Banking
What is the Future of Private Banking in Africa?
Africa’s growth story may have been hampered by COVID-19, and whilst challenges remain, there are still investment opportunities and wealth creation taking place.
There are, at present, around 136,000 high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) living in Africa, with total private wealth held on the continent amounting to $2 trillion. Those numbers are expected to keep growing too. In fact, the number of HNWIs in Nigeria alone is expected to grow 40% over the next decade[1].
That means private banking in Africa, and in Nigeria, the continent’s biggest economy, will only become more important. Recent reports suggest that wealth in Africa is poised to grow at a stronger level than many other regions around the world.
But, as the number of people needing private banking services grows, these services will also have to adjust to their changing wants and needs. Among other things, that means helping clients with tangible investments diversifying away from their local markets, offering Discretionary Portfolio Management, and balancing traditional and digital banking services.
According to Amol Prabhu, Market Head: Africa at Barclays, families within these brackets, especially those with established wealth, are also looking for access to global networks and corridors, the ability to invest in other entrepreneurs on the continent and globally, and ways to ensure that their children can be educated overseas.
‘Not just private banking’
Prabhu notes that providing access to those global networks often means going above and beyond traditional private banking expertise.
By way of example, he says, “We’ve got a family based in Nigeria who are in the goods trading business. The entire family – parents, all three children and their spouses – bank with us. Their business is headquartered in Nigeria but extends across the corridor to Dubai and India, where it is managed by their extended family who happen also to bank with us. Having the ability to support these global families in every location as well as both individually and holistically is critical.”
“Also, as the client’s business grows, their needs change over time and we are well positioned through our Corporate and Investment Banking offering to provide this support. It’s the ability to provide clients with coverage that’s not just multi-location but also multi-business, multi-product and multi-generational that’s important,” he adds. “These types of clients have got complex, global needs, so that’s where real value can be added. Few banks provide this coverage and even fewer do it very well.”
According to Prabhu, another specific area that African clients look for help with is prime and super prime UK real estate.
“That can be people wanting to have a second home in London and spend more time there or wanting London properties as part of their investment portfolio,” he says. “And generally, because people are spending more time in these houses, they want bigger properties too.”
This attraction to the UK, he says, is overlaid by the fact that many clients expect that their children will live, work, or study in the UK at some point in their lives, as many of them have done.
The rush for direct assets
Another significant trend, Prabhu points out, is the growing demand for direct assets.
“What that means is that entrepreneurial families like to invest in other entrepreneurs,” he says. “It can be high-growth technology companies: fintech, medtech, agritech or ones focused on climate change and other issues.” The number of African tech start-ups receiving funding grew six times faster (46%) than the global average (8%), between 2015 and 2020[2], demonstrating the interest in this sector.
“These kinds of companies are typically looking for funding anywhere from $1 million to $200 million and we open it up to our ultra-high net-worth and global families within the Private Bank to give them the opportunity to invest.”
Crucially, these companies are all private, meaning that these investments are not open to the general, public market. By facilitating these investments, Barclays Private Bank not only helps their clients make more meaningful investments on the continent but also help grow the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Classic portfolio management
While those trends will undoubtedly shape private banking in Africa for some time to come, Prabhu points out that there’s still significant value in classic asset and portfolio management. The key, however, is to have managers and methodologies that can thrive even during periods of global political and economic uncertainty.
“If you’re sitting in Lagos and you’ve got a portfolio in the UK or Switzerland, you are literally thousands of miles away from your hard-earned money,” he says. “You have got to have real trust in the institution, the portfolio team and their underlying methodology that your money is being managed properly.”
Talent development is crucial
In order to ensure that all those needs are fulfilled, however, the right level of talent is essential.
“A high-quality talent bench is vital,” says Prabhu. “And to service African private banking clients effectively, they should either be from Africa, have lived on the continent, or have a decade+ of Africa private banking experience. Having that deep experience and a high-quality service mentality is critically important to show and deliver value.”
Ultimately, he points out, you are helping people who are typically very good at what they do but may have very little banking and investment knowledge and / or time to look into these things.
“At the end of the day, our role is to help and guide clients to make the right kinds of decisions in the financial context,” he says. “And having the right talent and skills on-hand as well as a quality institution behind you is crucial to that.”
As the number of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals in Africa continues to grow, having the right partners with those skills and knowledge will only become more important.
[1] Source: Africa Wealth report
[2] Boston Consulting Group: Overcoming Africa’s Tech Startup Obstacles
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc will be launched on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, after obtaining an operating licence in December 2025 from the country’s Ministry of Finance and Budget.
The country’s subsidiary will operate from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan.
Zenith Bank is in Côte d’Ivoire to deepen its presence in Francophone West Africa and strengthen financial intermediation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
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.
Expected at the official opening ceremony tomorrow are senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, continental business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community, highlighting the strategic economic ties and investment opportunities between the two markets.
The Côte d’Ivoire launch forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader continental growth strategy. In addition to the Anglophone countries where it currently operates, and in line with the expansion into the Francophone market, the bank has commenced its entry process into the CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) region, with Cameroon as the focal point.
