Our History
Access Bank Plc has transformed from an obscure Nigerian Bank into a world class African financial institution.
Open an account nowAccess Bank Plc has transformed from an obscure Nigerian Bank into a world class African financial institution.
Access Bank launched its operations as a full-service commercial Bank in Ghana in May 2009 after completing all regulatory requirements.
The entry of Access Bank into the Ghanaian economy signaled the beginning of a new era in the annals of banking because of its acknowledged reputation for innovation and service excellence across Africa and beyond. The Bank was one of the first to meet Bank of Ghana’s GHS 60 million minimum capital requirement for universal banks
In 2012, Access Bank acquired Intercontinental Bank, making it one of the largest retail banks in Ghana, with an increased customer base of 175,000 in 39 office locations.
The Bank received an ISO 9001:2008 Certification in 2015 and in 2016, listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) as the 11th Bank and the 41st company after successfully completing its Initial Public Offer. This feat also occasioned a name change from Access Bank (Ghana) Limited to Access Bank Ghana Plc and positioned the Bank as the first Ghanaian bank of Nigerian origin to list on the GSE.
In 2019, Access Bank (Group) merged with Diamond Bank making it the biggest retail bank in Africa with over Sixty million customers as at 2023.
Admitted into the prestigious club 100
Set up ultramodern data recovery site
Received ISO 9001: 2008 certification
Listed on the Ghana’s stock exchange as first bank of Nigeria heritage
In December 2018, Access Bank Ghana Plc embarked on a transformative journey under the leadership of Olumide Olatunji, appointed as Managing Director with a bold mandate: to position Access Bank Ghana among the top five financial institutions in Ghana within five years. This strategic goal was fortified by the appointment of Ms. Ama Sarpong, a seasoned executive with extensive experience from multinational and Ghanaian organizations, including Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Newmont, and GCB Bank. She joined the Board in April 2021 and became Board Chairperson in August 2022, bringing visionary leadership to guide the bank’s growth.
To further drive this transformational agenda, the bank strengthened its leadership with the addition of James Bruce as Executive Director for Wholesale Banking and Pearl Nkrumah as Executive Director of Retail & Digital Banking. Together, they spearhead initiatives to expand corporate client portfolios, foster strategic partnerships, and achieve retail dominance in Ghana. This resilient management team established a road map for transforming Access Bank Ghana into a world-class financial institution. Reflecting its growing role, Ghana was chosen as the headquarters for Access Bank's African subsidiaries, with the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana also appointed Regional Managing Director for Western Africa, aligning the bank’s aspirations and operations across the region.
The focus was to:
The impact of the transformation agenda was reflected in the first year. The bank grew its balance sheet by 100% and posted an impressive N1 billion profit before tax. The profit before tax figure was more than the cumulative profit made by the bank in the previous 12 years. This also marked the beginning of what would be a six year record triple-digit growth trend. Similarly, earnings per share had rebounded to 21 kobo from a negative 2 kobo position, leading to a declaration of a 5 kobo dividend to shareholders for the first time in three years.
In recognition of the role of an enhanced capital structure, the Bank embarked on a capital raising exercise in July 2007. The exercise was an astounding success recording an over subscription of over 300%. The public offer comprised of an Over-The-Counter GDR placement of US$250 million which was similarly oversubscribed by 700%. The Bank's shareholders fund today stands at over N240 billion with an expanded shareholder base of over 1,000,000 domestic and foreign investors.
Access Bank is consistently seeking for ways to expand its service platform across the African continent. The bank currently operates through a network of about 366 branches across major cities and commercial centers in Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The impact of the transformation agenda was reflected in the first year. The bank grew its balance sheet by 100% and posted an impressive N1 billion profit before tax. The profit before tax figure was more than the cumulative profit made by the bank in the previous 12 years. This also marked the beginning of what would be a six year record triple-digit growth trend. Similarly, earnings per share had rebounded to 21 kobo from a negative 2 kobo position, leading to a declaration of a 5 kobo dividend to shareholders for the first time in three years.
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