Zenith Bank has spent three decades building Nigeria's most capitalised banking institution. Now, it is building something else, a pan-African franchise that speaks French.

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the opening of its Côte d'Ivoire subsidiary, marking a pivotal achievement in the group's pan-African expansion strategy. The official opening ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, is expected to attract senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, continental business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.

The new subsidiary, licensed in December 2025 by the Ministry of Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, will commence operations from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan. The location in the heart of Abidjan's central business district signals the bank's intent to compete at the top end of corporate and institutional banking in the WAEMU region.

Positioned as a gateway for cross-border trade and investment, Zenith Bank Côte d'Ivoire will focus on corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, and structured financial solutions tailored to businesses operating across Africa and internationally.

Group Managing Director and CEO Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji was clear about the ambition behind the move: "The launch of Zenith Bank Côte d'Ivoire is a bold step in realising that vision, opening a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa and reinforcing our commitment to facilitating trade, investment, and enterprise growth across the continent."

The new subsidiary will be headed by MD/CEO Cédric Tano, a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of experience. Tano, who is expected to lead the bank's cultural and commercial integration into the Ivorian market, said the timing was deliberate: "We are proud to establish Zenith Bank's presence in Côte d'Ivoire at a time of strong economic growth in the country and increasing regional integration."

The Abidjan launch is not a standalone move; it is the opening chapter of a much wider Francophone strategy. The bank has already commenced its entry process into the CEMAC region, with Cameroon as the focal point for the next expansion phase. With a footprint already spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and China, Zenith Bank continues to bridge African markets with global opportunities.

For 16 consecutive years, Zenith Bank has held the record of the highest Tier-1 capital in the Nigerian banking industry, a financial foundation that gives its continental expansion credibility in markets where undercapitalised entrants have historically struggled to compete. The French-speaking West African market, long dominated by pan-African banks headquartered in Morocco and Togo, now has a new Nigerian rival knocking on its door.

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