Category: Banking & Finance

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has suspended the charging of processing fees of 2 percent and 3 percent previously charged on all cash deposits above N500,000 and N3,000,000 by individuals and corporates respectively, with immediate effect. This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Acting Director, Banking Supervision, Dr Adetona Adedeji. According to the statement, the suspension shall remain in effect until April 30, 2024. Recall the processing charges imposed on cash deposits aboveN500,000 for individuals and N3,000,000 for corporates as contained in the ‘Guide to Charges…

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Banks have been asked to disconnect Switches, Payment Solution Service Providers, and Super Agents from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Instant Payment Outwards System. The NIBSS disclosed this in a circular dated December 5, 2023, with Ref: NIBSS/BD/NI/PO/005/051223 to banks. According to the national payment infrastructure company, the listing of non-deposit-taking financial institutions as beneficiaries contravenes the Central Bank of Nigeria guideline on electronic payment. It said, “This is to bring to your attention that listing non-deposit-taking financial institutions such as Switching Companies, Payment Solution Service Providers, and Super Agents…

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Bloomberg announced today that FirstBank UK Limited (FirstBank UK),the UK subsidiary of First Bank Nigeria Limited, the premier West African bank,has adopted Bloomberg’s Trade Order Management System (TOMS). By integrating TOMS into its workflow, FirstBank UKwill have access to a comprehensive suite of data and analytics, communications,as well as order and execution management solutions, enabling it to streamline its fixed income bonds business. FirstBank UKis a niche market-maker to its customers in Africa. The business provides market liquidity in cash bonds, primarily in Nigerian, Angolan, Egyptian and Ghanaian Eurobonds to…

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Africa’s Global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has again demonstrated its prowess on the international stage as it clinched nine prestigious awards at The Bankers Awards 2023, organized by The Banker Magazine – a publication of Financial Times of London, the world’s leading business newspaper. The prestigious awards presented to the Bank at a ceremony in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, included the highly coveted Bank of the Year Africa 2023, solidifying UBA’s position as the leading financial institution on the African continent. The Bank’s subsidiaries also emerged…

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Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute to promote efforts and activities that support the formation, training, and updating of human capital in finance and investment for the overall development of the Nigerian financial services sector.The MoU, was signed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; the President/CEO of the CFA Institute, Margaret Franklin; and the President of CFA Society Nigeria, IbukunOyedeji on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the Group…

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Luxembourg based Universal Green Energy Access Programme (UGEAP), and Union Bank of Nigeria have formalised the basis for a strategic partnership to catalyse the development of the renewable energy market in Nigeria. This collaboration, marked initially by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to drive sustainable energy access for households and small and medium businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily focusing on Nigeria. UGEAP, a 15-year blended finance facility, is dedicated to supporting the transition to sustainable energy. The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) has committed the anchor investment to…

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Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French Government to establish a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc in France. The MoU, which was signed by the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, and the French Minister for Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Mr. Olivier Becht on Friday, November 24, 2023, will enable Zenith Bank, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, to seek and secure the requisite regulatory approval from the Autorite’ de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution…

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Stakeholders of Coronation Merchant Bank (CMB) are worried over the going concern of the financial institution as it struggles to stay afloat over its weakened capital position. This is even as the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of the bank has been downgraded by Fitch Ratings to ‘CC’ from ‘B-‘, with its Viability Rating (VR) also lowered to ‘cc’ from ‘b-‘. In a note released on Monday, the rating agency said it also demoted the bank’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘B+(nga)’ from ‘BBB-(nga)’, raising some red flags that prompted its…

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Access Holdings Plc, has announced the death of the chairman of its board of directors, Bababode Osunkoya. According to a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday night, Osunkoya died after a brief illness on Tuesday. The statement signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, said that “Consequent upon the tragic event, the company now has a nine-member board comprising of six non-executive directors (two of whom are independent) and three executive Directors inclusive of the group chief executive officer.” The company revealed that the board will announce…

