Our History

Our History

Over the past 26 years, Access has become a leading African bank, driven by the conviction that ethical behavior is the only way to build a strong long-term business.  


From the outset, we have challenged ourselves to operate according to the highest global standards and to earn the trust of international markets. 


We want to develop the society around us by supporting local entrepreneurs and investing in communities. As a major corporate financier, we use our influence to ensure that companies become more sustainable by raising standards in this area. 

Our customers are at the heart of our business model. By working with some of the largest companies in the world, we grow their business by empowering their employees, suppliers and distributors. 

 

Our ambition is to be the most respected African bank in the world. We hope to be part of the change, promoting a well-functioning and fair society.  well-functioning society that is fair and transparent.

The Beginning (1988 - 2023)
  1 
1988 - Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
  2 
 2012 - Acquisition of Intercontinental Bank and ranking among the top five banks in Nigeria
  3 
2018/2019 - Merger with Diamond Bank, Leading Bank in Digital and Mobile Services
  4 
2020/2021 - Expansion to Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa.
  5 
2022 - Strategic expansion into Cameroon, Botswana, Kenya, Guinea and South Africa and strengthening its presence in Zambia. Expansion to France.
  6 
2023 - Expansion into Angola, through the acquisition of Finibanco and Standard Chartered and the acquisition of majority stakes in Standard Chartered Bank subsidiaries in Cameroon, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Achieving our goal of being number one in Nigeria was an important step in our broader strategy for Africa and another milestone on our path to becoming Africa's gateway to the world. 


We are fully focused on building the scale needed to become a leading bank in the main markets in which we operate by leveraging the right partnerships. 

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