Shareholders of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) have praised the bank’s management for delivering what they described as the highest dividend payout in Nigeria’s banking sector for the 2025 financial year, as the group declared a total of ₦12.76 per share.
At the company’s 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, investors commended the group’s performance and its compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ₦500 billion minimum capital requirement.
In a statement, the President of the Nigerian Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, Timothy Adesiyan, expressed satisfaction with the payout, noting that the board had shown discipline in sustaining returns to investors.
Similarly, Chairman of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Bisi Bakare, described the payout as historic, stating that GTCO is the first Nigerian bank to reward shareholders with a ₦12.76 dividend and urging management to sustain the trend.
GTCO had earlier declared an interim dividend of ₦1.00 per share for the half year ended June 2025 and a final dividend of ₦11.76, bringing total shareholder returns to ₦12.76 for the year.
Diversification Drives Growth Strategy
Responding, Board Chairman Suleiman Barau said the group’s evolution into a diversified financial services ecosystem has strengthened its growth outlook.
“This diversification is not simply a structural change; it represents a strategic effort to build an institution that can serve customers more comprehensively while creating multiple engines of sustainable growth.
“A diversified ecosystem allows the Group to operate with greater balance across economic cycles, reduces concentration of risk, and broadens the value proposition we offer to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients,” he said.
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Barau added that disciplined risk management remains central to the group’s strategy.
“In an environment where macroeconomic conditions remain fluid across many markets, maintaining a healthy balance sheet and strong credit practices is essential,” he said.
He further stated, “The Board remains deeply committed to ensuring that the Group’s growth is anchored in careful risk assessment, responsible lending practices, and robust internal controls.
“Ultimately, what defines a strong financial institution is not simply its performance in favourable conditions, but its ability to remain stable, trusted, and relevant through periods of uncertainty.
“The durability of our performance reflects years of careful institution-building, disciplined leadership, and shared commitment across the organisation to long-term value creation.”
London Listing, Digital Push Shape Outlook
Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the 2025 financial year marked a milestone in GTCO’s expansion, driven by deeper integration across its business lines.
“Across our Banking, Payments, Asset Management, and Pension businesses, we leveraged data, digital tools, and operational insight to create frictionless experiences for our customers across Africa and the United Kingdom. By connecting our personal and business solutions, we can extend the reach of each business line while amplifying the value delivered to customers,” he said.
Agbaje noted that the group’s listing on the London Stock Exchange marked a historic achievement.
“This historic achievement makes GTCO Plc, the 1st Financial Services Institution in West Africa to list its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) main market for listed securities, strengthening our capital base and enhancing liquidity for shareholders,” he said.
Looking ahead, he added, “GTCO execution discipline will remain our defining advantage. By integrating our ecosystem offerings, deepening customer engagement, and leveraging platform-driven solutions, we will continue to create meaningful experiences and long-term impact for individuals, businesses, and communities.
“Technology continues to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and insight-driven decision making, while a robust balance sheet and disciplined capital management provide the flexibility to act decisively across market cycles. In a landscape shaped by macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, GTCO enters 2026 confident, resilient, and focused.
“Our ecosystem is stronger, our ambition greater, and our commitment unwavering. Fellow Shareholders, the next chapter of GTCO promises to be as historic as the last, and we are grateful for your continued trust and partnership.”
Pinnacle Daily had earlier reported that GTCO posted a decline in bottom-line profits despite expanding its balance sheet and growing customer deposits.
While it reported a decline in earnings per share, which fell 28.2 per cent from 35.44 kobo to 25.43 kobo, the board declared a higher total dividend of ₦12.76 per share for 2025, up from ₦8.03 per share in 2024.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X