bn minimum requirement for banks with international authorisation.

The PUNCH reported that the bank raised N259bn through a Private Placement of ordinary shares, significantly boosting its capital base as the lender intensifies efforts to meet the new regulatory capital requirements for commercial banks with international authorisation.

In a statement issued on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the bank said the Private Placement was conducted following approvals from the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission and was successfully opened and closed on 31 December 2025.

“Fidelity Bank Plc is pleased to inform the general public that, following approvals granted by the CBN and the SEC, it successfully opened and closed a Private Placement of ordinary shares on 31 December 2025,” the bank stated.

The exercise increased total issued shares from 50.2 billion units to 63.17 billion units, significantly boosting shareholders’ funds beyond the N1tn threshold.

The stronger capital base is expected to improve the lender’s capacity to finance larger transactions, expand lending activities, and support future regional growth opportunities.