Corporate ESG Performance and Financial Performance of Quoted Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This research investigated the influence of corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices on financial performance of quoted Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. The research anchored on stakeholders’ theory, adopted ex post facto research design, secondary data were used and the total population which also served as the sample size comprised 24 quoted DMBs from the period 2016 to 2025. The method of data analysis employed was pool ordinary regression techniques. The findings revealed that corporate environmental practice (coeff. val = 0.337; prob. val. = 0.035) have significant positive influence on financial performance of quoted DMBs in Nigeria; corporate social practice (coeff. val =0.239; prob. val. = 0.041) have significant positive influence on financial performance of quoted DMBs in Nigeria; and corporate governance practice (coeff. val = 4.055; prob. val. = 0.024) have significant positive influence on financial performance of quoted DMBs in Nigeria. It was thus concluded that financial performance is heightened as a result of the critical role plays by corporate ESG practices of quoted DMBs in Nigeria. Banks that have invested more on corporate environmental, social and governance activities will not only be socially, ethically and legally responsible to the stakeholders but heightened financial performance. It was therefore recommended to the management of quoted DMBs in Nigeria should strategically increase corporate ESG activities such as investing more on waste management, pollution and degradation, increase employees’ social welfare and number of board size.  This will help the quoted DMBs in Nigeria strengthen and sustain long-term financial growth and create value for their stakeholders.