Zenith Bank Plc has secured a banking licence to operate in Côte d’Ivoire, adding a new subsidiary to its pan‑African network. The licence was issued in December 2025 by the Ministry of Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and is overseen by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Banking Commission.
The subsidiary will begin operations from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan. An official opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 29 April 2026, and is expected to draw senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as business leaders and diplomatic representatives.
The move deepens Zenith Bank’s presence in francophone West Africa and aims to enhance financial intermediation within WAEMU. The new entity will target corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, and structured financial solutions for companies operating across Africa and internationally.
Group Managing Director and CEO Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, said the launch “creates a strategic corridor into francophone West Africa and reinforces our commitment to facilitating trade, investment and enterprise growth across the continent.” She added that Zenith Bank will continue to expand “thoughtfully and strategically” while delivering “world‑class banking solutions that connect African businesses to global opportunities.”
The subsidiary will be led by MD/CEO Cédric Tano, a banking executive with more than 20 years of experience. Tano noted that the timing coincides with “strong economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and increasing regional integration.” He emphasized the bank’s focus on offering “customer‑centric services that blend global best practices with deep local insight” to support businesses, promote cross‑border trade and contribute to the Ivorian and wider WAEMU economies.
The Côte d’Ivoire launch forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader continental growth strategy. In addition to its existing operations in anglophone markets, the bank is pursuing entry into the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), with Cameroon identified as the initial point of entry.
The expansion underscores Zenith Bank’s ambition to become a pan‑African financial institution with a diversified presence across both Anglophone and Francophone markets, positioning itself as a conduit for trade and investment throughout the region.
