Major Shifts in African Banking and Telecoms

Access Holdings Rethinks Its African Expansion

Access Holdings, the parent company of Access Bank, is currently reviewing its operations across Africa. According to a report by techcabal.com, the group's chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, stated that they are considering exiting at least one foreign market. This decision comes as the bank identifies underperforming subsidiaries that fail to meet strategic goals or the cost of capital.

This rethink follows pressure to comply with Central Bank of Nigeria regulations. Under section 19(8)(c) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Nigerian banks are limited to investing no more than 10% of their shareholders' funds in foreign banking subsidiaries. With current exposure at 19.4%, the group is working to repatriate excess capital and restructure its operations. While the specific countries facing potential exit were not named, the company's subsidiaries in South Africa and Kenya have recently faced performance challenges.

Conflicting Capital Deadlines in Kenya

In Kenya, the financial landscape faces uncertainty due to a disagreement between government bodies regarding capital requirements. The Treasury has proposed an extension to 2032 for banks to reach KES 10 billion in core capital. Conversely, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) insists on an earlier 2029 deadline. As of mid-2026, 14 banks had not yet met the intermediate KES 5 billion requirement. Small lenders fear that forced capital increases could lead to a reduction in credit availability for businesses.

MTN and Cell C Tension

South Africa's telecommunications sector is also seeing friction. MTN and Cell C are navigating a disagreement regarding the terms of their long-standing infrastructure-sharing agreement. While services remain stable for now, MTN is seeking a larger share of the wholesale mobile market, potentially competing directly with its own partner, Cell C. As these businesses adjust their strategies, the reliability of the networks that power your point-of-sale systems and mobile payments remains a key factor.

What this means for you

For shop and supermarket owners, these developments signal a need for caution. If your bank is one of those undergoing restructuring, you might face temporary changes in service quality or loan availability. Keep a close eye on any communication from your bank regarding branch operations. In Kenya, if your primary lender is a smaller institution, they may tighten lending policies to meet capital requirements, making it harder to secure business loans. Additionally, ensure your digital payment systems are resilient by diversifying your payment providers to protect against any unexpected network disruptions between telecommunication giants.

What to do now

• Review your bank statements and monitor for any notices regarding branch closures or service changes.
• If you rely on credit for stock, speak to your bank manager early to understand their current lending capacity.
• Track your daily sales consistently to maintain a clear financial record, which is essential if you need to switch banks or apply for loans elsewhere.
• Use a secondary payment gateway to ensure your customers can always pay you, even if one network provider faces technical issues.
• Understand your daily cash flow to ensure you aren't over-reliant on a single banking institution.