Emerging Nigerian and regional banking giant, Access Bank plc has unveiled a new corporate identity to reflect the strength and vibrancy of the enlarged banking group, following its recently completed merger with the now defunct leading retail bank, Diamond Bank plc.

It would be recalled that both banks entered into a merger agreement in mid-December 2018, with a target to complete the merger in the first half of 2019 subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The merger received final approval on 19 March, 2019, thereby creating the largest retail bank in Africa by customer headcount and Nigeria’s largest bank by asset and deposit size and customer headcount. With a staff strength of a little under 30,000 and 29 million customers in 12 countries across three continents, the enlarged bank is poised to compete favourably on the African scene.

At a dinner reception held in Lagos on Sunday, 31 March, 2019 to showcase the bank’s new logo, the Group CEO of the combined bank, Herbert Wigwe said the new visual identity fuses together the best of Access Bank and Diamond Bank. The new identity captures the strength created through the merger drawing from the essence of the previous logos of both banks but refreshing them to create a sense of energy and forward momentum.

Templars is proud to have acted as sole legal counsel to Diamond Bank in connection with the merger and the strategic review process that resulted in the merger. The Templars teams on the merger and related matters were led by Managing Partner, Oghogho Akpata, Finance Practice Head, Chike Obianwu and Disputes Resolution Practice Head, Adewale Atake, SAN.