.Proposes N2.10 final dividend
Fidelity Bank Plc has reported a pre-tax profit of N385.2 billion for 2024, representing a 210 per cent growth compared to the N124.3 billion recorded in 2023.
The bank, in a statement released on Monday, declared a total dividend of N2.10 per share following its strong financial performance in 2024.
Gross earnings increased by 87.7 per cent to N1,04 trillion, driven by a 106.9 per cent growth in interest and similar income to N950.6 billion.
The increase in interest income was attributed to improved yields on earning assets and a 51.6 per cent expansion in the earnings base to N6.3 trillion.
This led to a profit after tax of N278.1 billion, representing a 179.6 per cent annual growth.
Commenting on the results, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, expressed satisfaction with the growth.
“We are delighted with our 2024 full-year (FY) performance, which showed strong growth across key revenue lines, improved asset quality and significant traction in our strategic business segments.
“Our impressive results led to a triple-digit increase by 210 per cent in Profit Before Tax (PBT), rising from N124.3 billion in 2023 to N385.2 billion in 2024,” she said.
A further review of the financial performance revealed that the bank’s net interest income increased by 127.1 per cent to N629.8 billion, driven by a high-yield environment in 2024.
To optimise its margin, the bank maintained asset yields above funding costs by maintaining a high low-cost deposit profile at 92.6 per cent.
This led to an increase in its Net Interest Margin from 8.1 per cent in 2023 FY to 12.0 per cent.
Similarly, the bank continued to deepen its market share in both the corporate and retail segments, with customer deposits increasing by 47.9 percent from N4 trillion in 2023 financial year to N5.9 trillion.
The increase was driven by strong double-digit growth across all deposit types.
The Retail Banking Business gained significant traction, with savings deposits increasing by 28.8 per cent to N1.1 trillion, marking the 10th consecutive year of double-digit annual growth in savings deposits.
In spite of the challenging economic conditions in 2024, the bank continued to support the real sector of the economy by increasing its Net Loans and Advances from N3.1 trillion in 2023 to N4.4 trillion in 2024.
“This remarkable performance demonstrates our capacity to deliver superior returns to our shareholders.
“In line with our commitment to them, we have declared a final dividend of N1.25 per share, bringing our total dividend for the 2024 financial year to N2.10 per share,” Onyeali-Ikpe explained.
Having consistently paid dividends since 2006, Fidelity Bank will pay investors a total dividend of N2.10 per share for the 2024 financial year.
This is subject to shareholders’ approval at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 29, 2025.
The dividends will be paid on April 29, 2025, to shareholders whose names appear on the register of members as of April 15, 2025.
The bank successfully completed the first phase of its capital raising exercise through a Public Offer and Rights Issue in 2024, which were oversubscribed.
