The continent has the highest average Brand Strength score globally, at 80.21, meaning African banking brands typically score AAA.
- Business Insider Africa presents the top 5 African banks with the biggest brand value.
- The list is courtesy of Brand Finance.
- African bank brands generated $15.2 billion in new value, highlighting the sector’s strength and growing influence.
African banking brands are making waves. The latest Brand Finance Global 500 rankings show how strong Africa’s financial sector is, proving that these institutions are key players in driving a sustainable and inclusive economy across the continent.
African banking brands performed extremely well in 2025, with an average Brand Value growth of 22% across the markets surveyed (in common USD currency terms). In total, these brands generated $15.2 billion in new value, highlighting the sector’s strength and growing influence.
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The regional growth in Brand Value masks some impressive individual country performances. Kenya (+49%) and South Africa (+ 24%) saw above-average growth while West and North African markets lagged slightly. Morocco grew by 21%, Nigeria by 16% (despite the decline of the Naira) and Egypt by 8%.
South Africa’s growth was notably driven by Capitec Bank with a remarkable 100% increase in Brand Value compared to the previous year.
This growth resulted from a combination of factors: significant profitability improvements; continued diversification of its business lines; and consistent brand equity growth. Capitec earned perfect scores (10 out of 10) on key metrics like “brand I love”, “brand consideration” and “brand engagement”.
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Notably, Africa is part of a broader trend of emerging market banks leading in brand growth. The continent has the highest average Brand Strength score globally, at 80.21, meaning African banking brands typically score AAA.
The Middle East follows with an average Brand Strength score of 66.7, while South America has an average Brand Strength score of 61.7.
Despite these impressive gains, no African banking brands make the Top 100 due to weak domestic currencies and high regional risk.
Below are the top 5 African banks with the biggest brand value:
| Brand | Country | Global 500 Brand Strength ranking | BSI score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capitec Bank | South Africa | 6 | 94.6 |
| Kenya Commercial Bank | Kenya | 7 | 94.4 |
| First National Bank | South Africa | 11 | 93.6 |
| United Bank for Africa | Nigeria | 13 | 92.4 |
| First Bank of Nigeria | Nigeria | 14 | 92.1 |
