• Access Holdings finalises deal to take over Standard Chartered Bank Gambia
• Standard Chartered ends its 130-year presence in the Gambian banking market
• Acquisition follows Access Holdings' recent purchase of National Bank of Kenya

Access Holdings, the Nigerian financial group, has officially completed its acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank Gambia. The deal was approved by the Central Bank of Gambia on Friday, June 13, 2025. Following this approval, Standard Chartered Bank Gambia will stop all banking activities in the country. Its banking license will be withdrawn, and all of its assets in Gambia will be transferred to Access Holdings.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Gambia, Buah Saidy, confirmed the decision during a press conference. He explained that the transition took place under the oversight of local financial regulators, who worked closely with both banks, along with their management teams and boards of directors, to ensure a smooth process.

This marks the end of Standard Chartered Bank’s 130-year presence in Gambia. The British bank had been operating in the country since 1895. With the acquisition now complete, Access Holdings takes over. The Nigerian group has had a presence in Gambia since 2007, when it launched its local subsidiary. That subsidiary will continue to operate while a possible merger of the two entities is being considered.

This exit by Standard Chartered Bank is part of a larger plan. As of July 2023, the bank had started selling some of its African subsidiaries to Access Holdings.

This deal also follows Access Holdings' recent acquisition of the National Bank of Kenya. That transaction was approved by financial authorities in both Kenya and Nigeria. It reflects Access Holdings’ ongoing strategy to expand its footprint in both West and East Africa.