African banks spent at least $537 million on expansion deals in 2025, based on disclosed transactions, as the continent’s largest lenders turned to acquisitions to protect earnings, build digital capabilities, and secure new growth markets amid volatile domestic conditions, according to a finding from Finance in Africa.
The figure reflects only transactions with publicly disclosed values. Several major deals announced during the year carried no price tags, suggesting the true scale of investment is significantly higher and highlighting how c
African banks spent at least $537 million on expansion deals in 2025, based on disclosed transactions, as the continent’s largest lenders turned to acquisitions to protect earnings, build digital capabilities, and secure new growth markets amid volatile domestic conditions, according to a finding from Finance in Africa.
The figure reflects only transactions with publicly disclosed values. Several major deals announced during the year carried no price tags, suggesting the true scale of investment is significantly higher and highlighting how c