Shareholders of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated have approved a $40m dividend payout for the 2025 financial year after the banking group recorded its strongest financial performance in recent years.
The approval was granted at the company’s 2026 Annual General Meeting held in Lomé, where investors endorsed all resolutions presented by the board.
The dividend payment, which amounts to 0.16 US cents per share, marks Ecobank’s first distribution to shareholders since 2022. The decision follows a record financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025.
According to the group’s audited results, profit before tax rose by 21 per cent year-on-year to $801m. The growth reflects improved operational performance across Ecobank’s network of 34 African markets.
Net revenues also increased significantly, climbing 17 per cent to $2.45bn. Meanwhile, pre-provision, pre-tax operating profit surged by 29 per cent to $1.265bn, highlighting strong business momentum and improved efficiency.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Papa Ndiaye, said the financial results demonstrated the effectiveness of the group’s long-term strategy and resilience.
“Our strong 2025 financial performance has marked the return to dividend payments to our shareholders. This $40m dividend is a direct reflection of the resilience of our unrivalled pan-African model, institutional maturity, and our staff’s skill and discipline,” Ndiaye said.
He added that the dividend payout underscored his confidence in the bank’s ability to sustain growth and create value for investors across the continent.
“This achievement is a good illustration of my absolute confidence in the strength of the group to continue delivering sustainable growth and value across the continent,” he stated.
Ndiaye also highlighted the benefits of Ecobank’s diversified regional presence, noting that the structure helps protect the institution from economic disruptions in individual markets.
The chairman said the lender’s broad geographic footprint provides a strategic buffer against localised macroeconomic shocks while supporting long-term stability.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Awori, also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to its Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy, which he described as the foundation of the group’s recent success.
“Our shareholders once again strongly reaffirmed their confidence in our GTR strategy. Thanks to our deliberate and structured approach to growth, we are bringing value to our shareholders while transforming payments and trade across our 34 markets,” Awori said.
He noted that Ecobank is steadily building the financial infrastructure needed to support Africa’s future economic development and regional integration.
“Steadily, our pan-African model is building the infrastructure that will enable the future of the continent’s financial architecture,” he added.
The financial statements also showed that Ecobank maintained a strong capital position throughout the year.
The group reported a capital adequacy ratio of 16.7 per cent, placing it approximately 420 basis points above the regulatory minimum required for cross-border banking operations.
Operational efficiency improved significantly during the period. Ecobank’s cost-to-income ratio declined to a record low of 48.3 per cent, reflecting tighter cost management and stronger revenue growth.
Industry analysts view the return to dividend payments as a positive signal for investors and a reflection of the bank’s improved earnings capacity.
The latest results reinforce Ecobank’s position as one of Africa’s leading banking groups, with management expressing confidence that ongoing strategic initiatives will continue to drive growth, profitability and shareholder value in the years ahead.
