While thinking about where to put one’s cash for supervision, the list of banks in Nigeria and credit union alternatives appears to be interminable.
There are small nearby and regional financial foundations that can be endowed with your well deserved money, obviously, yet for full service and extensive banking, the greatest national banks reign supreme.
Our updated list of Nigerian banks comprises of the considerable number of kinds of banks accessible in Nigeria.
We have isolated these banks into national, international and regional. The banking industry is turning out to be progressively competitive.
How many banks operates in the country, presently? There’s been series of arguments as to the number of banks operating in the country. Read more about how many banks are in Nigeria for more details.
To start with, banks had just two principal uses; taking deposits and offering loan to clients. With time the industry is developed with assortments of financial products and services.
In this resource, you can find information about:
- List of development banks in Nigeria
- List of mortgage banks in Nigeria
- List of merchant banks in Nigeria
Now, let’s talk about commercial banks.
List of Banks In Nigeria (Commercial)
There are 23 commercial banks in Nigeria and we are going to give you info about the full list of Nigerian banks in this category.
They include:
- Access Bank Plc
- Citibank Nigeria Limited
- Ecobank Nigeria Plc
- Fidelity Bank Plc
- FIRST BANK NIGERIA LIMITED
- First City Monument Bank Plc
- Globus Bank Limited
- Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
- Heritage Banking Company Ltd.
- Key Stone Bank
- Polaris Bank
- Providus Bank
- Stanbic IBTC Bank Ltd.
- Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd.
- Sterling Bank Plc
- SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited
- Titan Trust Bank Ltd
- Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
- United Bank For Africa Plc
- Unity Bank Plc
- Wema Bank Plc
- Zenith Bank Plc
1. Access Bank Plc.
The first on this list of banks in Nigeria is Access bank Plc commonly known as Access Bank. It is a Nigerian multinational commercial bank, owned by Access Bank Group.
It is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the national banking regulator. Access bank is no doubt one of the ten best banks in Nigeria at the moment.
Access Bank is presently one of the five largest banks in Nigeria in terms of assets, loans, deposits and branch network.
The merger of Access Bank and Diamond Bank on 1 April 2019 has made Access Bank the largest bank in Africa.
Data from 2018 shows that the bank generated revenues over $174 million, has a total asset worth over $12.5 billion, has more than 9000 employees working for the company, asset base of $12.2 billion, shareholders equity worth $1.8 billion.
- Date of establishment: 1989
- Authorization:
- Headquarters: Plot 999c, Danmole Street off Adeola Odeku/Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 600
- Official website: www.accessbankplc.com
- Contact email: cc-ombudsman@ accessbankplc.com
2. CitiBank Nigeria Limited
Citi works tirelessly to provide consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial services and products.
They strive to create the best outcomes for their clients and subscriber base with financial ingenuity that leads to solutions that are simple, creative and responsible.
Citibank (stylized as citibank) is the consumer division of financial services multinational Citigroup.
Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City Bank of New York.
- Date of establishment:, 1812
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 27 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
- Total number of branches: 12
- Official website: www.citi.com
- Contact email: customer.service@citi.com
3. Ecobank Plc
Ecobank Nigeria Limited, commonly referred to as Ecobank Nigeria, is a commercial bank in Nigeria.
It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the national banking regulator.
The bank has a total asset worth over $8.1 billion, GDP of over $405 thousand, shareholders equity worth $220 thousand and basic earnings per share over $30 THOUSAND. They have numerous ATM distributed all over Nigeria.
The bank began operations in 1989. It operates as a universal bank, providing wholesale, retail, corporate, investment and transaction banking services to its customers in the Nigerian market.
- Date of establishment: 1989
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 21, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Total number of branches:
- Official website: www.ecobank.com/ng
- Contact email: engcontactcentre@ecobank.com
4. Fidelity Bank
Fidelity Bank, also known as Fidelity Bank Plc., is a commercial bank in Nigeria.
It is licensed as a commercial bank with international authorization, by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the central bank and national banking regulator.
Fidelity Bank has grown from a marginal player in 1987, into a stable and respectable banking institution.
Notably in 2005, Fidelity Bank acquired FSB International Bank Plc (“FSB”) and Manny Bank Plc (“Manny”) to create one of the top 10 Nigerian banks.
The bank has a total asset worth over $4.2 billion, shareholders equity of $610 million and has a tier one capital of $1 billion.
