Fidelity Bank Plc has secured approval from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to push back the deadline for publishing its audited half-year 2026 financial results to September 30, 2026, as the bank completes the audit and awaits regulatory clearance. The development means investors will have to wait longer for the lender’s official H1 performance, with the bank saying the audit process is still being finalised.

The bank disclosed the extension in a notice dated August 21 and signed by its Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje. Fidelity said that once the audit is completed, the financial statements will be forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for approval before being released to shareholders and the wider investing public.

“Fidelity Bank Plc wishes to inform its esteemed shareholders, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), and other stakeholders of a potential delay in publication of its Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the Half Year Ended June 30, 2026 as required by the listing rules of NGX.”

The bank added that the extension was granted by the NGX following its application for additional time. “Premised on the foregoing, the approval of the NGX was obtained for an extension of time to September 30, 2026, subject to receipt of regulatory approval from the CBN for the H1 2026 audited accounts.” Fidelity also reminded insiders and other connected persons that its closed trading window remains active and will only be lifted 24 hours after the audited results are published.

The extension places Fidelity Bank among several Nigerian financial institutions seeking additional time to complete and obtain regulatory approval for their half-year accounts. GTCO and Access Holdings have also received extensions to September 30, while Zenith Bank has been granted more time, moving its filing deadline to October 9, 2026. The development is therefore part of a wider pattern among major listed lenders as they work through their audited interim reporting requirements.

Despite the delay, Fidelity Bank enters the reporting period with strong earnings momentum. The lender recorded N434.95 billion in gross earnings in the first quarter of 2026, up 37.9% from N315.42 billion a year earlier, while interest income rose 22.8% to N314.48 billion. Its net interest income reached N180.97 billion, helping the bank deliver N92.48 billion in profit before tax for the quarter.

For investors, attention will now shift to September 30, when Fidelity Bank is expected to publish the audited H1 results, subject to the required CBN approval. The figures will provide a clearer picture of whether the bank has maintained the strong growth momentum recorded during the first quarter of the year.