Nigeria’s top seven banks now boast a combined N13 trillion valuation…
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has emerged as Nigeria’s most valuable bank, achieving a historic market capitalisation of N3.4 trillion as of July 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). The milestone makes GTCO the first Nigerian financial institution to cross the N3 trillion mark, driven by its share price surpassing N100—a first for any bank on the NGX.
The combined market value of Nigeria’s top seven banks now stands at N13 trillion, reflecting strong investor confidence in the sector amid ongoing recapitalisation efforts and robust financial performances.
Ranking Nigeria’s Banking Giants
1. GTCO – N3.4 trillion
Parent company of GTBank, GTCO’s dual-market strategy and recapitalisation drive have fueled its record valuation.
2. Zenith Bank – N3.1 trillion
Maintains its dominance with a 67% profit surge to N1.3 trillion in 2024, attributed to treasury management and loan growth.
3. UBA – N1.9 trillion
Pan-African expansion and an N804 billion profit in 2024 solidified its third-place position.
4. Stanbic IBTC – N1.6 trillion
Nears the N100-per-share club, trading above N90 on strong investor demand.
5. First Bank Holdings – N1.5 trillion
Nigeria’s oldest bank gained traction after major share transactions involving Oba Otudeko and Femi Otedola.
6. Access Holdings – N1.4 trillion
Expansion into East Africa, including acquisitions in Kenya and Tanzania, bolstered its market position.
7. Fidelity Bank – N1.1 trillion
AMCON’s share sell-off and renewed investor interest pushed it into the trillion-naira league.
Why GTCO Leads
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Analysts cite GTCO’s recapitalisation success, digital banking innovations, and investor optimism as key drivers. “Breaking the N100 share price barrier signals strong market faith in GTCO’s long-term strategy,” said a Lagos-based stockbroker.