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The Third Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, tagged “Future Forward 3.0”, is set to be held on Wednesday, November 22 and Thursday, November 23, 2023, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily. The Two-Day fair will showcase leading technology innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Contactless Payments, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, FinTech, Data Analytics, Financial Intelligence, and communication technologies. The event will feature pitch sessions to identify innovative startups, panel discussions, masterclasses…

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The House of Representatives have asked the leadership of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to release the list of its 350 top debtors at a Bankers’ Summit being planned by the legislators. AMCON data showed that 350 of its 12,000 total debtors owe 84 per cent of N4.7 trillion cumulative debts to the corporation. The chairman House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Other Ancillary Institutions, Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, disclosed this at the first 10th House of Representatives Committee’s retreat with the management of AMCON held at…

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FirstBank, Nigerias premier financial institution and leading financial inclusion services provider, has launched the Win Big promo to reward and delight its valued customers. The four-month promo, which started on 23 October 2023 and will run till 23 February 2023 will reward several new and existing customers of the Bank with a total cash reward of 170,000,000.00 naira. At the end of the four-month promo, 1,240 new and existing customers would have been rewarded with N100,000.00 each as each month will have 310 new and existing customers winning N100,000. Up…

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America’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has suspended trading activity for Tingo Group on the stock exchange. Tingo is a Nigeria-focused agriculture company that claims to provide a marketplace and payment services for farmers in the country. The self-described “agri-fintech” company is listed on the NASDAQ, which requires it to comply with US regulations and corporate governance standards. However, Tingo has been the subject of controversy following a June 2023 report by Hindenburg Research alleging its business in Nigeria is a fraud. Hindenburg Research is an American short-seller that bets…

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United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has received a trade finance facility worth $150 million from the African Export-Import Bank The facility forms part of Afreximbank’s Ukraine Crisis Adjustment Trade Financing Programme for Africa (AKAFPA), and the signing ceremony for the trade finance was concluded, by both institutions, on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair, organised by Afreximbank in Cairo on Saturday. The terms of the agreement states that the facility will be utilised to finance trade and trade-related transactions in support of UBA’s Clients.…

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The highly anticipated GTCO Fashion Weekend is set to take centre stage this weekend, bringing together the world of fashion, style, and creativity in a show of unparalleled glamour. Organized by the renowned Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, the GTCO Fashion Weekend has become a hallmark event in both the local and global fashion calendar. This year’s edition promises to offer a valuable opportunity for hundreds of local fashion enterprises to tap into new markets, and position themselves for sustained growth. In addition, the 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend will feature…

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Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2023, recording a remarkable triple-digit growth of 114% from N620.6 billion reported in Q3 2022 to N1.33 trillion in Q3 2023. This performance demonstrates the Group’s resilience and strong market share despite a very challenging macroeconomic environment. According to the bank’s unaudited third quarter financial results presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX),the triple-digit growth in the topline also enhanced the bottom line, as the Group recorded a 149% Year on Year (YoY) increase in profit…

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In recognition of Fidelity Bank Plc’s commitment to fostering bilateral trade and economic development between the city of Houston, Texas and Nigeria, the City of Houston has designated October 25 as “Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect Day”. Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston officially declared the special day in a statement released from Houston, Texas, on Thursday, 26 October 2023. The proclamation reads in part, “Whereas, The Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect summit committed to fostering bilateral trade and economic development between the city of Houston and Nigeria. The…

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29 October 2023 – Lagos, Nigeria- Fidelity Bank Plc’s leadership in the exports space has once again been reaffirmed with the bank’s emergence as the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the BusinessDay and Other Financial Institutions’(BAFI) Awards 2023. The bank was presented the award at a prestigious dinner event held on Saturday, 28 October 2023 at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. “The BAFI Awards is the benchmark of distinction for institutions in the Nigerian financial services sector. Now in its 10th year, the awards recognises and celebrates…

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has released its Unaudited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended September 30, 2023, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group reported profit before tax of ₦433.2billion, representing an increase of 155.2% over ₦169.7billion recorded in the corresponding period ended September 2022. The Group’s loan book (net) grew by 17.7%from ₦1.89trillionrecorded as atDecember2022 to ₦2.22trillion in September 2023, while deposit liabilities increased by 37.9% from ₦4.61trillionin December 2022 to ₦6.36trillion in September 2023.…

