Nigeria’s issuing banking licenses to top telecom companies

Nigeria is granting banking licenses to leading telecom companies like Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, following the adoption of payment service bank licenses. This initiative, inspired by India’s payment banks, aims to enhance financial inclusion by allowing non-banking entities to provide financial services to underserved areas.

 The Central Bank of Nigeria issued several banking licences to telecommunication companies. This follows adoption of payment service bank (PSB) licences which aim to diversify financial distribution channels as well as banking models. 


Modelled along India’s payments banks, PSB licences enable non-banking companies to provide financial services to rural and underserved communities, increasing financial inclusion. It is in line with this that the financial regulator has allowed companies such as MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile to operate as banks.