Only 12 states in Nigeria have up to 100 commercial bank branches
Ten states in Nigeria account for 67% of all commercial bank branches. Lagos has over 1,000 branches, while no other state has more than 350. Thirteen states have less than 50 branches each, and Yobe, Ebonyi, and Taraba each have less than 25.
- Kenya led with 90.1 percent account ownership in 2024.
- Mauritius (89.6 percent) and Ghana (81.2 percent) also in top 3.
- Nigeria ranked 11th at 63.3 percent; Tanzania fell short at 59.8 percent.
- Only 14 African countries exceeded the 60 percent inclusion benchmark.
- Another 14 African countries have no recent data in the Global Findex
Sterling Bank's origins trace back to 1960 as Nigeria Acceptances Limited, later becoming the first merchant bank in 1969
In 2006, NAL Bank merged with four other banks, forming Sterling Bank as it is known today
Sterling explored several merger opportunities, including with Ecobank in 2008 and FirstRand in 2011, but these plans did not materialise
In 2023, Sterling transitioned into a holding company structure, spinning off its alternative finance arm as a standalone entity, AltBank
The bank began raising fresh capital in 2024, with shareholders approving a ₦200 billion equity capital raise and securing a $50 million private placement as part of its recapitalisation