CBN Releases Access, UBA, GTB, Zenith, Other Banks' Interest Rates on Loans in 2026
- Commercial banks' lending rates have been released by the Central Bank of Nigeria
- The rates are categorised by sectors including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, real estate, public utilities among others
- The lending rates are aimed at promoting transparency and enabling borrowers to make well-informed decisions
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the latest lending rates for all Nigerian banks as at January 9, 2026.
The figures announced highlight the prime and maximum lending rates across Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and merchant banks.
Source: Facebook
The CBN said publishing the lending rates is part of its commitment to transparency, aimed at guiding borrowers to make informed financial decisions.
The updated rates follow the CBN’s policy stance to improve monetary policy transmission, support economic recovery, and sustain disinflation in the economy.
How interest rate works?
Banks’ lending rates continue to vary depending on customers’ creditworthiness.
The maximum lending rate refers to the interest charged by banks for lending to customers with a low credit rating, while the Prime rate applies to customers with strong credit ratings.
CBN said:
"In furtherance of the transparency and full disclosure stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Monetary Policy Committee has decided that henceforth the lending rates obtainable in all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) be made public to guide business decisions.
"Consequently, find below the applicable rates for each of the DMBs as at January 9, 2026."
Source: Getty Images
Bank | General/Prime | Max |
25.50 | 32.00 | |
Alpha Morgan Bank | 28.00 | 32.00 |
Citi Bank | 19.50 | 23.00 |
Coronation Merchant Bank | 25.00 | 33.00 |
Ecobank | 26.75 | 48.00 |
FBN Quest Merchant Bank | 5.00 | 33.50 |
FCMB | 31.00 | 46.10 |
Fidelity Bank | 30.00 | 36.00 |
First Bank of Nigeria | 26.00 | 38.00 |
FSDH Merchant Bank | 28.00 | 33.00 |
Globus Bank Ltd | 31.00 | 33.00 |
Greenwich Merchant Bank | 27.00 | 30.00 |
Guaranty Trust Bank | 3.00 | 35.00 |
Keystone Bank Ltd | 30.50 | 36.00 |
Nova Bank | 30.00 | 24.69 |
Optimus Bank | 28.50 | 35.00 |
Parallex Bank | 30.00 | 32.50 |
Polaris Bank | 29.00 | 39.90 |
Premium Trust Bank | 28.00 | 36.00 |
Providus Bank | 27.00 | 35.00 |
Rand Merchant Bank Nig. Ltd | 22.50 | 23.00 |
Signature Bank | - | - |
Stanbic IBTC | 1.00 | 60.00 |
Standard Chartered Bank | 27.00 | 29.00 |
Sterling Bank | 27.50 | 35.00 |
Suntrust Bank | 22.00 | 37.00 |
Tatum Bank | 33.05 | 38.05 |
United Bank for Africa | 28.50 | 32.00 |
Union Bank | 16.00 | 37.00 |
Unity Bank | 30.00 | 38.00 |
Wema Bank | 32.50 | 34.50 |
Zenith Bank | 25.00 | 32.00 |
For a full breakdown by sectors, check here.
Customer deposits remain strong
In a related development, customer deposits in Nigerian commercial banks continued to grow despite economic challenges.
Data from the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) shows that deposits rose to N150.3 trillion in the first half of 2025, up from N137.5 trillion in full-year 2024.
Deposits remain a key asset for banks, providing the primary source for lending and other financial sector investments.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
