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CBN Suspends Dividend, Bonus Payments for Banks under Forbearance

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has suspended dividend payments to shareholders and bonuses to directors and senior management staff of banks currently benefiting from regulatory forbearance.

CBN Suspends Dividend, Bonus Payments for Banks under Forbearance

Forbearance refers to the temporary reduction or postponement of payments, such as for loans or mortgages, usually introduced to give temporary relief to individuals, and corporations, including financial institutions encumbered by financial straits.

The directive was contained in a circular dated June 13, signed by Olubukola Akinwunmi, director of Banking Supervision, CBN.

According to the CBN, the move is part of efforts to strengthen capital buffers, enhance balance sheet resilience and promote prudent internal capital retention within the banking sector during what it described as a transitional period.

The regulatory forbearance arrangement, which allows banks some relief in meeting credit exposure and Single Obligor Limit (SOL) requirements, is currently being reviewed by the central bank in terms of capital positions and provisioning adequacy.

As part of this review, the CBN directed affected banks to suspend dividend payments, defer bonuses, and refrain from making investments in foreign subsidiaries or launching new offshore ventures.

“This temporary suspension is until such a time as the regulatory forbearance is fully exited and the banks’ capital adequacy and provisioning levels are independently verified to be fully compliant with prevailing standards,” the CBN said.

The bank added that the measure is to ensure that internal resources are retained to meet existing and future obligations and support “the orderly restoration of sound prudential positions.”

The CBN also said it will continue to monitor developments and engage with institutions as necessary.

The move comes amid efforts to tighten supervision across the financial system following recent banking sector reforms and recapitalisation directives.

 


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Ebere Melum-Nwogbo is a trained and practicing journalist. She is passionate about ICT and business journalism. She has over a decade experience spanning money and capital market as well as information technology

E-Financial

Kuda Microfinance Bank Releases ‘My Year on Kuda’ 2025 Financial Recap

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Kuda Microfinance Bank has unveiled the 2025 edition of “My Year on Kuda,” its annual recap providing customers with personalised insights into their spending, saving, and money management habits from the previous year.

Kuda Microfinance Bank Releases 'My Year on Kuda' 2025 Financial Recap

Kuda Microfinance Bank

The tool analyses transaction data across categories like transfers, card payments, online purchases, and bills, revealing patterns such as highest-spending months, biggest payments, saving frequency, and savings from Kuda’s 25 free monthly transfers. Customers can compare 2025 activity against 2024, including income versus expenditure.

In an era of inflation and economic uncertainty, the recap promotes financial literacy by highlighting responsible borrowing via Kuda Overdraft usage, including access frequency, amounts borrowed, and repayment patterns.

Customer-shared screenshots on X reflect national trends: Nigeria recorded over 2.2 billion electronic transactions worth ₦285 trillion in Q1 2025, up 20 percent year-on-year, with POS terminals driving the shift to cashless commerce.

Kuda Group CEO Babs Ogundeyi, in the recap’s opening video, urged users: “Before you carry on with January, this is the perfect time to see everything you did with your money on Kuda last year and learn something.”

The feature underscores Kuda’s focus on actionable insights to help Nigerians navigate evolving personal finance amid shifting earning and spending behaviours.


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E-Financial

Wema Bank Launches SAW AI Voice Assistant for Seamless Banking on ALAT 2.0

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Wema Bank has introduced SAW, a new AI voice assistant integrated into the ALAT 2.0 app, allowing customers to manage finances through natural voice commands similar to Siri, Bixby, or Alexa.

Wema Bank Launches SAW AI Voice Assistant for Seamless Banking on ALAT 2.0

Wema Bank

SAW understands everyday language and delivers instant responses tailored to banking needs, such as checking account balances, transferring money, reviewing transactions, and accessing support.

This feature brings conversational banking to Nigerian users, eliminating complexity and enhancing accessibility.

The bank positions SAW as a pioneer in AI-powered financial services, aligning with global trends where millions interact daily with voice assistants for tasks like setting reminders or playing music.

ALAT 2.0 represents the next evolution in digital banking, making services more efficient, personal, and human-like for everyday Nigerians.


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Ecobank Offsets Repayment of $300m Eurobond Notes

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Ecobank Nigeria Limited has fully repaid bondholders who validly tendered their notes ahead of the February 2026 maturity date.

Ecobank Offsets Repayment of $300m Eurobond Notes

The bank announced the successful completion of its tender offer, under which it prepaid approximately $245 million of its $300 million Eurobond, representing more than 80 per cent of the total issuance.

According to a statement, the transaction relates to the 7.125 per cent Senior Note Participation Notes due February 2026.

Ecobank Nigeria Limited said it launched a tender offer to eligible noteholders in respect of the outstanding $150 million on the bond on November 27, 2025, providing them with an opportunity to redeem their holdings ahead of the original maturity date of 16 February 2026.

It stated that the early and late tender participation deadlines were 11 December 2025 and 29 December 2025, respectively.

According to the bank, holders of notes validly tendered and accepted received a cash consideration of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount, in addition to accrued interest from the last interest payment date up to, but excluding, the final settlement date of 31 December 2025.

Following completion of the offer, the bank said the outstanding principal amount of the notes has been reduced to approximately $55.092 million.

The bank also stated that the initiative reflects Ecobank Nigeria’s proactive approach to liability management and prudent balance sheet optimisation.

The tender offer was conducted with Renaissance Capital Africa (Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited) acting as financial adviser and dealer manager, while Sodali & Co Limited served as tender agent.

The notes were originally issued by EBN Finance Company B.V., with limited recourse to the issuer, for the sole purpose of financing the purchase of the $300 million 7.125 per cent Senior Note due 2026 issued by Ecobank Nigeria Limited.


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