Access Bank finalises acquisition of Standard Chartered Gambia - Trade Treasury Payments

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Access Bank finalises acquisition of Standard Chartered Gambia

Access Bank Plc has concluded the acquisition of Standard Chartered’s banking operations in The Gambia, marking the end of the British lender’s operations in the country after more than 130 years. The Central Bank of The Gambia confirmed the transition on June 13, 2025. The deal includes the full transfer of assets, liabilities, and staff to Access Bank, alongside the formal surrender of Standard Chartered’s banking licence.

The transaction is part of a wider 2022 agreement under which Access Bank agreed to acquire Standard Chartered’s subsidiaries in The Gambia, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. Standard Chartered is choosing to exit select African markets and refocus on regions with higher growth potential. 

Access Bank’s strategy includes a broader expansion across the continent and it has completed or announced additional transactions in Kenya, South Africa, and North Africa in recent years, making it one of the more active regional consolidators in African banking.

Industry analysts view the deal as part of  a trend in African banking, where some multinational institutions are scaling back operations with domestic institutions stepping in to fill the gap. 

The longer-term impact of these acquisitions on operational integration and market performance remains to be seen.