Lagos, Nigeria – July 16, 2025 Access Holdings PLC, the parent company of Access Bank, has reaffirmed its long-term strategic blueprint anchored on a deliberate and structured progression: scale, optimise, and sustain.

This roadmap, which has driven the Group’s aggressive expansion across Africa and into key global markets, is now entering a crucial optimisation phase, expected to unlock significant value for stakeholders as the organisation heads toward 2027.

Speaking on the strategy, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, noted:

“Our approach has always been clear: scale first through strategic expansion, then optimise through consolidation, synergy realisation, and operational efficiency. During the scale-up phase, a considerable amount of funding is required to drive investments in people, systems, infrastructure, and acquisitions.

But as we move deeper into the optimisation phase, we will begin to see the full benefits manifest, especially in terms of profitability, capital efficiency, and shareholder returns.”

Access Holdings' five-year strategic plan, which runs through to 2027, also places financial inclusion and impact at the core of its growth agenda. By expanding digital access and scaling low-cost delivery platforms, the Group aims to onboard millions of previously unbanked and underserved individuals and MSMEs across Africa into the formal financial system.

This forms part of a broader strategy to:

• Enhance intra-Africa trade

• Empower smallholder businesses

• Strengthen the value chain across agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing

Financial Performance (FY 2024)

• Gross earnings: ₦4.878 trillion (up from ₦2.594 trillion in 2023)

• Profit before tax: ₦867.0 billion (19% increase)

• Total assets: ₦41.498 trillion (55.5% increase)

This reinforces Access Holdings’ position as one of Africa’s most formidable financial services institutions.

Global Footprint

Access Holdings has expanded across over 20 markets, including:

• UK

• France

• South Africa

• Asia and the Middle East trade corridors

These investments, though capital-intensive, are contributing to a diversified earnings base and positioning the Group as a global player from Africa.

Next Phase Focus:

• Streamline operations

• Deepen digital innovation

• Enhance customer experience

• Improve capital productivity

• Leverage data and technology to:

  • Improve access

  • Reduce transaction costs

  • Accelerate financial inclusion (especially for women, youth, and rural communities)

“We are confident that as we approach 2027, the full impact of our strategic moves will become evident. This is about growing bigger and becoming better, faster, and more resilient.”
— Bolaji Agbede