Banking | - Part 60

Policy Stability Seen as Key African Central Bankers’ Terms End

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The possible replacement of the governors of three key African central banks this year could yield an unexpected surprise: policy stability. Time is running out on the first terms of Nigeria’s Godwin Emefiele, Kenya’s Patrick Njoroge and South Africa’s Lesetja Kganyago. While all three are eligible to serve another term at the helms of their central banks, this isn’t guaranteed. Still, deepening institutional strength means there should be broad buy-in of the policies…

Uganda Central Bank Says Lenders’ Asset Quality Still a Concern

Posted on by The Editorial Team

KAMPALA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The asset quality of Uganda’s banking sector “remains a concern,” even as the country’s 24 commercial lenders reduced the amount of non-performing loans in the past fiscal year and were able to record higher profits, the Bank of Uganda said. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans declined to 4.4 percent in the 12 months through June from 6.2 percent a year earlier, but “credit quality could be…

Nigeria Softens Rules Shielding Banks From Wireless Rivals

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria is preparing rules that will allow wireless carriers to transfer cash, softening a previous policy that protected the turf of banks in Africa’s most populous country. The central bank may have realized it can’t rely on lenders alone to achieve its objective of extending services to the 50 million adults still without a bank account in the nation of about 200 million people. Telecommunications firms, including South Africa’s MTN…

Access Bank Sees Diamond Takeover Lifting Earnings by 2021

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Access Bank Plc, which plans to create Africa’s largest retail lender by customers with the takeover of Diamond Bank Plc, expects that the deal will start adding to earnings by the third year. “Integration comes with issues,” Access Bank Chief Executive Officer Herbert Wigwe said in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday. “We want to ensure that all our staff get working so that we don’t suffer the problems most mergers have….

Morocco Holds Key Rate Despite Signs of Economic Slowdown

Posted on by The Editorial Team

RABAT (Capital Markets in Africa) – Morocco’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low 2.25 percent, even as it warned of an economic slowdown stretching into next year. The decision Tuesday came amid a dramatic falloff in credit growth and inflation, both potential catalysts for a rate cut to stimulate investment. Government data for the second quarter “indicate an economic activity level well below expectations,” Bank Al Maghreb said in a…

Ghana Keeps Key Rate at 4 1/2-Year Low With Inflation in Target

Posted on by The Editorial Team

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate at a 4 1/2-year low for a third consecutive meeting as the currency stabilized and inflation remain within its target band. The Bank of Ghana maintained the rate at 17 percent, Governor Ernest Addison told reporters Monday in the capital, Accra. All eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast the hold. Key Insights: Underlying inflation pressures are easing, Addison said. The recent oil…

FirstRand’s FNB Targets South Africa Townships With Fintech Deal

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – FirstRand Ltd.’s First National Bank and a startup financial-technology company in South Africa are partnering to connect informal traders in townships with fast-moving consumer-goods companies. FNB is seeking to tap into a market that it estimates could consist of as many as 1 million enterprises that have largely been ignored and falls into the “unseen economy,” the Johannesburg-based lender said in an emailed statement. Townships were created during apartheid on the…

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