It was gathered that the new subsidiary will be headed by Mr Cédric Tano, a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of experience.
“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.
“Our focus is to showcase the Zenith brand as a customer-centric institution that combines global best practices with deep local insight.
“We are well-positioned to support businesses with innovative financing solutions, facilitate cross-border trade, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Ivorian economy and the wider WAEMU region,” Mr Tano commented.
Also speaking, the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, said, “From the very beginning, our founder and chairman, Mr Jim Ovia, set out to build a truly global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets.
“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.
“As we continue to expand thoughtfully and strategically, we remain focused on delivering world-class banking solutions that connect African businesses to global opportunities.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some entrepreneurs across diverse sectors recently completed a three‑week intensive capacity‑building programme organised by Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with DHL.
The event was put together to equip Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the skills, tools, and insights required to scale beyond local markets and compete globally.
The focus was on critical growth enablers such as cross‑border trade, e‑commerce opportunities, logistics, customs procedures, and international shipping—key pillars for sustainable expansion in today’s increasingly connected global marketplace.
In one of the sessions, titled Trade and Grow Beyond Borders: Welcome to E‑commerce, the Relationship Channel Manager for DHL Customers/Global Express, Mr Charles Eke, underscored logistics as a critical success factor for SMEs, identifying key challenges such as access to finance, markets, and efficient logistics.
He also provided practical guidance on customs processes, international shipping, documentation, and shipment tracking, while emphasising the immense opportunities e‑commerce presents for cross‑border expansion.
According to him, international markets often offer greater growth potential than domestic markets for well‑positioned SMEs.
The Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Omoboye Odu, described the programme as a catalyst for meaningful growth and mindset change.
“Over the past three weeks, something truly powerful has taken place. This programme has gone far beyond knowledge sharing—it has inspired new thinking and unlocked fresh possibilities for our SMEs. The message is clear: no business should be limited by geography,” she said.
Mrs Odu reiterated Ecobank’s deliberate focus on SMEs as key drivers of Africa’s economic development, saying, “Beyond building capacity, we are intentionally opening doors by connecting businesses to new markets and opportunities. With our presence in over 30 African countries, coupled with integrated payment, trade finance, and e‑commerce solutions, Ecobank is uniquely positioned as the Pan‑African bank enabling seamless cross‑border trade.”
One of the participants, Ms Dolapo Fatoki of Debsfray, a Lagos-based fashion brand, described the initiative as impactful, practical, and transformative.
“The sessions were highly informative. I gained a deeper understanding of documentation and pricing, two areas that previously posed major challenges for me. The collaboration between DHL and Ecobank has been exceptional and truly beneficial,” she noted.
Similarly, the Creative Director of FC Accessories, Mr Tosin Olukuade, described the programme as “an eye‑opener,” adding that it reshaped his approach to business growth.
“The insights I gained will help me scale my business exponentially. I am grateful to Ecobank and DHL for creating this opportunity,” he said.
Reflecting on the programme’s digital focus, the chief executive of Needle Point, Mrs Theresa Onwuka, highlighted how the sessions broadened her outlook on growth and innovation.
“The class was so good—it got my mind thinking of possibilities. My main takeaway is clear: digitalisation is the way forward,” she remarked.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to submit monthly reports on failed electronic transactions across digital channels, as part of new compliance measures introduced in its revised Guide to Charges.
The directive was contained in a circular titled Exposure Draft of the Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria, 2026 (The Guide) and signed by the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mrs Rita Sike.
According to the apex bank, Chief Compliance Officers and Heads of Information Technology in financial institutions are required to jointly render electronic reports of all failed transactions conducted via Automated Teller Machines, Point of Sale terminals, mobile channels, web platforms, and other electronic systems.
The circular read, “The Chief Compliance Officer and Head Information Technology shall jointly render monthly reports electronically, of all failed electronic transactions via various e-channels (ATM, PoS, mobile, web/internet and related channels) that originate or terminate in the institution.”
The reports are to be submitted to designated CBN email addresses, reinforcing the regulator’s push for stricter monitoring of service failures across the banking system.
Beyond the reporting requirement, the CBN also introduced broader accountability measures, placing responsibility on top management of financial institutions to ensure strict adherence to the new guide.
Executive Compliance Officers or Managing Directors are mandated to cascade compliance expectations across all business units and ensure that banking systems are configured to apply only approved charges.
Specifically, the regulator directed that Heads of Information Technology must ensure that “all systems configurations only capture and allow posting of charges as permitted and described in this Guide,” while Chief Compliance Officers are to monitor strict compliance with the framework.
The revised guide, effective May 1, 2026, replaces the 2020 version and provides a comprehensive framework for charges across banking and other financial services.
The CBN explained that the review was aimed at promoting a safe and sound financial system, encouraging innovation, and expanding financial inclusion through lower tariffs on micropayments and transactions.
It added that the revised framework would strengthen oversight and accountability, encourage the adoption of electronic payment channels, and accommodate new industry participants.
Business Post also reported that the regulator has raised ATM card fees by 50 per cent to N1,500 and scrapped the monthly maintenance charge.
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