Allen Harry
“I needed a new banking experience when I floated my company. Someone close to me recommended Premium Trust Bank. I was sceptical at first, but I became willing when I remembered that the person who made the recommendation was good at always making the right choices. I walked into their branch on Gana Street in Maitama, Abuja, and from the moment I stepped in, I felt the warmth. The customer service was topnotch, everything oozed of class, style, and professionalism. It was indeed a whole new experience for me. Since then, I have been enjoying seamless transactions, and every issue is escalated and resolved immediately.”
This powerful testimonial from a maritime expert reflects the breath of fresh air Premium Trust Bank has brought to the Nigerian financial industry. In just under four years of operations, the bank has become the toast of customers and industry watchers, redefining the essence of commercial banking and setting a new benchmark in service delivery, innovation, and community impact.
Licensed as a commercial bank with regional authorization in 2021 and commencing operations in April 2022, Premium Trust Bank wasted no time in distinguishing itself. Barely a year into operations, its license was upgraded to that of a commercial bank with national authorization, a feat many others took decades to achieve.
By December 2023, in its very first full financial year, the bank had posted an impressive ₦14.10 billion pre-tax profit. As of December 2024, it recorded a balance sheet size of ₦1 trillion and a profit before tax of ₦57.30 billion. This stellar growth trajectory has cemented its place as Nigeria’s fastest growing commercial bank.
As of today, the bank has met the ₦200 billion capital requirement stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for national banks, more than six months to the March 2026 deadline. This latest milestone has positioned it as a solid player in the unfolding recapitalization era that is reshaping the country’s banking landscape.
Recall that the CBN had in 2023 issued a directive requiring Nigerian banks to increase their minimum capital base by up to tenfold, depending on their license category. Specifically, the recapitalization policy requires commercial banks with international licenses to raise their minimum capital base to ₦500 billion, national banks to ₦200 billion, and regional banks to ₦50 billion.
According to the apex bank, the move is expected to reshape the competitive landscape of the Nigerian banking industry. It is also aimed at reinforcing financial sector resilience amid macroeconomic headwinds like rising inflation, naira depreciation, and foreign exchange volatility.
It is instructive to note that at the heart of this meteoric rise is the clear-headed leadership led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Emefienem, whose vision has been to build a bank that is not only profitable but also trusted by customers for long-term stability.
At different public events, stakeholders have commended Emefienem and the bank’s emphasis on professionalism, customer-first service, and innovation.
The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, at the inauguration of the second branch of the bank in Effurun said “Mr. Emefienem possesses the potential, tenacity, and passion for excellence. He is a typical ‘Warri boy’ full of ideas, energy, drive, and confidence.”
He added that “The establishment of this branch is not only a welcome addition to the retail banking sector but also provides a significant boost to the local economy of the twin cities of Effurun and Warri, which serve as commercial hubs of Delta State.
“I am upbeat about the prospects this bank presents for job creation. Many of our qualified youths can now be employed whether as professionals or in other staff categories. Likewise, contractors and suppliers will benefit from the bank’s presence.”
Beyond financial metrics, Premium Trust Bank has made its mark in sports development, particularly in football. In August 2024, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) endorsed it as its official bank as well as that of the National Male and Female Teams, after a colourful signing ceremony in Abuja which sealed a progressive four years partnership deal between both entities.
The bank has also invested heavily in grassroots sports development. For instance, in Bayelsa, it serves as the key sponsor of the annual Prosperity Cup, Nigeria’s largest grassroots football tournament, which aims to identify and nurture young talents while curbing youth restiveness in the oil rich state.
The bank’s backing of tournaments that give young athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent is a deliberate effort in youth empowerment and national sports development and it aligns with its determination to foster a strong community engagement through sports.
Additionally, Premium Trust Bank was the headline sponsor for the 2022 edition of the National Sports Festival in Delta State and the 2024 edition tagged “Gateway Games” in Ogun State. It is also set to sponsor the upcoming 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu.
In athletics, the bank is the proud sponsor of the Abuja International Half Marathon, a fast-rising event that has attracted both local and international participants. This commitment to sports has further demonstrated Premium Trust Bank’s strong support for sports development in Nigeria and increased its profile and admiration for being more than a financial institution but a national pride, deserving of its flowers.
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Little wonder, within this short period, it has bagged numerous awards for excellence in customer service, innovation, and corporate social responsibility. These accolades further validate its reputation as a bank that is not only ambitious but deeply committed to quality and impact.
At the 2024 BusinessDay Banking Awards, it was named “Bank of the Year (Emerging Category)”. Similarly, at the Marketing Edge Awards, it was recognized for “Excellence in Sports Sponsorship”. These recognitions, among many others, stand as a testament to its pioneering role in blending financial growth with social impact.
With 26 branches nationwide, strategically located in major cities and commercial hubs, the bank is expanding rapidly to cover more locations across the country.
Today, Premium Trust Bank’s journey underscores the power of vision, strategy, and execution. For customers, it represents a new era of stability, innovation, and world-class service delivery. For the Nigerian banking sector, it signals a bold future where banks are not only profitable but also socially relevant.
With its strengthened capital base, unmatched customer service, and investments in youth and sports, Premium Trust Bank has proven that it is not just another financial institution, it is a brand redefining the future of banking in Nigeria.
Coupled with cutting-edge digital platforms, the bank has endeared itself to many customers as they can access seamless services anywhere, anytime.
The assurances of Emefienem in this regard are also cheering. “We want to be the number one Digital bank in Nigeria by rolling out digital solutions like you have not seen in the history of banking in Nigeria. These solutions would give our discerning customers access to financial services around the clock and from the comfort of their homes.”
But beyond the physical push backed by tenacity and the hunger to succeed, which has resulted in the tangible fruits, Emefienem believes strongly and rightly so that there is the “God Factor” behind Premium Trust Bank’s supersonic speed to enviable stardom in these few years.