Fidelity Bank Nigeria has emerged as the fastest-growing Nigerian brand as the lender’s value more than tripled, displacing Stanbic IBTC, a new report by Brand Finance, a London-based brand valuation consultancy revealed.

The bank’s emergence highlights the lender’s expanding market influence and strong investor confidence as the financial institution continues to deliver value for its customers amid tough economic conditions.

“Fidelity Bank’s brand value growth is underpinned by strong financial performance in 2024, during which the bank reported a 210% increase in Profit Before Tax (PBT), soaring to N385.2 billion,” Brand Finance said in its annual valuation report.

“Gross earnings also rose significantly, reflecting both higher interest income and a growing customer base,” it added.

The bank’s public offer which it announced in February was oversubscribed by 237.9 percent, and its rights issue saw a 137.7 percent oversubscription, reflecting strong investor confidence in the bank’s strategic direction.

“The bank’s operational excellence and strategic direction have been widely recognised, most notably being named “Nigeria’s Best Private Bank” at the Euromoney Awards 2025,” the report indicated.

“This recognition reinforces Fidelity Bank’s strong reputation for delivering tailored wealth management solutions and outstanding client service, across Nigeria and beyond.”

The bank is gaining investors’ attention, a situation that has made it rejoin the group of Nigerian companies with a market capitalisation of N1 trillion.

This was followed by a 5.3 percent rise in its share price from N19.95 to N21.00 at the close of trading on May 13, 2025, on the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

Last year, Fidelity Bank’s stock gained 141 percent, rising from N8.70 in May 2024. The rally is partly attributed to the bank’s robust 2024 financial performance, where it posted a 189 percent increase in profit after tax, the highest among Nigeria’s top 10 banks.

That growth has extended into 2025, as the bank recorded a 190 percent surge in after-tax profit to N91 billion in the first quarter, supported by increased interest income, foreign exchange gains, and improved cost efficiency.

Fidelity Bank is however on course to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion minimum capital requirement through equity.

The report stated that United Bank for Africa (UBA) and First Bank of Nigeria are now the strongest brands in Nigeria, defying volatile economic conditions to deliver value and build customer loyalty.

Brand Finance also revealed that Access Bank retained its position as the most valuable Nigerian brand for the fourth consecutive year, as Nigeria’s biggest lender by assets more than doubled its brand value to N893.3 billion.

For the 2025 ranking, banks shine as the lenders accounted for 59 percent of total brand value, indicating robust growth and strong performance of the banking sector amid tough economic times.

Brand value is understood as the net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market. Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors.

Brand Finance analysed banking brands’ internationality to better understand their positioning and performance in an increasingly globalised market. It adopted the royalty relief approach in measuring organisation brand value. The method involves a combination of the market and income valuation approaches.

As published on the BusinessDay Website.

Photo caption:L-R: Commissioner for Education, Osun State, Hon. Dipo Eluwole representing Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State; Regional Bank Head, SouthWest II, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Morenike Olabisi; Wife of Osun State Governor; Ambassador Ngozi Adeleke; Regional Operations Service Supervisor, Southwest 2, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mildred Ajepe; and Wife of the Deputy State Governor, Mrs. Olusola Adewusi; during the Fidelity Food Bank distribution in partnership with Esther Adeleke Foundation in Modakeke, Ile-Ife Community, Osun State recently.

Over 4,500 residents have benefited from a two-day feeding programme organized by Fidelity Bank Plc in Abere and Modakeke communities in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The program, which saw to the distribution of essential food items, was executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment and the Esther Adeleke Foundation.

Speaking during the distribution event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by the Regional Bank Head, Southwest II, Mrs. Morenike Olabisi emphasized that the Fidelity Food Bank initiative underscores the bank’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community welfare. She noted that since the initiative was launched in April 2023 by Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, it has impacted communities across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

According to Mrs Olabisi, “This is the third distribution exercise in Osun State this year, and our aim is to achieve zero hunger in Nigeria and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2. Our CSR initiatives are designed not just to provide immediate relief, but to empower people and improve their livelihoods. 

