Zenith Bank Plc has formally launched operations at its new subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire, marking a key milestone in the group’s strategy to expand its footprint across Francophone West Africa.

According to a statement issued by the bank on Monday, the official commissioning of the Abidjan headquarters will draw a distinguished audience of regulators, diplomats, and business leaders from across the continent.

Commenting on the development, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Adaora Umeoji, said the expansion reflects the fulfilment of a long-standing vision to establish a truly global African banking brand.

“From the very beginning, our Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia CFR, set out to build a truly global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets. The launch of Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire is a bold step in realising that vision,” Umeoji stated.

The new subsidiary, licensed by Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Finance and Budget and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, is positioned to serve as a gateway for cross-border trade. It will provide a broad range of services, including corporate banking, trade finance, and structured finance solutions.

Umeoji noted that the bank’s expansion into the West African Economic and Monetary Union is aimed at fostering seamless connectivity and unlocking new opportunities for businesses across the region.

“Opening a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa reinforces our commitment to facilitating trade, investment, and enterprise growth across the continent. We remain focused on delivering world-class banking solutions that connect African businesses to global opportunities,” she noted.

The Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary will be headed by Mr Cédric Tano, an experienced banking professional with more than 20 years in the industry. Addressing the bank’s preparedness to compete in the Ivorian market, Tano underscored its strong customer-focused strategy.

“Our focus is to showcase the Zenith brand as a customer-centric institution that combines global best practices with deep local insight. We are well-positioned to support businesses with innovative financing solutions and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Ivorian economy,” Tano stated.

The Abidjan debut forms part of a wider pan-African expansion strategy. Zenith Bank disclosed that it has initiated steps to enter the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) zone, with Cameroon identified as the anchor market for its next growth phase.

Tano said the bank’s entry comes at a critical juncture for regional economic integration.

“We are proud to establish Zenith Bank’s presence in Côte d’Ivoire at a time of strong economic growth and deepening regional integration. Our goal is to promote cross-border trade and support the broader WAEMU region,” he said.

With operations spanning the UK, China, the UAE, France and several African countries, Zenith Bank is leveraging its strong capital base — having maintained the highest Tier-1 capital position in Nigeria for 16 consecutive years — to connect African markets with global capital flows.