Bank of Africa has been named the best bank in North Africa at the 2026 African Banker Awards held in Brazzaville.
The awards celebrate banks, business leaders and financial institutions that played a major role in growing Africa’s banking sector over the past year.
The ceremony took place during the annual meetings of the African Development Bank, which are running until 29 May under the theme: “Mobilising large-scale resources for financing Africa’s development in a fragmented world.”
This year marked the 20th edition of the awards and brought together bankers, regulators and decision makers from across the continent.
Ecobank, which operates in 35 African countries, won the Bank of the Year award. Cairo-based Afreximbank was named Development Financial Institution of the Year.
André Wameso of the Democratic Republic of Congo won the Central Bank Governor of the Year award.
Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane received the Finance Minister of the Year prize.
Rawbank of the Democratic Republic of Congo won the AFAWA Award, which recognises banks helping improve women’s access to financial services across Africa.
The African Banker Icon award went to Bissau-Guinean businessman and investment banker Paulo Gomes, who also heads Orango Investment Corporation.
Henri-Claude Oyima, chairman of BGFIBank Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the Deals of the Year category, NBet Finance Company PLC and Cardinal Stone Partners won the Debt Deal of the Year award. Red Rocket Holdco together with Absa and Rand Merchant Bank received the Infrastructure Deal of the Year prize.
The Equity Deal of the Year award went to Arise IIP Exit/Equity Raise and Africa Finance Corporation.
Nigeria’s Bank of Industry won the Sustainable Bank award, while Ziidi Trader was named Fintech of the Year.
The Co-operative Bank of Kenya received the SME Bank of the Year award.
Regional winners included BOA for North Africa, Zanaco for Southern Africa, CRDB Bank for East Africa, Trust Merchant Bank for Central Africa and Ghana Commercial Bank for West Africa.
The African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events in partnership with Business in Africa Events.
