Nigeria’s mid-tier lenders are under mounting pressure to scale up operations or face mergers as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) enforces its 2026 recapitalisation programme, a new report has revealed.

The report, released by SBM Intelligence and titled “Capital, Competition, and Consolidation: How Nigeria’s Tier-2 banks are responding to the CBN’s 2026 recapitalisation order,” examined the financial health and capital-raising efforts of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, and Wema Bank.

In March 2024, the CBN directed banks to increase their minimum capital base by 2026. Under the new rule, international banks must raise ₦500 billion, national banks ₦200 billion, and regional banks ₦50 billion. The apex bank said the measure will boost financial stability and prepare lenders to support the government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

Share price rally

The SBM report highlighted how some tier-2 banks have outperformed expectations in recent years. Fidelity Bank’s share price rose from ₦1.65 in 2020 to over ₦21.20 by mid-2025, representing more than 1,100 percent growth. Wema Bank also recorded a surge from ₦1.50 to nearly ₦15.00 over the same period.

FCMB and Sterling Bank posted steady gains, while Stanbic IBTC maintained resilience despite macroeconomic volatility.

Capital-raising strategies

To meet the recapitalisation target, FCMB has embarked on a three-phase plan to raise ₦400 billion through public offers, divestments in subsidiaries, and offshore placements. Fidelity Bank has already secured over ₦270 billion from an oversubscribed rights issue and public offer, with plans to complete the process ahead of schedule.

Sterling Financial Holdings is pursuing a mix of rights issues, private placements, and a $400 million public offering, while Wema Bank has combined a ₦150 billion rights issue with a ₦50 billion private placement after an earlier ₦40 billion issue in 2023.

Mergers expected

SBM predicted that consolidation in the banking sector will intensify as the 2026 deadline approaches, with mergers and alliances likely among mid-tier lenders.

“The financial performance of these banks in 2025 underscores their capacity to compete and thrive, even as Tier-1 institutions consolidate their dominance,” the report noted.

It added that the ability of tier-2 banks to adapt to regulatory demands, strengthen technology adoption, and implement bold capital strategies will determine their future in Nigeria’s evolving financial sector.

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, in collaboration with Mastercard, Tuesday announced the launch of the Mastercard prepaid card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa.

The card, which does not require a traditional bank account, is designed to serve individuals who have historically lacked access to formal financial services, particularly young adults, gig workers, and low-income earners. It enables users to top up funds easily, transact both locally and internationally, and manage spending with flexibility and security.

With more than 28.9 million adults in Nigeria remaining unbanked, and digital-first tools increasingly demanded by youth and freelancers, the prepaid card directly addresses pressing gaps in the financial ecosystem.

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal and Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, during the the launch of the Mastercard Prepaid Card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa, held at the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos on Monday.

Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, who noted this is a demonstration of the bank’s customer-first approach, stated that the bank is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian is banked and gets the best service.

“This collaboration with Mastercard is yet another demonstration of our customer-first approach. We are committed to providing practical solutions that meet the everyday needs of Nigerians, and this card will make payments simpler, safer, and accessible to all”

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal, said: “At Mastercard, we are relentlessly committed to advancing financial inclusion through innovative and secure digital payment solutions that serve both banked and unbanked Nigerians. Collaborating with UBA enables us to unlock endless possibilities by connecting individuals across all income levels, demographics, and social strata. Together, we are empowering Nigerians with the tools they need to confidently participate in the global economy and shape a more inclusive digital future.”

The prepaid card offers distinct benefits for different user groups. Cardholders can use it as a convenient budgeting tool; freelancers and gig workers gain a flexible expense solution; and the unbanked are empowered through a secure, reloadable allowance card. The product is globally accepted and supported by Mastercard’s trusted infrastructure, providing users with peace of mind and seamless digital payment experiences.

This collaboration aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable financial future in Africa, by striving to break down long-standing barriers, enable underserved communities, and advance economic growth.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is a leading pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than 45 million customers across 20 African countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. With a strong focus on innovation, financial inclusion, and customer service, UBA provides retail, commercial, and institutional banking solutions, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments through cutting-edge digital platforms and inclusive financial products.

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Nigeria’s exchange rate has shown relative stability in recent weeks, with forex traders crediting the development to the country’s currency swap agreement with China and the rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) foreign currency trading.

The President of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadebe, said Chinese traders are increasingly accepting naira for yuan rather than demanding U.S. dollars, reducing pressure on the Nigerian currency.

“The Chinese are now collecting naira for yuan, doing P2P. Go to any mining factory and you will see a Chinese man in Nigeria… these two factors are working right now. There is a lot of liquidity in the market,” Gwadebe told Nairametrics.

Nigeria and China first signed the swap deal in 2018, allowing both countries’ central banks to provide liquidity in their respective currencies to facilitate trade. The agreement, reportedly renewed in December 2024 at about $2 billion, was designed to cut dependence on the dollar for transactions between Africa’s largest economy and its biggest trading partner.

Gwadebe stressed that Nigerian importers from China no longer need to rely on the dollar, saying: “If a Nigerian is importing from China, all he needs is yuan to settle his affairs. You don’t even need dollars.”

However, another trader, Yusuf, cautioned that while the swap deal has helped reduce dollar demand, the U.S. dollar remains dominant because it is more widely accepted globally. He noted that many Chinese suppliers still insist on being paid in dollars, and yuan liquidity in the Nigerian street market remains limited.

Nigeria imported ₦14.14 trillion worth of goods from China and exported over ₦3 trillion in 2024, highlighting the scale of bilateral trade. Analysts say that while the swap agreement has helped stabilize the naira, its impact may remain modest given that imports from China account for just 20% of Nigeria’s annual total imports.