Paul Arithi 
Access Bank and Standard-Chartered Gambia Acquisation signing Ceremony
- Access Bank Completes Takeover of Standard Chartered;
Access Bank Plc has officially completed its acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank Gambia, ending the British lender’s 130-year presence in the country.
The transition was approved by the Central Bank of Gambia on Friday, June 13, 2025.
This transaction is part of a larger 2022 deal in which Access acquired Standard Chartered’s subsidiaries in The Gambia, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone, demonstrating the company’s appetite for cross-border expansion.
The bank noted that the transition is not only a handover but a rebalancing of Africa’s banking power.
“While global banks like Standard Chartered and Barclays unwind from smaller markets to tighten strategic focus, Access Bank is pressing forward with an unapologetically expansionist agenda,” read part of the statement.
From recent buys in Kenya (National Bank), South Africa (Bidvest Bank), and North Africa (via Morocco/Malta expansions), Access has evolved into the continent’s most aggressive dealmaker trading caution for capital control.
It reflects Access Holdings’ ongoing strategy to expand its footprint in both West and East Africa.
The deal closes a chapter for Standard Chartered, which has operated in The Gambia since 1895. With the transfer, Access Bank officially becomes one of the biggest financial players in the Gambian market.
The Central Bank worked with both banks to ensure a smooth transition. Staff from Standard Chartered have been absorbed into Access Bank’s operations, preserving jobs and minimizing disruption.
