African banks and telecommunications firms have continued to gain recognition in global brand rankings, reflecting the growing influence of the continent’s financial and digital service providers, according to the latest reports released by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
The firm’s Global Banking Brands 2026 and Telecoms 150 2026 reports show that banks from South Africa dominate Africa’s banking brand value rankings, while telecom operators such as MTN Group and Safaricom continue to rank among the strongest telecom brands globally.
According to the report, MTN remains the most valuable telecom brand in Africa, followed by Vodacom. In the banking sector, Standard Bank emerged as the continent’s most valuable banking brand, ahead of First National Bank, Absa Group and Nedbank.
Globally, the rankings show that Deutsche Telekom retained its position as the world’s most valuable telecom brand with an estimated value of about $96 billion. It was followed by Verizon and AT&T.
In the banking sector, the world’s most valuable brand was identified as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, with a brand value estimated at about $91 billion. It was followed by China Construction Bank, Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China.
Despite trailing global giants in overall brand value, African companies recorded notable performance in brand strength, a metric that measures consumer trust, loyalty and overall market performance. MTN and Safaricom ranked fifth and sixth respectively among the strongest telecom brands globally, underscoring strong domestic support and brand loyalty.
Strategy and insight consultant at Brand Finance Africa, David Winkfield, noted that African banks have long been recognised for delivering services that respond to the needs of their customers.
According to him, banks across the continent, particularly in South Africa and Kenya, have historically been early adopters of technology, including the expansion of automated teller machine networks and the development of digital banking platforms.
Winkfield added that continued innovation, combined with high levels of public trust in financial institutions such as Equity Bank, KCB Bank and Capitec Bank, has helped African brands maintain strong positions in global rankings.