“The bank will be donating 500 Point of Sale (POS) machines to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment for onward distribution to residents In addition to the food bank distribution. “These POS machines will serve as an income-generating tool for many families and small business owners across the state. Fidelity prides itself as a responsible organisation, and we place a huge premium on the wellbeing of our host communities”, she added.

Responding to the gesture, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke represented by the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Bayo Ogungbangbe, commended Fidelity Bank for the social intervention programme and its continued support to the people. 

“This is not the first time Fidelity Bank is giving back to the state and this shows that the well-being of the people is of top priority to the bank. We are deeply grateful for their sacrifice and we urge other corporate organizations to emulate Fidelity Bank on this laudable initiative”, he stated. 

On her part, the founder of Esther Adeleke Foundation and the wife of Osun State Governor, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, emphasized that this is the second edition of the Fidelity Food Bank in collaboration with Esther Adeleke Foundation noting that, the first edition at the Asubiaro Hospital, Osogbo inspired them to do more. 

Her words, “My resolve to help the needy and alleviate poverty necessitated my partnership with Fidelity Bank in the distribution of food items to the needy.  There is hardship in the country, and I am doing my best to support the governor of Osun State to cater for the needs of Osun people.

“I want to appreciate the management of Fidelity bank for their dedication to the people of Osun state, and we want to assure the bank that they have our utmost support”, she added. 

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The bank is also a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application Award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider Award by Global Brands Magazine. 

Additionally, the bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

In a decisive move underscoring unwavering confidence in Fidelity Bank Plc’s resilience, Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe has acquired an additional 18 million shares of the bank, valued at approximately ₦366 million.

According to a regulatory filing posted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Disclosures portal, this strategic investment was executed at ₦20.35 per share on May 19, 2025, the same day an online platform published an unsubstantiated report on a Supreme Court ruling in a decades-long case that the bank inherited from the defunct FSB International Bank that it absorbed in 2005.

Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe’s latest acquisition is not an isolated gesture. Between November 21 and 22, 2024, she purchased 15 million shares worth ₦239.4 million, and subsequently added another 10 million shares valued at ₦157.9 million on November 26 and 27, 2024. These cumulative investments reflect a consistent pattern of personal commitment to the bank’s long-term success.

Demonstrating Leadership Through Personal Investment

The CEO’s substantial personal investments serve as a powerful testament to her confidence in Fidelity Bank’s strategic direction and financial health. By increasing her stake during a period of legal scrutiny, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe sends a clear message of stability and trust in the institution’s governance and operational integrity.

Robust Financial Performance Reinforces Investor Confidence

Fidelity Bank’s financial results further validate this confidence. In the first quarter of 2025, the bank reported a Profit Before Tax of ₦105.8 billion, marking a 167.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Gross earnings rose by 64.2% year-on-year to ₦315.4 billion, driven by significant growth in interest income and non-interest revenue.

The bank’s balance sheet remains solid, with total deposits increasing by 11.1% year-to-date to ₦6.6 trillion, and net loans and advances growing by 5.0% to ₦4.6 trillion. These figures highlight Fidelity Bank’s strong liquidity position and its capacity to support large-scale projects and absorb financial shocks.

Despite the rash of malicious publications on the bank that has been debunked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Fidelity Bank’s share price has demonstrated resilience. After reaching ₦21.00 on May 13, 2025, the stock experienced a modest decline, closing at ₦20.00, a 3.8% decrease. This stability suggests that investors remain confident in the bank’s fundamentals and leadership.

Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe’s continued investment in Fidelity Bank during a period of legal scrutiny exemplifies strategic leadership and personal commitment. Her actions not only reinforce investor confidence but also underscore the bank’s robust financial standing and resilience. As the institution looks to closing out the legal process as mandated by the court, stakeholders can take solace in the demonstrated strength and stability at the helm of Fidelity Bank.