As conversations around money become more complex in a fast-evolving digital world, the need to Building Financially Smart Future and
equip young people with the right financial knowledge, has never been more urgent. From spending habits to saving culture, digital transactions, and entrepreneurial thinking, financial literacy is increasingly becoming a life skill, not just a nice-to-have.

It is against this backdrop that Polaris Bank is participating in this year’s Global Money Week (GMW), a global financial awareness campaign which kicked off from Tuesday, April 7 through Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Global Money Week is an annual initiative led by Child and Youth Finance International in collaboration with key stakeholders, including financial service providers and government institutions, to inspire children and young people to learn about money management, livelihoods, and entrepreneurship.

During the 2025 edition Polaris Bank reached and impacted directly 3,372 students, across 35 secondary schools in 36 states across Nigeria.

With the 2026 theme, “Smart Money Talks,” this year’s campaign shines a spotlight on the importance of making informed financial decisions in an increasingly digital environment. It also reinforces the value of critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and sound financial judgement in helping young people navigate today’s financial realities.

For Polaris Bank, participation in Global Money Week goes beyond fulfilling a statutory obligation. It reflects the Bank’s broader commitment to advancing financial literacy, promoting inclusion, and empowering the next generation with practical knowledge that can shape better financial behaviour and long-term economic wellbeing.

In line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Financial Literacy Secretariat, Polaris Bank will conduct Financial Literacy Sessions in schools across states where it maintains branch presence. These sessions will provide students and young adults with useful insights into key areas such as; saving, budgeting, responsible use of financial products, digital financial services, and entrepreneurship.

The initiative also presents an important opportunity for the Bank to engage directly with young people at a formative stage in their lives, helping them build confidence in money matters and make more informed choices as they grow into financially active adults.

At a time when financial decisions are increasingly shaped by technology, peer influence, and instant access to digital tools, Polaris Bank believes that early education is critical to helping young people distinguish between impulse and intention, trend and truth, convenience and responsibility.

By taking financial literacy conversations into schools, the Bank is not only supporting a national mandate but also contributing to the development of a generation that is better informed, more financially aware, and more capable of making smart choices for the future.

Polaris Bank remains committed to initiatives that create meaningful impact, strengthen communities, and empower individuals through knowledge-driven engagement.

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…Declares ₦221.85bn Profit Before Tax, ₦1.25 Dividend, Total Assets hit ₦5 trillion mark.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has released its FY 2025 Audited Financial Results, achieving record-breaking growth and unparalleled performance across several key metrics.

Key figures include the doubling of the Bank’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) from ₦102.5bn in FY 2024 to ₦221.9bn, an impressive 116.4% increase. Profit After Tax (PAT) also surged by 125.4% from FY 2024’s ₦86.2bn to ₦194.5bn. Total assets also reached the 5 trillion mark, with the attainment of ₦5.07tn, a 41.5% increase from FY 2024’s ₦3.59tn, reflecting a growingly resilient balance sheet. Gross earnings increased by 52.8% to ₦660.6 billion from ₦432.3 billion in FY 2024, a feat driven largely by a 62.7% growth in interest income, reflecting improved yields on earning assets and growth in the loan book.

Customer deposits grew by 30.3% to ₦3.29 trillion from ₦2.52 trillion in FY 2024, demonstrating sustained customer confidence. This growth in deposits provided stable funding for asset growth while supporting liquidity and balance sheet resilience. Net interest income more than doubled, rising by 103.9% to ₦361.0 billion, supported by improved asset pricing and balance sheet expansion. Non-interest income also grew modestly by 8.3% to ₦85.3 billion. Net loans and advances increased by 44.7% to ₦1.74 trillion, up from ₦1.20 trillion in FY 2024, thus reflecting Wema Bank’s continued support for key sectors of the economy while maintaining a disciplined risk management approach. Overall, Wema Bank is set to pay dividend per share of N1.25.

