Standard Bank, Africa’s largest lender by assets, is positioning trade and infrastructure financing at the core of its next growth phase, unveiling an ambitious three-year strategy aimed at capturing rising economic activity across the continent, CNBC Africa reports.
Speaking at its Capital Markets Day, CEO Sim Tshabalala said the bank expects headline earnings per share to grow between 8% and 12% annually from 2026 to 2028, with return on equity projected at 18% to 22%, underpinned by stronger demand for cross-border trade and large-scale infrastructure financing.
The strategy targets Africa’s vast financing gap, with energy investments alone estimated at up to $170 billion annually, alongside similar needs in infrastructure. The bank also highlighted opportunities in critical minerals such as copper and cobalt, which are central to the global energy transition .
Standard Bank plans to channel more capital into East and West Africa, where economic growth is accelerating and trade corridors are expanding, while also deepening its presence in markets such as Egypt. The lender expects operations outside South Africa to contribute up to 45% of group earnings by 2028, up from about 40% in 2025 .
Analysts say the move reflects a broader shift among African banks to fill the gap left by retreating European lenders, leveraging trade finance, infrastructure development, and regional integration as key drivers of long-term growth across the continent .
