Zenith Bank Plc has expanded its regional footprint with the establishment of a subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening its presence in Francophone West Africa and boosting financial intermediation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union, WAEMU.
The new subsidiary, which secured regulatory approval in December 2025 from the Ministry of Finance and Budget of Côte d’Ivoire and the UMOA Banking Commission, will operate from its headquarters located at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan.
An official commissioning ceremony has been fixed for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with top government officials, financial regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, business leaders and members of the diplomatic community expected in attendance.
The bank disclosed that the Ivorian subsidiary has been positioned to support cross-border trade and investment across the sub-region.
Its operations will focus on corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, as well as structured financial solutions for businesses operating within Africa and in global markets.
Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji, said the expansion aligns with the vision of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, to build a world-class financial institution with a strong presence across Africa and other strategic international markets.
She described the launch as a significant milestone in the bank’s continental growth strategy.
According to her, the move represents “a bold step opening a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa and reinforcing our commitment to facilitating trade, investment and enterprise growth across the continent.”
Umeoji added that Zenith Bank remains committed to providing innovative financial solutions capable of connecting African businesses to global opportunities.
The subsidiary will be headed by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cédric Tano.
Tano said the bank’s entry into Côte d’Ivoire comes at a period of robust economic growth and rising regional integration within West Africa.
He noted that the institution intends to combine international best practices with deep local market knowledge to support businesses, facilitate seamless cross-border transactions and contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider WAEMU region.
Industry analysts say Zenith Bank’s latest expansion underscores increasing competition among Nigerian lenders seeking growth opportunities across Africa, particularly in emerging Francophone markets with rising trade potential.