Commenting on the remarkable performance, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, reiterated the Bank’s unwavering commitment to sustaining its impressive growth momentum and delivering superior value to all stakeholders. According to him, “Wema Bank has delivered one of the strongest growth trajectories in its history. From a Profit Before Tax of ₦14.75 billion three years ago, we grew to ₦43.59 billion in 2023 and reached ₦102 billion in 2024. In 2025, we have taken an even bolder step forward, recording a Profit Before Tax of ₦221 billion. Our Total Assets, which hit the ₦1tn mark in 2021, surpassed ₦3tn in 2024, standing at a staggering ₦5tn as of FY2025. This overall performance not only speaks strongly of Wema Bank’s exceptional financial strength and capacity for sustained growth, but also reflects disciplined execution, a resilient business model, and the unwavering commitment of our people”.

“As of September 2025, Wema Bank successfully surpassed the ₦200bn recapitalisation minimum threshold for commercial banks with national authorisation. Our FY2025 Financial Results only corroborate what has become abundantly clear—Wema Bank is here not just to stay, but to lead the future of banking in Africa. Our 80th anniversary celebration in 2025 marked a fitting commemoration of our 80 years of impact in the finance industry and beyond. With the launch of ‘ALAT: The Evolution’, the upgraded version of our pioneering fully digital bank, ALAT, we not just redefining the digital banking experience with enhanced intelligence, personalisation and flexibility; we ushering Africa into a future filled with profound possibilities”, Oseni concluded.

Wema Bank is a leading financial services entity with banking operations across Nigeria and the globe, through its trailblazing innovative solution, Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT. From surpassing the recapitalisation benchmark set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintaining an unparalleled growth trajectory over the past 5 years, Wema Bank has proven itself stronger than ever—numbers perpetually skyrocketing.

The Bank’s position as leading innovative bank further proves that it is not only able to meet the prevalent needs of its customers but also equipped to anticipate and meet evolving needs as digital banking continues to reshape the finance industry.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
WEMA Bank Plc
Femi Akinfolarin (Head, Strategy & Investor Relations): +234 1 4622632 femi.akinfolarin@wemabank.com
Bunmi Oladosu (Chief Finance Officer): +234 1 2778959 bunmi.oladosu@@wemabank.com

In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc has announced a series of masterclasses and support initiatives designed to help women build practical, income generating skills, strengthen professional visibility, and accelerate career growth throughout March 2026.

The activities are being delivered under the bank’s women focused proposition, HerFidelity, and align with the “Give to Gain” theme guiding this year’s programme of engagements.

On March 18, 2026, HerFidelity hosted a “Give to Gain” masterclass focused on communication and presentation. The session offered practical guidance on audience engagement, event moderation, confidence-building, and personal branding, with a strong focus on women looking to improve their public speaking and professional presence.

A second event, the Gele Masterclass scheduled for March 30, 2026, will provide hands-on training in gele tying. HerFidelity is positioning the session as a celebration of cultural expression and a marketable skill women can turn into a source of income.

In addition to the masterclasses, the bank will provide professional headshot sessions to help participants update their personal and professional profiles.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that empowering women economically creates an impact that extends beyond the individual. It strengthens families, grows businesses, and uplifts communities. That is why we have designed an elaborate plan to upskill women throughout this month. We want women to leave these sessions with practical tools they can apply immediately, whether that is speaking confidently in public, building a stronger personal brand, or learning a skill that can generate income,” said Ugochi Osinigwe, Divisional Head, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc.

Earlier this month, the bank reaffirmed its commitment to women’s economic empowerment with the signing of strategic MoUs with partner organisations at the launch of its “Give Her Power” initiative on March 5, 2026. The collaborations, anchored on the bank’s HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme, are designed to expand access to vocational training, business support, and sustainable enterprise opportunities for women across multiple sectors.

As part of the initiative, Fidelity Bank is distributing 1,000 sewing and grinding machines to empower women-led microbusinesses across Nigeria.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is 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.