Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Standard Chartered’s 130-year presence in The Gambia has officially come to an end following the successful acquisition of its operations by Nigeria’s Access Bank. The landmark transition was confirmed by Central Bank Governor Buah Saidy during a press conference in Banjul on Thursday, June 13, 2025.
“The process was done very well, in a very prudent manner and in a transparent manner,” Saidy told journalists. “The buyer is Access Bank Limited, they bought Standard Chartered Bank. And as of tomorrow, Friday, 13th June, Standard Chartered Bank will cease to operate, and we will ask them to return the license of Standard Bank.”
This acquisition marks a significant shift in The Gambia’s financial landscape, as Access Bank positions itself among the country’s leading commercial banks. Standard Chartered, which opened its doors in The Gambia in 1895, was one of the oldest and most recognizable names in the country’s banking sector.
The Central Bank played a key role in overseeing the transition, which included the integration of Standard Chartered staff into Access Bank’s operations. This move, according to Governor Saidy, helped preserve jobs and ensure service continuity for customers.
“It’s going to be another big bank with strong financial muscles to help finance economic activity in The Gambia, so it’s a development,” Saidy noted. “The transition has been very smooth, and the regulatory authorities have been working with both banks, their senior management, and their board.”
The Gambia acquisition follows Access Holdings’ recent purchase of Standard Chartered’s operations in Angola and Sierra Leone—part of a wider strategic expansion across the African continent.
In a statement marking the successful acquisitions, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, underscored the bank’s goal to strengthen its footprint in key African markets.
With the completion of this deal, Access Bank is expected to play a more prominent role in financing development and facilitating trade in The Gambia’s growing economy.
