Zenith Bank and GTCO Rank Among World's Top Banks in 2026

Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) are the only Nigerian banks included in Forbes' inaugural World’s Top Performing Banks 2026 ranking, which assesses 500 banks globally based on profitability, growth, capital resilience, and asset quality. The ranking, conducted in partnership with Statista, emphasizes financial performance beyond mere size.

Zenith Bank reported a 5.6% increase in gross earnings to N4.19 trillion for 2025, with a marginal profit after tax rise of 0.7% to N1.04 trillion. However, profit before tax declined by 4.8% to N1.26 trillion, highlighting the importance of earnings quality.

GTCO reported a profit before tax of N1.23 trillion, down from N1.27 trillion in 2024, with profit after tax decreasing to N865.75 billion. Segun Agbaje, group CEO of GTCO, noted the need for sustainable earnings growth following a record 2024.

The inclusion of these banks reflects Nigeria's strong earnings amid high interest rates and foreign-exchange adjustments.