Access Bank Group

Access Bank Group is a Nigerian multinational financial services conglomerate headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. The group operates through its subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, and has a presence in 24 countries across three continents, including Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Zambia, and France. The group also maintains representative offices in China, India, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. As of June 2024, Access Bank Group reported total assets of approximately US$22.419 billion (NGN: 36.5 trillion).

The group's investment strategy is diversified across various asset classes, including fixed income (debt and bonds), private equity, and venture capital. It focuses on multiple stages of investment, such as early stage, growth, late stage, pre-IPO, buyout, turnaround, and distressed situations. Geographically, Access Bank Group's investments span across its operational territories, with a significant emphasis on Nigeria and other African countries. The group is involved in a wide range of industries, including banking, financial services, investment management, insurance, real estate, technology, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, consumer goods, agriculture, transportation, media, education, and hospitality.

Access Bank Group has a strong track record of growth and expansion. In 2019, it merged with Diamond Bank, creating one of Africa's largest banks by customer base and total assets. The group has also made strategic acquisitions, such as acquiring a 78.2% stake in BancABC Botswana in 2021 and a 60% stake in Grobank, a South African bank, in 2021. In 2024, Access Bank Group signed binding contracts to acquire 100% shareholding in Bidvest Bank in South Africa for US$159 million (ZAR: 2.8 billion), with the deal expected to close by June 2025, subject to regulatory approval. Additionally, in 2024, the group announced plans to acquire 80% of Finance Trust Bank in Uganda, a commercial bank specializing in lending to women customers and women-led businesses. These strategic moves underscore Access Bank Group's commitment to expanding its footprint and enhancing its service offerings across Africa and beyond.