Access Bank has announced plans to enter the U.S. market by the first quarter of 2026, further solidifying its position as a leading African banking institution on the global stage.
The Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, announces on Monday that the financial institution is committed to expanding its operations into the U.S. market by the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking at a media event with pressmen in Lagos, Ogbonna stated that Access Bank is well-positioned to become a truly global African bank, having successfully entered markets in London, Hong Kong, and Paris, according to Arise News.
This expansion reflects the bank’s commitment to enhancing its international presence and serving a diverse range of clients.
“By the first quarter of 2026, we will have Access Bank USA. We are going to be in the USA market. We will be in the global market and we will have global conversations, and dealing with different counterparties who operate across the world,” he said.
He stated that Access Bank aims to engage in critical sectors by leveraging trade and payments across the continent.
“So, we have started something we refer to as an aggregator strategy. There is no point being a pan-African banker when you have zero impact. So, it is very clear to us that in every market, we have a compete locally, and we have to be a dominant bank in the local market.
“Of our 19 markets that we will be on the continent by 2027, eight of those markets will be in the top three banks. 15 of these markets will be a top 10 bank and 11 of them will be a top five bank,” he stated.
He stated that Access Bank aims to engage in critical sectors by leveraging trade and payments across the continent.
According to him, it is essential to build scale in these markets by employing local talent, positively impacting the local economy, and collaborating with local governments and sovereign entities to make a meaningful difference.
“But I think importantly, it means that we then have the scale and the size to be able to force cross border trades to happen,” he said.
He emphasized that the management is intentional about the markets in which it invests.
He highlighted that Access Bank is targeting markets characterized by the rule of law, respect for contracts, investor openness, and friendliness.
Additionally, the bank seeks markets with a sufficient quality of education and skills, as well as significant intra-regional trading activity.
