Over The Past 26 Years, Access Bank Plc. Has Grown From An Obscure Nigerian Bank To A World-class African Financial Institutions Group. One Of The Top Five Banks With The Largest Asset, Loan, Deposit And Branch Network In Nigeria; A Feat Achieved Through Robust Long-term Customer Solutions - Delivering Commitment And Innovative Advice. Access Bank Has Built Its Strength And Success In The Corporate Banking Business And Is Now Applying This Expertise To The Personal And Corporate Banking Platform It Acquired From International Commercial Bank Nigeria In 2012. The Next Two Years Saw Time Spent Consolidating Operations, Investing In Infrastructure And Enhancing Product Offerings. As Part Of Its Strategy For Sustained Growth, Access Bank Has Focused On Mainstreaming Sustainable Business Practices Into Its Operations. The Bank Is Committed To Achieving Profitable, Environmentally Responsible And Socially Meaningful Sustainable Economic Growth.
In March 2002, The Board Of Directors Appointed Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede As Managing Director/CEO And Herbert Wigwe As Deputy General Manager. The Mandate Was Clear: To Reposition The Bank As One Of The Leading Financial Institutions Groups In Nigeria Within Five Years (March 2002 To March 2007). This Task Was Deemed Impossible By Many Given The Realities Of The Bank At The Time. Meanwhile, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode Was Also Appointed To The Board Of Directors, Bringing With Him Commendable And Useful Board Experience Gleaned From Some Of Nigeria's Leading Companies, Including MTN Nigeria, Okomu Oil Palm Plc. Subsequently, The New Management Team Set Out A Transformation Agenda For Access Bank That Differed From All The Characteristics Of The Bank In The Past And Served As A Roadmap For The Bank's Transformation Into A World-class Financial Institution Group.
The Impact Of The Transformation Agenda Was Reflected In The First Year. The Bank's Balance Sheet Grew By 100% And It Posted An Impressive Pre-tax Profit Of 1 Billion Naira. The Pre-tax Profit Figure Exceeded The Bank's Cumulative Profit Over The Past 12 Years. It Also Marked The Beginning Of A Six-year Trend Of Record Triple-digit Growth. Similarly, Earnings Per Share Rebounded From A Position Of Negative 2 Kobo To 21 Kobo, Resulting In The Announcement Of A 5 Kobo Dividend To Shareholders For The First Time In Three Years. Recognizing The Role Of Enhanced Capital Structure, The Bank Embarked On A Fund-raising Campaign In July 2007. The Campaign Was A Stunning Success And Was Over 300% Oversubscribed. The Offer For Sale Included A $250 Million GDR Over The Counter Placement, Which Was Again Over 700% Oversubscribed. The Bank's Shareholder Fund Currently Exceeds 240 Billion Naira With A Shareholder Base Of Over 1,000,000 Domestic And Foreign Investors. Access Bank Has Been Looking For Ways To Expand Its Service Platform Across The African Continent. The Bank Currently Has Around 366 Branches In Major Cities And Business Centres In Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Rwanda And The Democratic Republic Of Congo. The Impact Of The Transformation Agenda Was Reflected In Its First Year. The Bank's Balance Sheet Grew By 100% And Posted An Impressive Pre-tax Profit Of 1 Billion Naira. The Pre-tax Profit Figure Surpassed The Bank's Cumulative Profits Over The Past 12 Years. It Also Marked The Beginning Of A Six-year Trend Of Record Triple-digit Growth. Similarly, Earnings Per Share Rebounded From A Negative 2 Kobo Position To 21 Kobo, Resulting In The Declaration Of A 5 Kobo Dividend To Shareholders For The First Time In Three Years
