Zenith Bank Plc has announced its entry into the Ivorian market with the launch of a new subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant milestone in its Pan-African expansion strategy.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and is expected to draw senior government officials, regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community, underscoring growing economic ties between both countries.
The subsidiary, licensed in December 2025 by the Ivorian Ministry of Finance and Budget and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, will operate from its headquarters in Abidjan.
It is positioned to serve as a hub for cross-border trade and investment within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire will focus on corporate banking, trade finance, and structured financial solutions for businesses operating across Africa and globally.
Group Managing Director/CEO, Adaora Umeoji, described the move as a major step toward fulfilling the bank’s vision of becoming a leading global African financial institution.
She noted that the expansion opens new opportunities in Francophone West Africa and reinforces the bank’s commitment to facilitating trade and investment across the continent.
The new subsidiary will be led by Managing Director/CEO, Cédric Tano, who said the bank aims to combine global best practices with local expertise to support economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and the broader WAEMU region.
The expansion forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader growth plan, which includes ongoing efforts to enter the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) region, with Cameroon identified as a key market.
Founded in 1990 by Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank has grown into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, with operations spanning multiple African countries as well as international markets including the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and China.
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