The bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of N0.20 per share, following the audit of its 2017 half year performance. In 2016, the board declared a final dividend of N0.55/share, in addition to the N0.20/share interim dividend. With the bank’s earnings growth performance in 2017, shareholders may have a bumper harvest for the final dividend for the year. Notwithstanding higher effective tax rate, the profit after tax grew 23 per cent year-on-year to N60.9billion, compared to N49.5billion a year earlier. Year-to-date, the stock has also gained 18 per cent to close at N12.07 on Friday, January 12, 2018,” the statement said.

Source: The Guardian January 15, 2018 04:30 UTC