- Date of establishment: 1988
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 2 Kofo Abayomi ST, Victoria Island 101241, Lagos.
- Total number of branches: 210
- Official website: www.Fidelitybank.ng
- Contact email: true.serve@fidelitybank.ng
5. First Bank Nigeria Plc
First Bank of Nigeria, sometimes referred to as FirstBank, is a Nigerian multinational bank and financial services company headquartered in Lagos.
This is one of the oldest Nigerian banks in our list of banks.
The bank generates Revenue of N10,675,000,000, Operating income worth N294,284,000,000, Net income worth N13,588,000,000, Total assets worth N4,514,789,000,000, Number of employees at 7,616.
FirstBank operates along four key Strategic Business Units (SBUs) – Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Public Sector Banking.
It was previously structured as an operating holding company before the implementation of a non-operating Holding Company structure (FBN Holdings) in 2011/2012.
- Date of establishment: 1894
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 35 Marina, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 620
- Official website: www.firstbanknigeria.com
- Contact email: firstcontact@firstbanknigeria.com
6. FCMB
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Ltd is a full service banking group, headquartered in Lagos, with the vision ‘to be the premier financial services group of African origin’.
FCMB is a large financial services provider in Nigeria, offering retail banking, corporate banking and investment banking services to large corporations, small and medium enterprises, as well as individuals.
Revenue of US$72 million (NGN:11.9 billion) (2012), Total assets of US$3.7 billion (NGN:614.2 billion) (2012), Number of employees Over 2,000.
As of December 2011, the bank’s total assets were valued at US$$3.65 billion (NGN:593.3 billion), with shareholders’ equity of approximately US$772.2 million (NGN:117.4 billion).
- Date of establishment: 1982
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: Primrose Tower, 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 310
- Official website: www.fcmb.com
- Contact email: customerservice@fcmb.com
7. Globus Bank Limited
Globus Bank was incorporated as a limited liability company on March 6, 2019. The Bank is duly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide commercial banking services to the Nigerian public.
They aim to be Nigeria’s foremost digital Bank, providing best-in-class solutions that are specifically tailored towards meeting your needs promptly.
At Globus Bank, they are focused on revolutionizing the Financial Services Industry by leveraging Technology, People and Service to broaden the depth and breadth of Banking services.
- Date of establishment: 2019
- Authorization: Regional
- Headquarters: 6, Adeyemo Alaska, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Total number of branches:
- Official website: www.globusbank.com
- Contact email: info@globusbank.com.ua
8. Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank plc also known as GTBank or simply GTB is a Nigerian multinational financial institution.
It offers Online/Internet Banking, Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Investment Banking and Asset Management services, with its head office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Revenue of ₦ 278.5 billion (2014), Operating income of ₦ 210.8 billion (2014), Net income of ₦ 98.7 billion (2014), Total assets of ₦ 3.16 Trillion (2016), Total equity of ₦ 374.3 billion (2014) and Number of employees 10,000 (2014).
The bank was formed in 1988 by over 35 young Nigerians in their thirties, spearheaded mostly by Tayo Aderinokun and Fola Adeola, but also included Femi Pedro, Gbolade Osibodu, Femi Akingbe, Akin Opeodu and others.
- Date of establishment: 1990
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 635 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 231
- Official website: www.gtbank.com
- Contact email: gtconnect@gtbank.com
Related: The 8 Types of banks in Nigeria and their functions
9. Heritage Bank Plc
Heritage Bank Plc. (HB PLC), often referred to as Heritage Bank or simply HB, is a financial services institution.
It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country’s banking regulator, with a national operating license, that offers retail banking, corporate banking, online/internet banking, investment banking and asset management services.
As of December 2015, the total asset valuation of the bank was estimated at about US$1.7 billion (NGN:483.4 billion).
Its shareholders’ equity is worth at least US$88 million (NGN:25 billion), the minimum capital requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for national banks.
- Date of establishment: 2012
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: 292B Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 127
- Official website: www.hbng.com
- Contact email: info@hbng.com
10. Keystone Bank
Keystone Bank Limited, commonly referred to as Keystone Bank, is a commercial bank in Nigeria.
The bank is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the national banking regulator.
Keystone Bank offers banking services to large corporations, public institutions, small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and individuals. The bank is a large financial services provider in Nigeria.
As of December 2012, the bank’s total assets were valued at US$1.916 billion (NGN:307.5 billion), with shareholders’ equity valued at about US$213.3 million (NGN:34.23 billion).
