Business
Access Bank: Soaring Beyond Borders as Africa’s Leading Brand
When you think of resilience, innovation, and transformation in Africa’s financial services sector, one name that resonates and continues to shine above the rest is Access Bank Plc.
For the fourth consecutive year, it has been crowned, once again, as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand in the “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking by Brand Finance, the world’s foremost brand valuation consultancy.
This ranking, backed by a detailed research study from the Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA), affirms Access Bank’s monumental impact across Nigeria, Africa, and key global markets.
Access Bank’s ascension to the top isn’t by a fluke — it’s as a result of strategic clarity, customer trust, and a corporate vision centered on sustainable growth and inclusive finance. The NOMA-backed research underscores that the bank’s brand equity is a direct reflection of customer satisfaction, digital transformation, and regional impact.
From Lagos to London, Nairobi to Paris, Access Bank is redefining African banking. Operating in 23 countries, with over 60 million customers, and 700+ branches and service outlets, the Bank is not only scaling—it is setting new frontiers in global banking standards.
According to Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, emphasized that “This recognition as Nigeria’s most valuable brand for the fourth year running is a testament to the strength of our people, our customers’ trust, and the strategic clarity that drives everything we do.
“At Access Bank, we remain committed to delivering value through innovation, financial inclusion, and impactful partnerships across Africa and beyond.”
In a time when Nigeria’s economy faces headwinds, the banking sector has emerged as a pillar of strength. Also, according to Brand Finance, banks now account for 59% of the total brand value in the “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking—signaling public trust and the sector’s expanding influence.
Babatunde Odumeru, Managing Director of Brand Finance Nigeria, noted: “Nigerian banking brands continue to grow, successfully navigating a challenging economic landscape with strategic agility while also maintaining customer loyalty.”
Beyond the data lies the heartbeat of Access Bank’s success—its customers. Across urban centers and rural communities, individuals and businesses are experiencing the bank’s transformative touch.
A known fashion entrepreneur in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, South West Nigeria, Mrs. Kemi Olawale, said of the bank: “Access Bank believed in my business when no one else did. Their digital banking tools make it easy to manage my finances and reach global clients from my living room.”
To Umar Yusuf, a Youth Tech Developer in Kano, in his reflection of the bank, observed: “Through Access Bank’s innovation hub support and SME financing, I was able to scale my coding startup and employ five other youths. That’s real impact.”
In her reverend compliments, Mrs. Ngozi Eze, a retiree in Enugu, added: “I feel safe and respected with Access Bank. Their customer service is a top-notch, and I love ingenuity making financial literacy part of their service.”
To Mr. Femi Dare, a logistics operator in Lagos, “The bank’s flexible business loans helped me expand my fleet. What I love most is how they combine tech with the human touch,” just as Mrs. Fatima Mohammed, a teacher in Minna, remarked, “Their school savings initiative helped our students’ parents stay on track. I see Access Bank as more than a bank—they’re partners in education.”
Mr. Chijioke Onyekachi, a diaspora returnee in Abuja, adds: “Coming back to Nigeria, I needed a bank I could trust. Access bank made the transition seamless and safe. Their cross-border services are world-class.”
Under the evolving leadership of Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group CEO of Access Holdings PLC, the bank is setting its sights even higher.
She noted that “Access Bank’s brand leadership reflects the Group’s long-term vision of becoming the world’s most respected African financial institution. As we continue to evolve and expand our footprint, we are focused on delivering sustainable growth, deepening stakeholder trust, and enhancing the customer experience across all our markets.”
Access Bank’s consistent top-ranking performance stems from its:
• Commitment to financial inclusion and digital transformation
• Investment in youth empowerment, SMEs, and innovation
• Focus on green finance and sustainability
• Strategic expansion into key international markets
As Access Bank celebrates yet another milestone, its journey serves as a beacon for other African institutions aspiring to global relevance to emulate. More than a financial brand, Access Bank represents a movement—one rooted in trust, innovation, and human progress.
With strategic leadership, a loyal customer base, and a relentless drive for excellence, Access Bank isn’t just Nigeria’s most valuable brand—it’s Africa’s flagship of financial ingenuity.
Special Report by Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA), a coalition of reputable digital news platforms and independent journalists committed to promoting factual, data-driven reporting and media transparency. NOMA conducts in-depth research, monitors brand performance, and amplifies stories that shape national conversations.
Their investigative insights and media audits are widely respected across corporate, civil, and governmental sectors, positioning NOMA as a trusted authority on brand perception and public engagement in Nigeria’s digital space.
UBA Group senior executives recently concluded the Group’s Half Year Business Review. Held at global headquarters in Lagos Nigeria, Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, brought together executives responsible for UBA’s twenty-four countries of operation.
It was an opportunity to restate the Group’s pan-African strategy, and commitment to further expanding the Group’s coverage across high potential markets across Africa, while also deepening its operations in its existing twenty African presence markets. With over 51.7% of Group revenues from ex Nigerian operations, UBA’s journey to being Africa’s most diversified financial services group was clearly in evidence,
The international strategic intent reinforces with the Group’s intention to deliver innovative financial solutions to its fast-growing global customer base. The strategy demonstrates UBA’s unique position as Africa’s global bank and ability to leverage growth opportunities in emerging and leading African markets.
