With just eleven weeks remaining before the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recapitalisation deadline, 14 Nigerian banks are yet to meet the apex bank’s minimum capital requirement, raising concerns in the financial sector.
As of early January 2026, 19 banks have successfully complied with the recapitalisation directive. Leading institutions such as Access Bank, First Bank, GTBank (GTCO), UBA, Zenith Bank, and Fidelity Bank are among those that have already hit the required benchmark.
However, the following banks are still trailing behind: First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Unity Bank, Keystone Bank, Union Bank (Titan), Taj Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Parallex Bank, and SunTrust Bank.
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Other merchant and non-interest banks, including FBH Merchant Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank, and Alternative Bank, are also affected.
Financial analysts predict that failure to meet the March 31 deadline could spark mergers, acquisitions, or capital injections as banks seek to strengthen their financial positions.
The recapitalisation exercise is aimed at enhancing the stability, resilience, and growth capacity of Nigeria’s banking sector.
With the countdown on, industry watchers are keeping a close eye on the affected banks, anticipating major moves as the deadline approaches.