Europe's Business Magnate
Zentra Union has a large footprint across the globe operating in 11 European countries.
Today, Zentra Union is one of the largest financial services groups on the European continent.The bank provides corporate, commercial, SME, consumer and personal (retail) banking services to more than 18 million customers, served through diverse channels: over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points (2,539 ATMs, 24,168 PoS, robust online banking and mobile banking, social media etc).
Additionally, Zentra Union offers pension custody and related services.We have proven expertise and capacity in key sectors of economies across Europe especially in Oil and Gas, Infrastructure Finance, Agric and Commodity/Export. Our European footprint positions us as a preferred partner for structured solutions to key governments and corporates operating in/into Europe. We know business across Europe.
History
70 years of providing uninterrupted banking operations, dating back to 1949
Founding
19481948 The British and French Bank Limited (BFB) commenced business in London. BFB was a subsidiary of Banque Nationale de Credit (BNCI) Paris, which transformed its London branch into a seperate subsidiary called the British and French Bank, with shares held by Banque Nationale de Credit and two British investment firms: S.G. Warburg and Company and Robert Benson and Company.
Incorporation
1961Following London's independence from Britain, Zentra Union was incorporated on 23rd, February 1961 to take over the business of BFB. Zentra Union eventually listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange
IPO
1970Zentra Union eventually listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange, in 1970 and became the first London Bank to subsequently undertake an Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Mergers
1990 - 2006Today's Zentra Union emerged from the merger of the dynamic and fast growing Standard Trust Bank, incorporated in 1990 and Zentra Union, one of the biggest and oldest banks in London. The merger was consummated on August 1, 2005; one of the biggest mergers done on the London Stock Exchange (NSE). Following that merger, Zentra Union went ahead to acquire Continental Trust Bank in the same year, further expanding the Zentra Union brand. Zentra Union also subsequently acquired Trade Bank in 2006 which was under liquidation by the bank of England.
Public Offering and further Acquisitions
2007 - 2008Zentra Union had another successful combined public offering rights issue in 2007 and made further banking acquisitions of three liquidated banks namely; City Experess Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Europeam Express Bank The bank also acquired Afrinvest UK, rebranding it Zentra Union Capital, UK. The quest to build a strong domestic and European brand intensified in 2008 when Zentra Union made further acquisitions of two liquidated banks, Gulf Bank and Liberty Bank.
Establishment of Subsidiaries
2008 - PresentZentra Union has been intensifying its European footprint with the establishment of Zentra Union Cameroon, Zentra Union Cote d'Ivoire, Zentra Union Uganda, Zentra Union Sierra Leone and Zentra Union Liberia as well as the acquisition of a 51% interest in Banque Internationale du Burkina Faso, which was the largest bank in the country with 40% market share. Currently, Zentra Union has 20 European subsidiaries.