The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the capital base for commercial banks with international authorization to N500 billion and national banks to N200 billion.
This sweeping financial reform, announced on Thursday, March 28, 2024, mandates substantial increases in the minimum capital base for banks, varying by the scope of their operations.
The latest policy directive specifies that commercial banks with international authorization are now required to shore up their capital base to N500 billion.
Releasing the new guidelines in Abuja on Thursday, CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Sidi Ali, said the apex bank had directed commercial banks with international authorisation to increase their capital base to N500bn and national banks to N200bn.
According to Sidi Ali, commercial banks with national licences must meet a N200bn threshold, while those with regional authorisation are expected to achieve a N50bn capital floor.
Similarly, non-interest banks with national and regional authorisations will need to increase their capital to N20bn and N10bn, respectively.
The CBN’s move came two days after the Monetary Policy Committee hinted that it would change the capital base of the nation’s banks.
Recall that in November 2023, Cardoso, at the 58th Annual Bankers’ Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, announced plans by the apex bank to carry out a fresh round of banking recapitalisation for the Deposit Money Banks.
He said the policy was part of its efforts to strengthen its capacity to support Nigeria’s drive to become a $1tn economy by 2026.
