Fidelity Bank Delays 2025 Audited Results, Keeps Insider Trading Window Closed
Fidelity Bank Plc has announced a delay in the publication of its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, alongside its unaudited results for the first quarter of 2026, citing pending regulatory approval.
In a disclosure dated April 9, 2026, the bank stated that it was unable to meet the regulatory deadlines of March 31, 2026 for the 2025 audited financial statements and April 30, 2026 for the Q1 2026 unaudited results as required under the rules of the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
According to the bank, the audited financial statements for 2025 have already been submitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria for approval.
The lender noted that publication will follow immediately after receiving the necessary regulatory clearance, in compliance with NGX listing requirements and other applicable regulations.
As part of governance and compliance measures, Fidelity Bank confirmed that its trading window remains closed to insiders and their connected persons.
The restriction will stay in place until 24 hours after both the audited 2025 results and the Q1 2026 unaudited financial statements are released to the market.
From a market perspective, delays in financial reporting by listed entities typically trigger heightened scrutiny among investors, particularly in the banking sector where regulatory oversight and disclosure timelines are critical.
However, the bank’s clarification that the audited results are already with the Central Bank suggests the delay is procedural rather than operational.
For investors, the key issue will be the timeline for approval and eventual publication, as well as any material changes that could emerge in the final audited numbers compared to prior expectations.
The development also reinforces the importance of regulatory alignment in Nigeria’s financial system, where listed banks must secure approval from the Central Bank before releasing audited results to the investing public.
Fidelity Bank advised shareholders and stakeholders to monitor its investor relations platform for updates while assuring that all disclosures will be made in line with applicable regulatory standards.
In the near term, the delay may limit visibility on the bank’s earnings performance, capital position, and asset quality trends, key indicators that typically drive investor sentiment and valuation in the banking sector.
