Lender moves publication deadline to September 30, awaits CBN approval
Fidelity Bank Plc has obtained regulatory approval from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to extend the deadline for publishing its audited financial statements for the half-year ended June 30, 2026, as the lender continues to finalise its audit.
The bank disclosed the development in a regulatory filing signed by its Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje, on Monday, stating that the extension allows the lender until September 30, 2026, to release its H1 2026 audited results.
The delay, according to Fidelity Bank, is linked to the ongoing audit of its financial statements, which has not yet been completed.
The lender said that once the audit is concluded, the financial statements will be submitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for regulatory approval before they are made public.
The process is in line with the requirements of the NGX Rulebook and other applicable regulations governing the publication of financial statements by listed financial institutions.
“Premised on the foregoing, the approval of the NGX was obtained for an extension of time to September 30, 2026, subject to receipt of regulatory approval from the CBN for the H1 2026 audited accounts,” Fidelity Bank said in the filing.
Trading restriction remains
Fidelity Bank also clarified that its trading window remains closed for insiders and connected persons pending the release of the audited half-year results.
According to the lender, the restriction will remain in force until 24 hours after the publication of the H1 2026 financial statements.
The closure is part of measures designed to prevent insiders and other connected persons from trading in the bank’s shares while material financial information remains unpublished.
For companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange whose financial year ends on December 31, half-year results generally cover the six-month period from January through June. However, banks are also required to meet additional regulatory requirements, including the CBN approval process applicable to their audited accounts.
Strong 2025 performance
The development comes after Fidelity Bank reported significant growth in its financial performance for the 2025 financial year.
The bank’s gross earnings rose by 45.6 per cent, increasing from N1.04 trillion in 2024 to N1.52 trillion in its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The lender attributed the increase to stronger revenue performance across its core business segments, reflecting continued expansion in its top-line earnings.
Fidelity Bank also recorded a profit after tax of N242.4 billion for the year, supported in part by a 38.7 per cent year-on-year increase in interest income.
Investors and market watchers will now be looking to the bank’s H1 2026 audited results for further indications of whether the strong growth recorded in 2025 was sustained during the first six months of the current financial year.
With the new deadline approved by the NGX, Fidelity Bank is expected to publish the audited half-year results no later than September 30, subject to the completion of the audit and receipt of the required CBN approval.