- Date of establishment: 2011
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters:
- Total number of branches: 150
- Official website: www.keystonebankng.com
- Official email: contactcentre@keystonebankng.com
11. Polaris Bank
Polaris Bank Limited, is a commercial bank based in Nigeria. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country’s banking regulator.
Polaris Bank is a large financial services provider in West Africa and Central Africa.
With headquarters in Nigeria, the bank maintains subsidiaries in Sierra Leone, the Gambia, the Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
As of September 2010, the bank’s total assets were valued in excess of US$3.9 billion (NGN:611.5 billion), with shareholders’ equity of approximately US$630 million (NGN:98.4 billion).
- Date of establishment: 2018
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: 3 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
- Total number of branches: 260
- Official website: www.polarisbanklimited.com
- Official email: yescenter@polarisbanklimited.com
12. Providus Bank
Providus Bank Limited (PBL), is a Nigerian financial services provider, licensed as a commercial bank, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the central bank and national banking regulator.
As of November 2018, Providus Bank was registered as a regional commercial bank, serving clients in Lagos State and in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory.
- Date of establishment: 2016
- Authorization: Regional
- Headquarters: 724 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 8 (2018)
- Official website: www.bankonline.providusbank.com
More Current Commercial Banks In Nigeria
13. Stanbic IBTC Bank
Stanbic IBTC Holdings, commonly referred to as Stanbic IBTC, is a financial service holding company in Nigeria with subsidiaries in banking, stock brokerage, investment advisory, pension and trustee businesses.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings is a member of the Standard Bank Group, a financial services giant based in South Africa.
Standard Bank is Africa’s largest banking group ranked by assets and earnings operations in 20 African countries and 13 countries outside Africa.
The bank generates Revenue of NGN 152.3 Billion (9M: 2017), Total assets of NGN 1.42 Triillion (9M: 2017) and Number of employees Over 2,926.
- Date of establishment: 1989
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: I.B.T.C. Place, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Total number of branches: 180
- Official website: https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com
- Official email: customercarenigeria@stanbicibtc.com
Related: Full list of banks that were merged in Nigeria
14. Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered re-entered Nigeria in 1999 and opened to customers on 15 September 1999 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank Plc, headquartered in United Kingdom.
Today, the Bank offers a wide range of products and services in Retail; Wealth Management; Commercial; Corporate and Institutional; Private, Digital and Transaction Banking business. Standard Chartered employs over 900 staff and sees Nigeria as a growth centre.
- Date of establishment:1894
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: 142 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos
- Number of branches:
- Official website: www.sc.com/ng
- Contact email: callcentre.nigeria@sc.com
15. Sterling Bank
Sterling Bank Plc is a full service national commercial bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Its shares trade under the Banking sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange with the symbol STERLNBANK.
The bank generates Revenue of ₦ 9.48 billion (2018), Total assets of ₦ 1.10 trillion ( 2018), Total equity ₦ 97.80 billion ( 2018) and has Number of employees Over 2401 ( 2018).
The bank provides services to individuals, small businesses (SMEs) and large corporations. As of December 2018, the bank’s branch network numbered 179, distributed throughout Nigeria with total assets valued in excess of NGN1 trillion and shareholders’ equity estimated at about NGN97.8 billion).
- Date of establishment: 1960
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: Sterling Towers, 20 Marina, P.M.B. 12735, Lagos, Lagos State.
- Total number of branches: 179
- Official website: www.sterling.ng
- Contact email: customercare@sterling.ng
16. Suntrust Bank
SunTrust Bank, inspired by the future, is a privately held Commercial Bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the BOFIA.
SunTrust Bank is poised to create value for its customers by leveraging on competencies and a team of highly motivated staff.
They work tirelessly to develop & provide a broad range of unique financial services and products to consumers, small business, corporations, governments and institutions with that will positively impact their business.
They generate Revenue of :₦157.87 million (2017) and have Total assets worth ₦26.56 billion (2017).
- Date of establishment: 2016
- Authorization: Regional
- Headquarters: 1 Oladele Olashore Street, Off Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Total number of branches: 14
- Official website: www.suntrustng.com
- Contact email: helpdesk@suntrustng.com
17. Union Bank
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc is a commercial bank in Nigeria. It has been operating in Nigeria since 1917.
