Access Bank Plc has rolled out a new five-year strategic plan aimed at positioning the lender to become Africa’s Gateway to the World.

This development, according to the bank was the latest in a series of transformative strategies that have resulted in sustained growth.

Disclosing this to stakeholders at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the bank noted that, “From 2013 to November 2017, Access Bank has increased its total assets at a CAGR of 18% and delivered shareholder returns of 90%.

“The bank has also grown its customer base from 90,000 in 2002 to over 8 million in 2017 and in the same period opened 351 new branches.

”The new 5-year strategy will accelerate this growth story to position Access Bank as the No. 1 Nigerian bank by 2022 and create a Universal Payments Gateway to dominate international trade and inter-African payments.

“The new strategy has six strategic levers:

*Digitally led

*Retail banking growth and consolidation in wholesale markets

*Customer focused

*Analytics driven, with robust risk management

*Strong global collaboration in key gateway markets

*The creation of a universal payments gateway

“To deliver the transformation, Access Bank will adopt a new organisational structure. The retail bank will have a customer segment focus, driven by digital and payments. The corporate bank will build deep sector expertise and deploy global relationship managers. Access Bank’s subsidiaries will be organised around strategic clusters, with strong collaboration between them to secure trade finance and correspondent banking. The bank’s transformation programme will be underpinned by robust risk management together with high levels of automation to enhance the compliance and risk functions and drive customer insights.

“In next phase of its transformation programme, Access Bank will embark on a series of bold initiatives. At home, the goal is to be the No. 1 bank in Nigeria by growing the retail customer base, SME client base, and by dominating the top 100 Nigerian corporates. Internationally it will develop an integrated global franchise by strategically developing its presence in key African markets, enhancing collaboration in global financial gateways including London and New York, Asia and the Middle East, and strengthening its trade hubs in India, Dubai and China.

“A strengthened presence in key African markets, and the creation of Universal Payments Gateway combined with an integrated global franchise, ideally positions Access Bank to be Africa’s Gateway to the World”.

Launching the new five-year strategy, Herbert Wigwe, CEO and Group Managing Director, said:“Fiveyears ago we set the ambitious goal to attain top three positions in our chosen markets. Today, we are a strong, diversified institution with a consolidated top tier position in our sector.

“We are setting out a new and ambitious five-year strategy which will put Access Bank at the forefront of Africa’s changing financial landscape by creating a Universal Payments Gateway to dominate international trade and inter-African payments.

“Our strategy will mean that by 2022, millions of people will have access to banking services for the first time. Customers will make payments and transfers when and how they need to. Businesses will be able to trade in new markets and invest in new technology.

“We recognise that we have a vital role to play in growing Nigeria, our largest market. Our global footprint is also changing and growing. As a result of our strategy, we will be in the Africa corridor trade hubs and the global gateway markets within five years.

“This next phase of our transformation journey will deliver our most ambitious goal yet – a bank that is digital, innovative and nimble. A bank underpinned by the highest standards of risk and compliance. A bank that serves Africa and the world.