The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has granted a second extension to Access Bank Namibia’s provisional banking licence, extending its validity to 15 June 2026 after the previous extension expired in October 2025.
BoN Deputy Director for Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Naufiku Hamunime, said the latest extension covers the period from 15 December 2025 to 15 June 2026 and was granted in terms of Section 12(6) of the Banking Institutions Act, 2023 (Act No. 13 of 2023).
“The Bank granted an extension of Access Bank Namibia’s provisional authorisation for the period 15 December 2025 to 15 June 2026 to enable the institution to satisfy all remaining conditions of its provisional authorisation to the Bank’s satisfaction,” Hamunime told The Brief.
She confirmed that Access Bank Namibia has not yet been granted a full banking licence and remains under provisional authorisation, with no change to its regulatory status.
“Access Bank Namibia has not yet been granted a full banking licence and therefore remains under provisional authorisation. A final licensing decision is contingent upon the institution satisfying all outstanding conditions of its provisional authorisation to the Bank’s satisfaction,” Hamunime said.
According to Hamunime, the provisional authorisation remains valid until 15 June 2026, during which time the bank is required to meet all remaining regulatory milestones before the central bank can consider issuing a full licence.
The extension follows the initial granting of a provisional licence to Access Bank Namibia Limited on 4 October 2024 for a six-month period to allow the institution to prepare for conducting banking business in Namibia. The bank did not meet the initial timeline and was subsequently granted a first extension in April 2025, which ran until October 2025.
The development forms part of Nigeria-headquartered Access Bank Plc’s broader African expansion strategy. In 2021, the group identified eight African countries for potential expansion as it positions itself to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Access Bank Plc operates more than 600 branches and service outlets across 18 countries on three continents, serving over 49 million customers and employing approximately 28,000 people.
Its international footprint includes subsidiaries across Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom, a branch in Dubai, and representative offices in China, Lebanon and India.
