Zest, the fintech subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has reported its first worthwhile quarter since its 2023 launch. The turnaround displays the rising maturity of bank-backed fintech subsidiaries as they transfer from early losses to sustainable development.
Zest posted a revenue after tax of ₦543 million ($372,438) within the third quarter of 2025, in comparison with a ₦1.89 billion ($1.29 million) loss after tax in the identical interval of 2024, in accordance with Stanbic IBTC’s monetary assertion for the interval ended September 30, 2025.
The fintech’s efficiency got here regardless of greater working prices, which rose to ₦2.12 billion ($1.45 million) in Q3 2025, up from ₦1.26 billion ($864,221) within the first half of the yr.
In H1 2025, Zest recorded a loss after tax of ₦389 million ($266,811), down 58.8% from ₦945 million ($648,165) a yr earlier. This was regardless of a fourteenfold income development to ₦874 million ($599,467) in H1 2025 from ₦61 million ($41,839) in the identical interval of 2024.
Zest’s Street to Profitability
Hover over every bar to see the story behind the quantity.
Zest’s financials present a big shift during the last 12 months.
Supply: Stanbic IBTC H1 2025 & Q3 2025 monetary statements.
Nonetheless, bills climbed nearly 24.95% to ₦1.26 billion ($864,221). On the time, insiders on the fintech disclosed to TechCabal that Zest had achieved month-on-month profitability.
Zest is a part of a wave of bank-owned fintechs—like Entry’s Hydrogen and GTCO’s HabariPay—that emerged after the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN)’s 2010 directive required industrial banks to restructure into holding corporations to supply non-banking providers like funds.
It makes cash by enabling transfers and providing a single dashboard that integrates playing cards, financial institution transfers, cell cash, and QR codes for companies.
Hydrogen and HabariPay discovered their toes early. Hydrogen’s after-tax revenue hit ₦966 million ($662,569) in H1 2025, and HabariPay’s revenue at ₦4.02 billion ($2.76 million) in H1 2025, and Zest has joined this group with its first-ever worthwhile quarter.
This enchancment follows sustained capital injections from its dad or mum group, which elevated its funding in Zest to ₦4.33 billion ($2.97 million) by June 2025 — an 85.8% rise from December 2024. That funding helped the fintech strengthen its infrastructure and develop its funds community, setting the stage for profitability.
Observe: alternate fee used: ₦1,457.96/$
Elevate your perspective with NextTech Information, the place innovation meets perception.
Uncover the newest breakthroughs, get unique updates, and join with a world community of future-focused thinkers.
Unlock tomorrow’s tendencies right now: learn extra, subscribe to our e-newsletter, and develop into a part of the NextTech group at NextTech-news.com
