Access Bank, Wema Bank, Zenith and Five Others Meet CBN Recapitalisation Target Amid Banking Sector Shake‑Up
By Okafor Joseph | July 29, 2025 | SpringnewsNG Media Limited
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that Access Bank, Wema Bank, Zenith Bank, and five other commercial banks have successfully met the apex bank’s recapitalisation requirement, a key milestone in the ongoing banking sector reform.
According to the CBN, the recapitalisation exercise, introduced to strengthen the financial system and enhance banking resilience, required all commercial banks to increase their minimum capital base within the stipulated timeframe.
Major Banks Meet the Deadline
Access Bank and Zenith Bank, two of Nigeria’s Tier‑1 lenders, were among the first to cross the recapitalisation threshold, leveraging retained earnings, public offers, and fresh capital injections.
Wema Bank, which has expanded its digital banking footprint in recent years, also confirmed that it met the CBN’s requirement ahead of the deadline.
The other banks that successfully scaled the recapitalisation hurdle include:
- United Bank for Africa (UBA)
- First Bank of Nigeria (FBN)
- Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
- Stanbic IBTC Bank
The CBN stated that compliance with the new capital rule is crucial for ensuring that Nigerian banks remain competitive, resilient to economic shocks, and capable of financing large‑scale investments in the private sector.
Banking Sector Impact
The recapitalisation policy is part of the CBN’s broader financial stability strategy, following concerns over foreign exchange volatility and rising non‑performing loans.
Analysts believe the successful compliance by top banks will boost investor confidence, enhance credit flow to the real sector, and strengthen the naira in the medium term.
With the recapitalisation phase concluded, attention now shifts to smaller regional banks and microfinance institutions, which are still racing to meet their new capital thresholds before the next CBN compliance audit.
