CBN Revokes Licenses of 46 Microfinance Banks
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licenses of forty-six (46) Microfinance Banks with effect from July 1, 2026, in accordance with its powers under Sections 12 and 13 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020.
Sidi-Ali, Hakama (Mrs) the
Ag. Director, Corporate Communications Department in a statement Wednesday said the
revocation was approved by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, following the banks’ failure to meet the regulatory requirements for continued operation as licensed financial institutions.
According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of the circumstances listed below:
i. Insufficient assets to meet liabilities, ii. Closure of operations without the CBN approval, iii. Inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation, iv. Failure to commence operations within 12 months of licence approval, and
v. Failure to maintain minimum capital funds unimpaired by losses.
The revocation of the licenses is part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the stability of the financial sector, protect depositors, and ensure that licensed institutions comply with current laws and regulatory requirements.
The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to promoting a safe, sound and resilient financial system and will continue to take appropriate supervisory and regulatory actions, where necessary, to maintain public confidence in the Nigerian financial system.
The affected microfinance banks are:
Minji-Se Churchill MFB (Rivers)
Merchant MFB (Abia)
Janmaa MFB (Kwara)
Busu MFB (Niger)
Gold MFB (Lagos)
Zain MFB (formerly Dawakin Tofa MFB) – Kano
Bompai MFB (Kano)
Ajwa MFB (formerly Gezawa MFB) – Kano
NOW NOW Digital MFB (Kano)
Crystabel Microfinance Bank (Bayelsa)
Chanelle MFB (Lagos)
Abia SME MFB (Abia)
Kamba MFB (Kebbi)
Iwade MFB (Ogun)
Winview MFB (Abuja)
Zuru MFB (Kebbi)
Minjibir MFB (Kano)
Shanono MFB (Kano)
Sumaila MFB (Kano)
Rimin Gado MFB (Kano)
Mwaghavul MFB (Plateau)
Sycamore MFB (Kano)
Tofa MFB (Kano)
Safegate MFB (Lagos)
Creekline MFB (Delta)
Bestar MFB (Oyo)
Livingspring MFB (Cross River)
Apple MFB (Ogun)
Stanford MFB (Akwa Ibom/Uyo)
Frontline MFB (Anambra)
Zafec MFB (Kaduna)
Supreme MFB (Lagos)
Bejin-Doko MFB (Niger)
Kanopoly MFB (Kano)
Bellbank MFB (formerly Tsanyawa MFB) – Kano
Yeneng MFB (Plateau)
Creditville MFB (Lagos)
MBAG MFB (Lagos)
Straight Sahara MFB (Benue)
OurPass MFB (Ondo)
Verdant MFB (Lagos)
Basawa MFB (Kaduna)
Casha MFB (Abuja)
Esteem MFB (Kano)
Entrepreneur MFB (Lagos)
Avantus MFB (Osun).
