Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has reaffirmed its dominance by emerging as the Overall Winner at the just-concluded Nigeria Bankers Game (NBG) 2024 Grand Finale. This remarkable achievement marks the bank’s third consecutive win at the prestigious sporting event.

With an impressive tally of 10 gold medals. Wema Bank clinched victories across various categories, including Table Tennis (Female Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles), Volleyball, Scrabble, Video games, 100m Female, 200m Female, and the 4x100m Female Relay.

This year’s NBG also celebrated individual brilliance, with Bukky Olorunmaye, one of Wema Bank’s standout athletes, earning the title of Nigeria Bankers Game 2024 Female Athlete of the Year. Her outstanding performance across multiple disciplines underscores her dedication and resilience, making her a shining example of excellence.

The Nigeria Bankers Game serves as a platform to foster camaraderie, teamwork, and a spirit of healthy competition among Nigeria’s leading banks. It brings together athletes and staff across the financial sector to compete in various sports, showcasing the resilience, talent, and unity that define the industry.

For Wema Bank, this year’s stellar performance further solidifies its reputation as a champion both on and off the field. Through its success in sports, the bank highlights its commitment to promoting teamwork, discipline, and resilience—qualities that also define its daily operations and customer-first approach.

Moruf Oseni, Managing Director/CEO of Wema Bank, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating:
“Winning the Nigeria Bankers Game for the third time in a row is a remarkable accomplishment that reflects the resilience, teamwork, and dedication of our staff. At Wema Bank, we are not just about financial innovation; we are enablers of dreams and champions of holistic development. This victory underscores our belief in empowering our people to excel in every aspect of life. Congratulations to all our athletes for their exceptional performance. We remain committed to fostering excellence in every endeavor.”

Reacting to her recognition as the Female Athlete of the Year, Bukky Olorunmaye shared:
“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition. Competing alongside so many talented individuals and representing Wema Bank has been a humbling and fulfilling experience. This award is not just mine—it belongs to my teammates and everyone who supported us. Together, we demonstrated the power of teamwork, and I am grateful to Wema Bank for giving us this platform to shine.”

• Receives Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Excellence in Digital Innovation Awards*

Wema Bank, recognized as Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been awarded Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Excellence in Digital Innovation at the recently held 2024 Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards. These awards underscore the Bank’s commitment to empowering businesses and delivering transformative digital solutions that cater to evolving customer needs.

The Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards celebrate institutions that are reshaping the financial services landscape through impactful innovations and customer-centric approaches. Wema Bank’s Best SME Bank in Nigeria award highlights its exceptional support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while the Excellence in Digital Innovation award recognizes the bank’s success in pioneering digital experiences that redefine convenience and accessibility.

Commenting on the awards, Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO Wema Bank, expressed pride in the recognition. According to him, “receiving these awards is a testament to Wema Bank’s dedication to innovation and our unwavering support for Nigerian SMEs. We are committed to delivering world-class banking solutions that empower our customers. These recognitions inspire us to keep leading the way in digital transformation, helping Nigerian businesses thrive in a competitive world.”

Through initiatives like accessible SME loans and tailored training programs, Wema Bank strengthens the backbone of Nigeria’s economy by providing SMEs with essential resources to grow and compete effectively. These efforts affirm Wema Bank’s role as a leader in SME support, enabling businesses to contribute meaningfully to national development.

On the digital innovation front, Wema Bank has transformed the banking experience through ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank, bringing seamless banking solutions to the fingertips of Nigerians. Coop Hub – First digital solutions for Corporative Societies in Nigeria to manage their operations and recently, the launch of ALAT Xplore—Nigeria’s first licensed mobile banking app designed for teenagers—introduced financial literacy and secure banking to young Nigerians, equipping the next generation with essential skills for a financially responsible future.

As Wema Bank celebrates this achievement, the Bank remains focused on its mission to support sustainable growth for all customers. With a vision centered on progress and innovation, Wema Bank continues to set new benchmarks in Nigeria’s financial landscape, dedicated to fostering prosperity and enhancing the banking experience for every user.

• ……Reports Profit Before Tax of ₦60.62billion, a 174% YonY Growth

Wema Bank Nigeria (“Wema” or “the Bank”)) has released its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended September 30th 2024, to the Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX).

The Bank reported profit before tax of ₦60.62bn, representing an increase of 174% over the ₦22.13bn recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.

Wema Bank’s balance sheet remained well structured with total assets growing by 38% to ₦3,084.27 trillion in Q3 2024 from ₦2,240.06trillion in FY 2023. The bank also grew its deposit base year to date by 23% to ₦2,292.30bn from ₦1,860.57bn reported in FY 2023. Loans and Advances grew by 25% to ₦1003.28bn in Q3 2024 from ₦801.10bn in FY, 2023. NPL stood at 3.19% as at Q3 2024.

The bank recorded an improved 3rd quarter performance as Gross Earnings grew by 91% to ₦288.32bn (Q3 2023: ₦150.90bn)). Interest Income was up 81% y/y to ₦229.11bn (Q3 2023:₦126.67bn). Non-Interest Income up 144% y/y to ₦59.21bn (Q3 2023: ₦24.23bn).

Return on Equity (ROAE) of 38.62%, Pre-Tax Return on Assets (ROAA) of 2.64%, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 14.06% and Cost to Income ratio of 60.47%, speak to the resilience of the brand.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni said, ‘our Q3 2024 numbers speaks to our resilience despite a tough operating environment. We will sustain our growth trajectory into 2025. The performance is headlined by impressive improvements in Profit before Tax which grew strongly by 174%. The growth of Gross Earnings by 91.07%, Total Assets by 38% and earnings per share at 328.1kobo shows the core improvements to our balance sheet. In addition, our cost to income ratio at 60.48% has witnessed significant improvement from the previous period.