By JKNewsMedia
CONFIRMATION OF full compliance with the country’s new banking capital requirement emerged as Access Bank Plc declared it had exceeded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s N500 billion minimum thresholds, making it the first commercial bank with international authorisation to do so.
Responding to the CBN’s recent directive halting dividend payments, bonuses, and foreign subsidiary investments, the bank stated that it remains firmly committed to regulatory compliance while continuing to deliver value to shareholders.
The CBN’s instruction, dated 13 June 2025 and referenced BSD/DIR/COM/LAB/018/008, outlines rules around regulatory forbearance, Single Obligor Limits, and related credit oversight.
The announcement, signed by Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi and released through the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), highlighted that as of 31 December 2024, the bank had already surpassed the capitalisation benchmark set by the apex regulator.
Alongside full compliance with the single obligor limit, the bank affirmed its readiness to exit all regulatory forbearance on credit facilities by 30 June 2025 as instructed.
It assured investors of its ability to maintain robust capital buffers while sustaining dividend payments, in strict accordance with all regulatory expectations.
With emphasis on transparency and stability, the bank reiterated its long-term pledge to shareholders and stakeholders, thanking them for their confidence through shifting regulatory and economic conditions.
ACCESS BANK FULL STATEMENT:
RE: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA’S LETTER ON TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DIVIDEND PAYMENT, BONUSES, AND INVESTMENT IN FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES
With reference to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s letter, BSD/DIR/COM/LAB/018/008, dated June 13, 2025, concerning regulatory forbearance on Single Obligor Limit and other credit facilities, as well as Chapter 17 of the Nigerian Exchange Rulebook 2015 regarding disclosure of material circumstances, Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) wishes to make the following disclosures to the investing public.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s banking subsidiary, Access Bank Plc N500 billion minimum capital requirements for commercial banks with international (‘the Bank’) was the first bank to meet and exceed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s authorisation.
In accordance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive mentioned in the requirement as of the date herein and will continue to ensure adherence to this referenced letter, the Bank is currently compliant with the single obligor limit regulation.
Regarding the regulatory forbearance on credit facilities, the Bank will comply with the apex bank’s directive by June 30, 2025, while maintaining strong capital buffers and paying dividend to its shareholders.
We assure our esteemed shareholders and stakeholders of our commitment to delivering sustainable value in the immediate and long term and thank them for their trust and support over the years.
