MTN Group is exploring banking licences in selected markets as Africa’s largest telecommunications operator seeks to expand its lending activities, according to a BusinessDay Nigeria report published on 25 August 2026.
The available report does not identify the countries where MTN may pursue licences. It also does not say whether the company has submitted applications to regulators or is still assessing its options.
The proposed move would take MTN deeper into lending, although details of the intended credit products, eligible customers and distribution model have not yet been provided. The scale of any planned investment and the group’s lending targets are also unknown.
Further clarity will depend on MTN identifying the markets involved and setting out the type of banking authorisation it intends to seek. Regulatory approval, launch dates and the effect on customers cannot yet be assessed from the information available.