Access Bank Malta Limited, a newly licensed subsidiary of The Access Bank UK Limited, marks not only the first new bank to open in Malta in a decade, but also a pivotal step in the Access Bank Group’s global expansion strategy.

At the official launch, MaltaInvest.mt spoke to Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank plc and CEO of the Banking Group, to understand what brought the Nigerian banking giant to Malta – and what lies ahead.

For Mr Ogbonna, the decision to expand into Malta was neither rushed nor opportunistic – it was strategic. “We've always wanted to ensure that we build a global trade network,” he said, explaining that Malta serves as a critical gateway market, a concept the bank uses to identify countries that naturally connect international trade flows across multiple regions.

“Malta is a gateway to the Middle East, to Africa, and to Europe,” Mr Ogbonna said, placing it in the same league as Hong Kong and Dubai. “Because of where Malta is positioned, Malta will of course deal with North Africa, will deal with our Dubai office to play in the Gulf states, and will of course deal with Africa directly.”

He emphasised that Malta’s unique geographic and financial characteristics make it an ideal platform to support the billions in trade between Africa and Europe – a corridor that remains underserved by banks with a strong presence on both continents.

Beyond geography, Mr Ogbonna highlighted four key reasons why Malta was a “no-brainer” for the group. First and foremost is the regulatory environment. He praised the Malta Financial Services Authority for being “constructive” and collaborative throughout the licensing process. “We have a regulator who is as good as any in the world, but who is very constructive in terms of the way they engage the regulated entities,” he noted.

Second is the sophistication and depth of Malta’s financial services sector. “Malta has specialised banks, digital banks, regional banks, international banks, local banks. That in itself just tells you that this is a sophisticated banking system with a lot of depth,” he said.

The third factor is the local talent. Mr Ogbonna expressed strong confidence in the fully Maltese team at Access Bank Malta, saying, “The strength of what you bring to the table is determined by the quality of the talent you have in the room. I’ve been impressed with the quality of the talent… they know their audience and they will drive the system and the process.”

Finally, Malta’s integration into the Access Bank Group’s global network – spanning 24 markets today and expected to reach 27 by next year – ensures that the island will play a central role in enabling cross-border trade and investment flows.

This isn’t about market share cannibalisation, he insists. “This is not a red ocean scenario where one bank gains, another bank loses. I think there's still a huge opportunity for banks to do more business,” he said, citing geopolitical shifts and evolving global trade corridors as emerging opportunities that Malta is now better placed to capture.

In fact, the expansion comes at a time when many global banks are scaling back their African operations, creating a vacuum that Access Bank is uniquely positioned to fill. “You need a bank that is in Africa, understands the continent, and is not going anywhere anytime soon, that can also do business in Europe,” he pointed out.

Beyond strategy, Mr Ogbonna was keen to express gratitude for the welcome the Group received. “From political leadership, to regulatory leadership, to the business community itself... that kind of welcome is very rare in many markets,” he said, referencing a recent conversation with the CEO of Bank of Valletta, who offered his support. “It speaks volumes as to the kind of collaboration that happens in this market, and the maturity of the market itself.”

Looking ahead, Mr Ogbonna is confident in the Group’s contribution to Malta’s banking landscape. “Hopefully we will be a corporate citizen in Malta that the regulators will be proud of. We know we have stakeholders that we have to manage, and our stakeholders will see us as a clear value addition into this market.”

With its sights firmly set on global integration, Access Bank Malta is now poised to play a key role in strengthening trade ties between Africa, Europe, and beyond – all from its base in one of the Mediterranean’s most strategically positioned countries.