Zenith Bank Plc has opened a new branch in Manchester, United Kingdom, expanding its international network and strengthening its role in facilitating trade between Africa and global markets. The official opening is scheduled for March 17, 2026.
The Manchester branch will provide corporate banking, trade finance, treasury, and related services to clients across the UK, Europe, and Africa. It will operate alongside the bank’s existing London office, acting as a strategic hub for businesses engaged in cross-continental investment and commerce.
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, stated the move aligns with the bank’s strategy to connect African opportunities with international capital. “Manchester is one of the United Kingdom’s most dynamic commercial centres, and our presence here will further strengthen financial connections between businesses in the UK and opportunities across Africa’s rapidly expanding markets,” she said.
The event is expected to draw Nigerian and UK government officials, regulators, investors, and business leaders, reflecting deepening economic ties between the two regions.
Founded in 1990 by Jim Ovia, CFR, Zenith Bank has grown into a major African financial institution with a robust capital base and consistent profitability. Headquartered in Lagos, it operates over 500 branches across Nigeria and maintains subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Côte d’Ivoire. Its international footprint already includes offices in the UK, France, UAE, and China.
Manchester’s diverse economy—spanning manufacturing, engineering, logistics, technology, and consumer goods—makes it a complementary base for Zenith’s corporate and trade finance expertise. The new branch will coordinate with the bank’s London operations and wider network to support clients expanding between the UK and African markets.
This expansion reinforces Zenith Bank’s vision of building a global African banking institution that facilitates trade, investment, and stronger economic bridges between continents.
