Heritage Bank (Nigeria) Explained

Heritage Bank Plc
Type:Public company by shares
Area Served:