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…Signs $40million deal with AFREXIM Bank and JohnVents Industries for cocoa export The much-anticipated second edition of the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) got off to a boisterous start on Tuesday, 24 October 2023 as leading financial institution -Fidelity Bank Plc -hosted a broad range of businesses, regulators, members of the diplomatic corps and other guests to the opening ceremony in Houston, Texas, United States of America. Tagged FITCC Houston, the two-days event is aimed at achieving several objectives including increasing the pipeline of Nigerian businesses that export…

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In furtherance of its leading role in promoting socio-economic development, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the commencement of its Annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Week. For the past seven years, FirstBank colleagues and customers come together to participate in global annual volunteer (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) SPARK initiative, to give back to and foster positive change within the communities where they live and work. This has seen an impact of over 200,000 lives across eight countries, over 103 charities supported as well as…

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All is now set for the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) billed for Houston, Texas in the United States of America. Labeled as FITCC Houston, the second edition of the international expo will take place from the 24th to 25th of October, 2023 at the plush George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. Following the successful maiden edition that held last November in London with over $200million worth of deals closed, the bank is set for another edition of the globally rated expo. This year’s…

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lifted the ban placed on all 43 items previously restricted from purchasing Foreign Exchange to boost liquidity in the FX market. This was made known in a statement issued by the apex bank’s Director, Corporate Communications, Dr Isa AbdulMumin, on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The CBN had in October 2021 restricted access to Forex from FX market for the following 43 items: Rice, cement, Margarine, Palm kernel, palm oil products and vegetable oils, Meat and processed meat products and Vegetables and processed vegetable…

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First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, sponsored the Africa International Trade Exhibition (A.I.T.E 2023), held on 21 and 22 September 2023 at the Hilton Hotel Midtown, New York, U.S.A. The event was themed “the imperatives of global trade for African SMEs as a game changer for the continent’s future prosperity”. Woven into the fabric of society, with the rich heritage of being the premier Bank in West Africa, FirstBank’s sponsorship of the event reiterated its commitment to being the bank of first choice…

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British International Investment (BII), the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) and impact investor, has announced a $60 million trade finance facility for Access Bank Plc in Nigeria and five of its pan-African subsidiaries. This will strengthen import and export capabilities amongst local businesses and plug the foreign currency supply gap. The programme supports Access Bank’s strategy to enable continental trade and deepens BII’s commitment to bolstering financing environments in fragile economies. BII estimates the loan programme will stimulate African trade volumes by US$90 million. The agreement reinforces BII’s ongoing relationship…

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has postponed the Monetary Policy Committee’s 293rd meeting, which was scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, 2023 just as newly appointed Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardozo and four deputies resumed at the apex bank’s Abuja head office. According to a press statement by the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, Dr Isa AbdulMumin, “The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has deferred its 293rd meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, 2023, respectively. “A new date will…

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The Fashion Industry is in for another exciting experience as the GTCO Fashion Weekend returns for its 6th edition in November. The highly anticipated event is scheduled to hold on November 11th and 12th, 2023, at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos. The GTCO Fashion Weekend is an annual consumer-focused fair designed to showcase the best of Africa’s Finest fashion to a global audience. Over the years, the event has firmly established its place as an incubator for diverse talent, creativity, and enterprise in fashion retail, bringing…

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has released its Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2023, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group reported profit before tax of ₦327.4billion, representing an increase of 217.1% over ₦103.2billion recorded in the corresponding period ended June 2022. The Group’s loan book (net) increased by 22.8% from ₦1.89trillion recorded as at December 2022 to ₦2.32trillion in June 2023, while deposit liabilities grew by 37.0% from ₦4.61trillion in December 2022…

