Diamond Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading banks providing financial services across the shores of the country, has dismissed a report by SaharaReporters suggesting that the bank is distressed.

Describing the story as “false and malicious,” the bank in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications Division, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, insisted that it is healthy and meeting its financial obligations as required by the regulatory body.

“Our attention has been drawn to a malicious story published by Sahara Reporters alleging that Diamond Bank Plc is one of nine commercial banks that have demonstrated a level of distress that requires they recapitalise to avert the banks possibly falling into distress,” the statement said.

“Our customers, stakeholders and indeed the general public should please disregard the said report and be informed that the story is false, baseless, mischievous and attention seeking. Diamond Bank’s Q3 2015 result approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) show capital adequacy ratio of 18%, which is 3% higher than CBN’s minimum requirement,” it added.

The bank invited anyone in doubt to check out its Q3 2015 financial results at http://www.diamondbank.com/images/banners/linkcreation/Financials/2015%20Nine%20Months%20Unaudited%20Financial%20Statement.pdf/

News Express reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently issued a statement dismissing the Sahara Reporters’ story and assuring that no Bank in the country is facing stress as alleged by the online news portal.

•Photo shows Diamond Bank CEO, Uzoma Dozie.