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Who we are

Africa’s most innovative financial services group

Our purpose, vision and mission

Ecobank started as an idea of setting up a bank across West Africa and then the whole of Africa for the wider business community. The Founders of the Ecobank Group envisioned an African bank for Africans.

The dual objectives of Ecobank are to enable a modern pan-African bank to thrive and to contribute to the economic development and financial integration of the continent.

Watch ‘The Beginning, Our Purpose’, a video where two of our founding fathers discuss what they had in mind when the bank started over 30 years ago.

Our Story

Ecobank is committed to economic development across sub-Sahara Africa. In October 1985 the first Ecobank affiliate opened in Togo.

Despite the political upheaval of the 1980’s in Africa, and against all odds, the Ecobank Group opened branches in five African countries in 1988. From 1997 to 2001 the group’s coverage increased from five to twelve countries.

Today, the Ecobank Group is a world-class institution and a torchbearer for Africa. With a presence in 35 sub-Sahara African countries, the Ecobank brand is synonymous with banking in Africa.

Read our story

Our History

  • 2021

    ETI successfully issued US$350 million Sustainability Bond

    ETI became the first ever sub-Saharan African financial institution to successfully launch Tier 2 Sustainability Notes, which finance assets according with its Sustainable Finance Framework.

    SME Bank of the Year Awards

    The African Banker Awards named Ecobank as ‘SME Bank of the Year 2021’ in recognition of its ground-breaking innovations and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

  • 2020

    Ellevate by Ecobank launch - Made for women-focused businesses

    Ecobank launched its comprehensive Ellevate suite of solutions to meet the needs of the previously underserved women-owned/led/focused business sector.

    African Bank of the Year Awards

    Ecobank won the ‘Bank of the Year for Africa’ award in the 2020 awards hosted by The Banker, one of the world’s leading magazines for the banking industry.

  • 2019

    The Group signed United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking

    Ecobank signed UNEP FI’s six principles embedding sustainability, serving people and the planet, delivering positive impacts, improving quality of life, without compromising future generations.

    ETI’s inaugural US$ 500 million Eurobond is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

    A Cultural, Conduct & Ethics transformation journey begins across the Group to drive the right values for long-term sustainability while also focusing on delivering excellence in Customer Experience.

  • 2017-2019

    The digital transformation continues with the deployment of Omni Lite and Omni Plus as digital banking platforms for SMEs and corporates.

    The Group’s core banking application was also upgraded to a more robust and customer-centric platform.

  • 2016

    The Group launches its digital transformation agenda as part of its Roadmap to Leadership.

    The Ecobank Mobile App, which enables instant and convenient banking, in addition to financial inclusion for millions, was launched across the Group’s 33-country Africa network.

  • 2007-2014

    The Group’s network grows further in West, Central, East and Southern Africa.

    New subsidiaries open in Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tomé and Príncipe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Ecobank International, France (EBI SA) also commences operations in Paris, and representative offices open in Angola, Dubai and Ethiopia.

  • 2006

    ETI is publicly listed.

    ETI is simultaneously listed on three stock exchanges in West Africa, namely the BRVM, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Subsidiaries open in Sierra Leone and Сhad

  • 2002

    eProcess, the Group’s digital and technology subsidiary, commences operations in Ghana.

  • 2001

    Ecobank expands into Central Africa.

    Ecobank Cameroon opens for business.

  • 1999

    Launch of the Ecobank Foundation and Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC), the investment and capital market subsidiary of the Group.

    The Group further extends its network to Guinea, Liberia, Niger and Senegal.

  • 1997

    Another subsidiary opens in Burkina Faso.

    Group profit exceed US$10 million. Balance sheet size hits US$500 million. Shareholders approve a share ownership plan for staff.

  • 1995

    ETI pays out its first dividends.

  • 1994

    The Ecobank Group’s net operating profit exceeds US$5 million.

  • 1989-1990

    Additional subsidiaries open in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin and Ghana.

  • 1988

    The Group opens its first subsidiary in Togo.

  • 1986

    Citibank signs a Technical Assistance Agreement (TAA) with ETI (the parent company of Ecobank Group).

  • 1985

    Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is formed with an authorised capital of US$100 million.