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Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, has denied a report that he is being lined up as the next governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). An All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Imran Muhammad had made a post on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Elumelu is likely to be the next CBN governor. “According to a source, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also considering Tony O. Elumelu as CBN Governor,” Muhammad posted. Elumelu responded to the post on his X page by simply saying “LOL. No, please. This is…

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The Board of Directors of Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dr. Juliet Ehimuan as a Non-Executive Director of the bank effective August 29, 2023. The appointment, which was announced in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, has also be confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Dr Juliet Ehimuan is the Founder and CEO of Beyond Limits and the immediate past Director of Google West Africa. She was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 power women in Africa, by the…

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FBNHoldings (FBNH), the parent company of Nigeria’s pioneer Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited published stellar results, confounding analysts, and exciting investors. Equally as amazing as the spectacular results, which saw earnings per share surge by 234% to N5.19 was the fact that the banking behemoth was able to eke out this profit in a financially hostile policy environment where bank earnings have been squeezed. The Bank’s holding company has also been a subject of shareholder squabbles, which ordinarily should be a distraction to the management and a drag on…

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First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services organisation, has announced the launch of its second fully automated branch, the FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre (DXC), on the campus of the University of Ibadan (U.I). Professor. Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor E.O Ayoola, Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin and Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics led the university community in hosting the delegation from FirstBank comprising Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, FirstBank; Callistus Obetta, Group Executive, Technology & Innovation Services and Timothy Arowoogu, Group Head,…

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Access Bank Plc has, as part of its expansion strategy, launched custody services to offer safekeeping and servicing of financial assets to its customers. The Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday. Ogbonna said that the expansion into custody services came after obtaining regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2022. He said that custody services was a crucial component of the bank’s continued growth and expansion strategy.…

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Leading financial institution, Fidelity Plc, has distributed over 1,200 food packs to the internally Displaced Persons in Makurdi, Benue State in its ongoing commitment to eliminate hunger among vulnerable persons in the society. The event, which took place on Thursday, 10 August 2023 at the IDP Camp, Federal Housing Estate in North Bank, Benue State was executed in partnership with the Hyacinth Alia Foundation and the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA). Speaking during the distribution event, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Meksley Nwagboh noted that…

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Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for the development of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal, for trade promotion within the African continent. The SMARTAfCFTA Portal, which has the capacity to provide information like trade indicators, market trends, custom tariffs, trade agreements, rules of origin, market access requirements of relevant jurisdictions, export potentials, export diversification indicators and contact details of business partners in target markets and other trade-related information about Africa, will help to unlock the vast opportunities for trade…

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First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial services provider, has announced the graduation of 20 successful participants in the fourth edition of its Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) at an event held recently at Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Before the 2023 graduation, the SMDP had produced 52 graduates. The Bank successfully graduated 23 participants in its inaugural edition, held in 2018; 17 in 2019 and 12 in 2020. The Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) is FirstBank’s intensive modular programme for a select group of senior managers to principal…

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Access Holdings Plc has been honoured with the prestigious Karlsruhe Award for Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement for the eighth consecutive time. Presented at the Global Sustainable Finance Conference (GSFC) organised by the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) in partnership with the city of Karlsruhe, Germany, the Award underscores the sustainability commitment demonstrated in the way Access Holdings conducts its business operations and activities. Delivering the opening remarks at the Awards event, the Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr. Frank Mentrup, lauded the unwavering commitment of the organisations present and urged…

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For a third year running, Zenith Bank Plc has been named the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria at the World Finance Banking Awards 2023. The bank also emerged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2023, retaining the award for a second consecutive year. These awards were presented to Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, at the London Stock Exchange recently. The recognitions celebrate the bank’s tremendous feats and milestones in financial performance, financial inclusion, corporate…

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FBN Holdings Plc (FBNHoldings) has posted N206 billion profit before tax in the first half of the year. The six-month report for the period ended 30 June 2023 showed that the company grew gross earnings and profit before tax to N656.6 billion and N206.3 billion respectively. Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo said the company has continued to deliver a strong financial performance despite the complex operating environment due to its reinforced foundations, deep market understanding, strong risk management and execution capabilities. “Across our businesses, we continue…

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