Zenith Bank’s commitment is fundamentally aligned with key global and national frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Principles for Responsible Banking (as a founding signatory of the UNEPFI Principles), and the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles. This comprehensive alignment informs every aspect of its operations, from stakeholder engagement to climate risk management and efforts to unlock financial freedom for underserved communities.

Operational and Financial Environmental Stewardship

Zenith Bank has taken proactive and concrete steps to transform its operations into a more environmentally sound model, distinguishing itself as a key player in Nigeria’s low-carbon transition.

Operationally, the bank is aggressively reducing its carbon footprint. Initiatives include the expanded deployment of solar-powered branches and ATMs, optimisation of energy consumption, and the incorporation of resource-efficient technologies across all facilities. A significant infrastructure investment is the new Energy Centre, which operates on a 70-30% gas-to-diesel ratio. This facility alone has eliminated the need for approximately twenty large diesel generators across its head office and major branches, dramatically reducing carbon emissions. Further energy conservation measures include the installation of motion-sensor lighting and sensor taps in restrooms.

The bank is a leader in transparency and reporting, having been the first bank in Africa to publish a stand-alone sustainability report in line with the GRI Standards: Core Option in 2016. It is also one of the few Nigerian institutions to track its carbon emissions using a certified tool based on the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.

Green Financing

Zenith Bank’s financing strategy increasingly prioritises green and socially responsible investments. The bank actively channels capital toward sectors critical for climate resilience and sustainable development, such as clean energy, sustainable agriculture, waste recycling, and climate-smart infrastructure. Furthermore, by disclosing its climate-related risks and opportunities under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, Zenith Bank ensures transparent and proactive management of sustainability risks across its entire portfolio.

Empowering Communities: Social Impact and CSR

Zenith Bank’s commitment to the ‘Social’ pillar of ESG is evident through its deep focus on inclusive growth and community welfare. In 2024, the bank’s total CSR investment stood at a significant ₦4.75 billion, representing 0.5% of its Profit After Tax (PAT). These investments are strategically targeted across health, education, infrastructure development, youth & women empowerment, and sports.

Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment

The bank is deeply committed to expanding financial inclusion, particularly in underserved and rural areas, leveraging its digital platforms and extensive agent networks. Targeted lending programmes are instrumental in fostering grassroots economic empowerment:

• The Z-Woman loan product is designed specifically to offer competitive interest rates to women-led businesses across all sectors, promoting gender equity and economic independence.
• Products like eaZybyZenith and SME-Grow My Business (SME-GMB) are tailored to empower the unbanked and underbanked populations, particularly youth and women entrepreneurs.

Community Interventions

Zenith Bank’s CSR interventions are often focused on vital public services and infrastructure:

• Healthcare: The bank renovated and significantly upgraded the Iga Idunganran Healthcare Centre on Lagos Island, serving underprivileged communities. The upgrade included specialised clinics (ENT, Dental, Eye, Tuberculosis Screening) and, critically, the installation of a 34-kilowatt capacity solar energy supply to ensure critical medical equipment remains operational, thus enhancing service resilience and environmental sustainability.
• Security: Zenith Bank made security a major social investment, recognising that the safety of lives and property is a fundamental community need. In 2024, the Bank allocated more than NGN 2.5 billion to partnerships with local communities, federal, state and local governments, and other agencies, aiming to preserve public peace and create a crime‑free environment. These efforts have earned the Bank notable recognition for its sustainability achievements.
• Infrastructure: Demonstrating commitment to host communities, the bank recently constructed the “Alpha Beach Road” in Lekki, Lagos, a project aimed at significantly boosting economic activities and improving quality of life for residents.
• Education and Sports: Beyond infrastructure, the bank regularly supports the development of ultramodern ICT centres in various educational institutions. In 202,4, Zenith Bank reaffirmed its commitment to the nation’s education sector, investing about NGN 259 million in educational initiatives. The bank’s education spend included donations to the endowment fund of St Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, and sponsorship of the 2022 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, underscoring its focus on SDG 4 (Quality Education). It remains a key corporate partner for sports development, sponsoring major platforms like the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Zenith Women Basketball League, and the Zenith Bank Delta State Principals’ Cup.
• Crisis Leadership: The bank demonstrates leadership during community crises, such as its ₦100 million donation to the Lagos State Government’s Emergency Relief Fund for the victims of the Abule-Ado gas explosion in 2020. It also actively partners with local, state, and federal agencies to enhance public security.

Through its numerous CSR initiatives, the Bank has embodied the overarching objective of the 17 SDGs, which provide a framework for addressing the major challenges confronting our society. 

Governance and Ethical Conduct

Ethical conduct and responsible banking are fundamental to Zenith Bank’s operations. ESG principles are fully integrated into the credit and investment decision-making processes, ensuring all activities are screened for Environmental and Social (E&S) risks. The bank mandates compliance with all local legislation (e.g., EIA Act) and international standards (e.g., World Bank, IFC Performance Standards).

Data ethics is a cornerstone of governance, with full compliance maintained under the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Advanced cybersecurity solutions like Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) and File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) are deployed to safeguard data security and customer trust.

Internally, the bank cultivates a sustainability culture by training staff across all departments on ESG principles. The commitment to diversity, gender balance, and fair labour practices, in line with international standards like the ILO Forced Labour Convention, ensures an empowered and values-driven workforce capable of championing sustainability at every organisational level.

By consciously integrating sustainability into every layer of its operations, Zenith Bank reaffirms its role as a values-driven institution, advancing not just financial prosperity but also environmental stewardship and social equity for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Nigeria.