Union Bank is a large commercial bank, serving individuals, small and medium-sized companies, as well as large corporations and organizations.
In July 2009, it was rated the 556th largest bank in the world and the 14th largest bank in Africa.
As of Mar 31, 2018, the bank’s asset base was estimated at NGN1, 381 billion (US$4.1 billion). The shareholders’ equity at that time was estimated at NGN286 billion (US$851 million).
- Date of establishment: 1917
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: 36 Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
- Total number of branches: 320
- Official website: www.unionbankng.com
- Contact email: customerservice@unionbankng.com
18. UBA
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, is a leading pan-African financial services group headquartered in Nigeria.
It is one of Africa’s best and most resilient banking Groups with operations in 20 African countries and offices in three global financial centers: London, Paris and New York.
In 2006, the bank pioneered the interconnection of its then 428 African branches making it the largest online real time branch network in Africa.
Africans are able to withdraw or deposit money in any of these branches regardless of where their accounts are domiciled.
- Date of establishment: 1949
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: UBA House, 57 Marina, P.O. Box 2406, Lagos.
- Total number of branches: 428
- Official website: www.ubagroup.com
- Contact email: cfc@ubagroup.com
19. Union Bank
Also on the list of banks in Nigeria is Union bank Plc.
Union Bank was Established in 1917 and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1971. It is the second long-standing and most respected financial institution
The bank at present utilizes in excess of 2,700 individuals and serves 4.3 million customers through a network of 300 deals and service focuses, more than 950 ATMs, and 7,000 active POS terminals.
- Date of establishment: 1917
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: Stallion Plaza 36, Marina P.M.B 2027 Lagos, Nigeria
- Total number of branches: 428
- Official website: www.unionbankng.com
20. Unity Bank
In January 2006, nine financial institutions with expertise in corporate banking, retail banking, as well as investment banking, came together to form Unity Bank plc.
Unity Bank is a large financial services provider in Nigeria. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Unity Bank also maintains an operations base in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
As of December 2012, the bank’s total assets were valued at about US$2.45 billion (NGN:396 billion), with shareholders’ equity of approximately US$322 million (NGN:51.5 billion).
- Date of establishment: 2006
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: No 42 Ahmed Onibudo Street Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
- Total number of branches: 242
- Official website: www.unitybankng.com
- Contact email: we_care@unitybankng.com
21. Wema Bank
The bank was established on May 2, 1945, as a private limited liability company (under the old name of Agbonmagbe Bank Limited).
Wema Bank is Nigeria’s longest surviving indigenous bank. It was granted a commercial banking license and commenced banking activities during the same year.
Wema Bank converted to a public limited liability company in 1987. In 1990, the Bank was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
It trades under the symbol: WEMABANK. It was granted a Universal Banking License in February 2001.
- Date of establishment: 1945
- Authorization: National
- Headquarters: 54 Marina, Lagos Island Lagos State, Nigeria.
- Total number of branches: 150
- Official website: www.wemabank.com
- Contact email: info@wemabank.com
22. Zenith Bank
Zenith bank was formally established in May 1990 and commenced banking operations in July of the same year. At inception it had a capital base of $4 million.
Zenith Bank is a large financial service provider in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa. It is licensed as a commercial bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the national banking regulator.
As of 31 December 2016, it holds ₦:4,739,825 million in total assets, with shareholders’ equity of ₦:616,353 million.
The company is listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.
- Date of establishment: 1990
- Authorization: International
- Headquarters: Zenith Heights, Plot 84, Ajose Adeogun street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Total number of branches: 500
- Official website: www.zenithbank.com
- Contact email: zenithdirect@zenithbank.com
List of Banks In Nigeria (Conclusion)
You should know that banks in Nigeria are classified according to their respective authorization.
In Nigeria, there are three options available. These are National authorization, Regional authorization, and international authorization.
Banks with National authorization operate only within the country they are located. They are allowed to carry out operations in different states of the country.
Commercial banks with national authorization in Nigeria include Citibank Nigeria Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Heritage Banking Company Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Polaris Bank Limited, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered, Sterling Bank Plc, Titan Trust Bank Limited, Unity Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc.
Banks with regional authorization are commercial banks that operate only within the State they are located.
There are just 3 banks that operate with this authorization namely Globus Bank Limited, SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited and Providus Bank Limited.
Banks with International authorization operate within the international community and they are able to carry out transactions from one nation to another.
Banks that have this authorization include Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Limited, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc.
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