Zenith Bank H1 profit drops 19% on revenue decline, dividend raised

Zenith Bank reported a 19% year-on-year fall in half-year profit, driven by shrinking revenue, yet raised its interim dividend to N1.5 per share from N1.25. The profit decline signals margin pressure in Nigeria's banking sector, while the dividend hike may reflect management confidence or a payout policy shift. The divergence between lower earnings and higher payout is notable and may affect investor sentiment.