Zenith Bank Plc has announced the opening of a new branch in Manchester, marking another step in the bank’s international expansion and its drive to strengthen financial links between Africa and global markets.
The branch will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at a ceremony expected to attract government officials from Nigeria and the United Kingdom, financial regulators, investors, customers and business leaders from both countries. The event highlights growing economic ties and investment opportunities between the two markets.
According to the bank, the Manchester office will complement its existing operations in the United Kingdom and serve as a strategic hub for businesses engaged in international trade and investment.
The branch will provide services including corporate banking, trade finance, treasury operations and other financial solutions for clients operating across the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Adaora Umeoji, said the new branch reflects the bank’s ambition to deepen financial connections between global markets and Africa.
She noted that Manchester is one of the United Kingdom’s most dynamic commercial centres and that establishing a presence there will help strengthen financial partnerships between businesses in the UK and emerging opportunities across Africa’s growing markets.
Founded in 1990 by its founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, the bank has grown into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, maintaining consistent profitability and strong capitalisation.
Headquartered in Lagos, the bank operates more than 500 branches and business offices across Nigeria.
Beyond its domestic network, the bank also maintains subsidiaries in several African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire, while sustaining an international presence in major financial centres such as the United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates and China.
The Manchester branch is expected to work closely with the bank’s London operations and its wider global network to support businesses seeking to expand across borders and tap into new trade and investment opportunities between the United Kingdom and Africa.
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