Zenith Bank Plc will open its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, in a ceremony expected to draw senior officials from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, regulators, business leaders and diplomats. The event underscores the bank’s Pan‑African expansion and the growing economic ties between the two countries.
The subsidiary, licensed in December 2025 by Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Finance and Budget and supervised by the UMOA Banking Commission, will operate from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan. Its launch is aimed at deepening Zenith Bank’s presence in Francophone West Africa and enhancing financial intermediation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire will concentrate on corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, and structured financial solutions for businesses operating across Africa and beyond. The bank positions the new unit as a gateway for cross‑border trade and investment, linking African enterprises with global markets.
Group Managing Director/CEO Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, said the opening “realises our founder Jim Ovia’s vision of a truly global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets.” She added that the subsidiary creates a “strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa” and reinforces the bank’s commitment to facilitating trade, investment and enterprise growth on the continent.
The subsidiary will be led by MD/CEO Mr Cédric Tano, a banking executive with more than 20 years of experience. Tano highlighted the timing of the launch, noting Côte d’Ivoire’s robust economic growth and increasing regional integration. He said Zenith Bank will bring a “customer‑centric approach that blends global best practices with deep local insight” to support businesses with innovative financing, cross‑border trade facilitation and broader economic development in the WAEMU region.
The Côte d’Ivoire entry forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader continental growth strategy. In addition to its existing operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the United Kingdom, France, the United Arab Emirates and China, the bank is initiating expansion into the CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) market, beginning with Cameroon.
Founded in 1990, Zenith Bank has become one of Africa’s leading banking institutions, maintaining the highest Tier‑1 capital in Nigeria for 16 consecutive years. Built on a foundation of people, technology and service, the bank continues to deliver innovative financial solutions while adhering to disciplined growth and risk management practices. The launch of the Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary marks a significant step in extending its network across the continent and strengthening its role as a bridge between African markets and global opportunities.
