• Standard Chartered to sell all Botswana operations, exit market entirely

• Sale plan expanded after buyers sought full business, not partial exit

• Marks latest step in Africa scale-back, focus shifts to Asia, Middle East

Standard Chartered is exploring the sale of its business in Botswana, the London-based banking group announced on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

The potential transaction would cover Standard Chartered's retail banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth management operations in the country. The British group said the sale process is subject to regulatory approvals and other necessary clearances. It expects the process to take 12 to 15 months to complete. If completed, the deal would mark the group's exit from Botswana.

Standard Chartered had not initially planned to sell all of its Botswana operations. In November 2024, the group said it was considering the sale of its wealth management and retail banking businesses, aiming to focus on corporate and investment banking.

The strategy changed following discussions with potential buyers, who said they saw greater value in acquiring the entire business. They believe the combined scale of the bank would help use resources more efficiently, support funding needs and broaden the customer base. Standard Chartered has therefore decided to explore the sale of all its operations in Botswana, including corporate and investment banking. The broader scope could increase the potential value of the transaction.

A full withdrawal from Botswana would mark a new stage in Standard Chartered’s strategic refocusing in Africa. Mpho Masupe, the group's managing director in Botswana, said the bank is ready for the transition. He added that the current organisation could continue to operate under a different owner and that the scale of the business is suited to the local market, which may support continuity after a sale.

While the group prepares to leave Botswana, it says Africa remains a central part of its global network. In recent years, it has reduced its presence in several countries on the continent, withdrawing from or scaling back operations in Zimbabwe, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania.

The moves are part of a strategy to concentrate resources on selected markets and higher-margin businesses, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

Chamberline Moko