(Business in Cameroon) – Nigerian banking group Access Bank Plc has taken control of Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon, the local subsidiary of the British lender. The deal was confirmed in a Standard Chartered statement issued on Dec. 5, 2025, announcing the completion of the sale of its Cameroonian operations to Access Bank.
“In 2022, Standard Chartered announced its strategic decision to exit seven markets across Africa and the Middle East in order to improve efficiency, simplify its structure and focus on regions where it can have the greatest impact. Today, Standard Chartered Cameroon is officially transferred to Access Bank, and we have worked closely together to complete this acquisition,” said Kariuki Ngari, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Standard Chartered Kenya and Africa.
Launched in 2023, the acquisition has now been finalized after two years, following approval by the Central African Banking Commission (Cobac). Access Bank has signed agreements to acquire Standard Chartered’s stakes in its subsidiaries in Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Cameroon, Gambia and Sierra Leone, along with its retail and corporate banking operations in Tanzania.
In 2024, Access Bank Cameroon reported an 84.81 percent jump in deposits, rising from 79 billion CFA francs in December 2023 to 146 billion CFA francs a year later. Customer loans amounted to 17 billion CFA francs.
The bank also reported annual net earnings of 3.5 billion CFA francs and a 4 percent increase in return on equity, indicators that show its growing foothold in the local market even before integrating Standard Chartered Cameroon’s business.
By acquiring Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon’s operations, Access Bank Cameroon strengthens its position in the country. The bank says it serves more than 22,000 customers, including businesses, individuals and merchants, through five branches in Douala and Yaoundé. The acquisition is expected to significantly expand its corporate banking and large-enterprise portfolio.
The deal marks a new phase of expansion for Access Bank. It reinforces the Nigerian group’s presence across its network of subsidiaries in 14 African countries while extending its international footprint in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, China, Lebanon, France and India.
Access Bank says the expanded network will allow more than 52 million customers to use a unified platform for payments and money transfers worldwide.
Frédéric Nonos
