FTSE Russell has included six Nigerian companies in its FTSE Frontier 50 Index, according to Leadership. Three Nigerian lenders—First HoldCo, Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO)—joined the index ahead of a market reclassification, alongside Dangote Cement, MTN Nigeria Communications and Aradel Holdings. The index tracks the performance of major companies in frontier markets, and the inclusion of the banks underscores the growing prominence of Nigeria's financial sector among investors.

Six Nigerian banks, including Access Bank, have been named among Africa's 20 largest lenders by total assets, according to a ranking reported by Legit.ng. The list highlights the growing strength and scale of Nigeria's banking sector within the continent's financial landscape. The report, published on 9 September 2026, invites readers to find out more about the featured institutions and their positions among Africa's biggest banking groups.

4G Capital has provided over $1 billion in loans to small businesses in Kenya and Uganda, reflecting a growing need for working capital among entrepreneurs often excluded from traditional financing. Since its inception in 2013, the Nairobi-based fintech has served approximately 800,000 customers and issued more than 7.6 million short-term loans.

Investors in Kenya are calling for stronger links between startups and full-service investment banks to provide advisory support on capital raising and due diligence, according to Soko Directory. The push comes as startup funding in the country declines, with stakeholders arguing that deeper capital markets engagement could help young companies access financing and navigate the investment landscape more effectively amid the funding downturn.

Nairobi-based fintech Flowt has raised a pre-seed funding round as it works toward building a $1 million loan book for small and medium-sized enterprises. According to TechCabal, the company uses artificial intelligence to analyse financial records, including bank and M-Pesa statements and accounting data, to assess small businesses' creditworthiness. Flowt says many companies are excluded from traditional lending because banks lack reliable financial histories on them.

Absa Bank Kenya and Unilever Kenya have entered into a KSh 4 billion financing agreement aimed at improving access to working capital for distributors and retailers. This initiative is intended to enhance Kenya's consumer goods value chain and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).