The Digest:
The proposed merger between Providus Bank and Unity Bank is in its final stage, with an official announcement expected within a month. The consolidation is driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) March 2026 recapitalisation deadline, which set a N200 billion capital requirement for banks with national licences like Unity Bank. While Providus has already met its regional bank capital requirement, the merger will create a combined entity with a balance sheet of up to N3 trillion, pending final regulatory and court approvals. Integration teams from both banks have already begun harmonising platforms and products.
Key Points:
- The merger is a direct strategic response to the CBN's stringent new capital requirements, highlighting industry-wide consolidation pressures.
- It represents a lifeline for Unity Bank, which has historically struggled, by merging it with a more stable and compliant institution.
- The creation of "Providus-Unity Bank" aims to build a stronger, more competitive financial institution capable of withstanding economic shocks.
- The process demonstrates the complex, multi-stage nature of bank mergers, involving shareholder approval, court sanctions, and regulatory consent.
- While promising stability, such mergers carry post-integration risks, including IT system harmonisation and cultural alignment challenges.
Sources: TheCable (Exclusive Report), Business Day
