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.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous, most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first-fully digital bank, ALAT, has received a unanimous vote of confidence from its shareholders across Nigeria as it disclosed a record-breaking financial performance at its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Wema Bank 2024 AGM held virtually in Lagos on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

According to the Bank’s 2024 Annual Report, Wema Bank, in 2024, recorded an all-time-high performance, with Gross Earnings growing by 91.51% from N225.75 billion in FY 2023 to N432.34 billion in FY 2024; Profit before Tax (PBT) increasing by 135.16% to N102.51 billion in FY 2024 from N43.59 billion in FY 2023, and Profit After Tax (PAT) increasing by 140.13% to N86.29 billion from N35.93 billion reported in FY 2023; Total Deposits rose by 35.65% to N2,523.82 billion in FY 2024 from N 1,860.57 billion in FY 2023 and Total Assets stood at N3,585.05billion in FY 2024, representing a 60.04% increase over the N2,240.06billion recorded in the corresponding year of 2023 and placing the Bank squarely above the One trillion Naira mark, a milestone the Bank surpassed in Q3 2021.

The Bank also grew its loans to customers by 49.94% to close FY 2024 at N1,201.21 billion from the N801.10 billion recorded in 2023. Impressively, the Wema and ALAT brands continue to win public acceptance and market relevance as the Bank continues to record growth in its retail deposit drive. 2024 has proven beyond doubt to be an exceptional for the Bank with earnings growing by 91.51% year on year with earnings per share at 483.2 kobo. Additionally, the Bank’s Non-Performing Loan rate closed at 3.86%, a reduction from FY 2023 position. It is no surprise that the Bank received unanimous commendation from shareholders, with both internal and external stakeholders expressing full confidence in the Bank’s stable outlook and successful financial future.

Among the shareholders who expressed a vote of confidence in Wema Bank were Mr. Matthew Akinlade, who commended the Management for a performance he regarded as “very outstanding”, and Ambassador Doctor Olatunde Okelana, who described the 2024 financial performance of Wema Bank as “historical”, commending Wema Bank’s proactive approach to employee well-being.

Mrs. Bisi Bakare, National Coordinator of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, also added, “I want to start by commending Wema Bank’s outstanding performance despite the challenging macroeconomic performance. On gender inclusion, I would also like to commend Wema Bank for an impressive gender diversity on the board with 5 out of 11 directors being female, representing a remarkable 38% ratio. Furthermore, I want to seriously commend the succession plan of Wema Bank, and the board for achieving 100% attendance in meetings, which shows a full commitment on their part”.
Anchoring the Wema Bank 2024 AGM, Dr. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, the Chairman of Wema Bank, expressed the Bank’s gratitude and appreciation to its shareholders, customers, employees, regulators, partners and other stakeholders, for their continued support and contributions to the Bank’s outstanding performance for the year in view, reiterating the Bank’s commitment to sustain the upward surge in its performance in the decades to come.

Alluding to the Bank’s plan for sustaining the gargantuan growth recorded in 2024, Moruf Oseni, the Bank’s MD/CEO, added, “We will continue to deliver best-in-class financial solutions, invest in second-to-none technology, reinforce our internal framework for maximum efficiency and remain fully committed to innovation and service excellence, as we continue to provide optimum returns for every stakeholder of Wema Bank. The N150 billion Rights Issue window ended yesterday May 21st, 2025. However, we have raised a motion to raise another N50 billion through private placement, and with your permission, we will proceed with that, come June 2025.

“At the end of it all, what we expect is that Wema Bank will have qualifying capital slightly north of N267 billion, which allows us to sustain the resilient and robust franchise that we have built together, to keep Wema Bank thriving as a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Wema Bank stands strong at 80 and in the decades to come, I can assure you that the growth we are experiencing today, is just a tip of the iceberg,” Oseni concluded.

Wema Bank 2024 AGM saw the Bank’s shareholders authorise a number of decisions including the re-election of board members, remuneration of Audit and Board members, and payment of dividends of N1 per share.

From marking the incredible milestone of its 80th anniversary to making significant strides towards meeting the CBN recapitalisation benchmark for 2026 and achieving a record-breaking 2024 financial performance that has sustained an unparalleled growth streak over the past decade, Wema Bank has proven its capacity to remain at the forefront of the African financial industry without compromising on delivering unmatched value to stakeholders.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has been named the strongest Nigerian brand in the 2025 Brand Finance Banking 500 report, making a remarkable leap from its 9th position in 2024.

With a brand strength score of 92.4 out of 100 and a coveted AAA+ rating, UBA now leads the pack among Nigerian brands, reaffirming its status as a trusted and innovative banking institution.

Brand Finance, a globally recognized independent brand valuation consultancy, highlighted UBA’s outstanding performance across key brand metrics, including familiarity, preference, and consideration within its home market. This performance contributed to UBA’s climb in the rankings, not only as Nigeria’s strongest brand but also as the 13th strongest banking brand globally among 500 evaluated.

“This year’s ranking is no coincidence; it is the result of deliberate planning, strategic investments, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction,” said Alero Ladipo, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA. “We remain committed to adapting to the evolving landscape while consistently delivering exceptional value.”

UBA’s performance was bolstered by its strong customer loyalty and trust. It scored particularly high in price acceptance, outperforming other leading African banks such as Capitec (South Africa) and Equity Bank (Kenya). These scores reflect UBA’s consistent value delivery and competitive pricing, earning it a solid reputation across its operating regions.

The bank’s rise is also attributed to its sustained investment in digital banking, innovation, and customer-centric technologies. Over the past year, UBA has prioritized digital transformation to enhance user experience and deepen customer engagement—an approach that aligns with current trends in Africa’s rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

Operating in 20 African countries and with offices in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, UBA serves more than 45 million customers worldwide. With a workforce of 25,000, it remains one of the largest employers in the African financial sector.

UBA’s strong performance in the Brand Finance report underscores a broader strategy focused on brand equity, innovation, and customer satisfaction, positioning it as a leader in shaping the future of banking in Africa and beyond.