The Group commenced its Pan African journey, with its entry into Ghana in 2004, followed by rapid expansion into 18 additional African markets. Today, as a resilient and future-focused institution, UBA continues to push boundaries by connecting Africa to the world and the world to Africa.
Mr Alawuba highlighted the Group’s expansion plans, disclosing that the Group is excited about the vast opportunities that the new markets present, a testament to UBA Group’s confidence in the African economy, providing world-class banking services that meet the continent’s evolving needs.
“UBA’s vision is clear – we are building a truly global institution anchored in Africa, but serving customers across continents. Further strategic expansion positions us to unlock new opportunities, support intra-Africa trade, and deliver world-class banking experiences wherever our clients choose to do business,” Alawuba said.
“In Europe, UBA has operations in the United Kingdom and upgrading its license in France, expanding its capacity to serve cross-border trade, investment flows, and the African diaspora, complementing our over 40-year presence in NY. These moves signal a clear message of UBA’s intent to reshape the competitive landscape”, Alawuba further said.
As part of the Group’s plan to expand its global presence, UBA, in January, announced plans to open operations in Saudi Arabia.
Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology. United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees’ group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.
Ecobank Nigeria, an affiliate of the leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank Group, has announced a comprehensive suite of innovative financial solutions designed to support all key stakeholders within the education ecosystem. These offerings are aimed at driving financial inclusion, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth across the sector.
For school owners and educational leaders, Ecobank offers cash-backed loans to support both operational and capital expenditures. These are complemented by treasury management tools that enhance financial oversight, along with digital collection platforms that ensure seamless and efficient school fee processing. Teachers and non-teaching staff also stand to benefit significantly. Ecobank provides salary access tools that enable timely and flexible income management, career development programs to support continuous professional growth, and financial wellness plans designed to promote long-term financial stability.
Suppliers and partners within the education value chain benefit from tailored financial solutions such as invoice factoring for improved cash flow, inventory financing to maintain operational continuity, and marketplace visibility to expand their reach and business opportunities within the sector.
Speaking at the unveiling event in Lagos, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to empowering the education sector with practical financial solutions that address real-world challenges, enabling all participants, from institutions and educators to families and partners, to thrive.
“Our integrated financial and non-financial propositions form part of a broader strategy to strengthen our leadership in the education financing space, while contributing meaningfully to national and continental goals around access, equity, and excellence in learning. We have designed these solutions to meet the diverse needs of school proprietors, teaching and non-teaching staff, students, and parents. Ecobank is committed to empowering the education sector through seamless collections, access to credit, and a suite of sustainability-focused offerings. Education is a pillar of national development, and we recognize the sector as an integrated system of needs and opportunities. Our goal is to support this system not just with financing but also with digital tools, career development programs, and sustainability initiatives,” he said.
Also speaking, Adebukola Ademiluyi, Head of Education, Faith, and Social Services at Ecobank Nigeria, highlighted the bank’s commitment to affordable and inclusive financing options. She noted that by integrating smart financing with sustainability, digital infrastructure, and inclusive participation, Ecobank is pioneering a full-service banking model tailored to the realities of Africa’s education sector.
“More than just funding, we are enabling seamless school management systems through API partnerships that digitize operations such as student registration, staff payroll, inventory management, and parental communication. We also place strong emphasis on supporting parents and guardians, providing financial planning tools, access to student loans, merit-based scholarships, and child progress monitoring systems. These innovations are designed to ease financial burdens and deepen parental involvement in their children’s academic journeys,” she said.
Zenith Bank Plc has retained its position as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year, in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks’ Rankings, published by The Banker, Financial Times Group, United Kingdom.
This ranking places Zenith Bank Plc as the 581st Bank globally, with a Tier-1 Capital of $2 billion.
The global rankings, published in the July 2025 edition of The Banker, was based on the 2024 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks. This is the primary basis for most international organizations’ assessments of banks.
Commenting on this achievement, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, said, “We are thrilled to have retained our position yet again as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital for the 16th consecutive year. This achievement is a reflection of the bank’s robust financial performance, prudent risk management and steadfast dedication to delivering exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders”.
She thanked the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary and transformative leadership which has played a pivotal role in cultivating a resilient and thriving institution. She also expressed her deepest appreciation to the bank’s esteemed customers for their continued loyalty to the Zenith brand, the Board for the sound corporate governance, and the staff for their relentless & tireless efforts in ensuring the bank’s success.
Tier-1 Capital describes capital adequacy, the core measure of a bank’s financial strength from a regulator’s perspective. According to the ranking, Tier-1 Capital, as defined by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) guidelines, includes loss-absorbing capital, i.e., common stock, disclosed reserves, retained earnings, and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned. A strong Tier-1 capital ratio boosts investor and depositor confidence, indicating the Bank is well-capitalised and financially stable.
According to the audited financial results for the 2024 financial year presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the Bank recorded a double-digit growth of 86% in gross earnings, increasing from N2.13 trillion in 2023 to N3.97 trillion in 2024. This growth was driven by a 138% increase in interest income, supported by investment in high-yield government securities, and growth in the Bank’s loan book.
Zenith Bank’s profit before tax (PBT) rose by 67%, reaching N1.3 trillion in 2024 from N796 billion in 2023. This performance saw the bank record an unprecedented total dividend payout of N195.67 billion at N5.00 per ordinary share in the 2024 financial year.
