Fidelity Bank Liquidity Surges Above N1trn as Cash Holdings Jump 87% in 2025

Fidelity Bank Liquidity Surges Above N1trn as Cash Holdings Jump 87% in 2025

Fidelity Bank⁠� recorded a significant improvement in its liquidity position for the 2025 financial year, with cash and cash equivalents rising by 87 per cent to N1.32 trillion, driven by stronger cash buffers, increased customer deposits and growth in interest-earning assets.

According to the bank’s audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents increased from N707.45 billion recorded in 2024, highlighting the lender’s strengthened liquidity profile despite Nigeria’s challenging monetary environment.

The report also showed that restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rose by 4.1 per cent to N1.65 trillion in 2025, up from N1.59 trillion in the previous year.

Fidelity Bank’s improved liquidity position was supported by sustained growth in customer deposits, which climbed by 16.1 per cent to N6.89 trillion from N5.94 trillion in 2024, reflecting continued customer confidence and expansion in the bank’s funding base.

The bank’s total assets also grew by 18.6 per cent to N10.46 trillion, compared to N8.82 trillion recorded in the preceding year, driven largely by increases in investment securities, liquid assets and other financial instruments.

An analysis of the bank’s earnings performance showed that gross earnings rose by 45.6 per cent to N1.52 trillion from N1.04 trillion in 2024, buoyed by strong growth in interest income and foreign exchange-related gains.

Interest and similar income increased by 38.7 per cent to N1.11 trillion, while net interest income advanced by 32 per cent to N831.35 billion during the review period.

Fidelity Bank also strengthened its credit risk management as credit loss expenses declined significantly to N21.61 billion from N56.44 billion recorded in 2024. Consequently, net interest income after credit losses rose by 41.2 per cent to N809.74 billion.

The bank’s non-interest income performance remained robust, with fee and commission income growing by 44.7 per cent to N113.36 billion. Foreign currency revaluation gains also surged to N99.58 billion from N11.72 billion recorded in the previous year.

Further analysis of the financial statement revealed that the bank expanded its investment portfolio substantially during the year. Debt instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) rose by 199 per cent to N557.78 billion, while debt instruments at amortised cost increased by 27.2 per cent to N1.97 trillion.

Shareholders’ funds crossed the N1 trillion mark as total equity rose by 21.1 per cent to N1.09 trillion from N897.87 billion in 2024. Statutory reserves increased by 32.7 per cent, while non-distributable regulatory reserves climbed by 92.5 per cent.

On the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), Fidelity Bank’s share price opened the year at N19.00 and closed at N21.9 on Monday, representing a year-to-date gain of 15.3 per cent.

The lender is currently ranked as the 25th most valuable stock on the NGX, with a market capitalisation of N1.1 trillion, representing approximately 0.686 per cent of the Nigerian stock market.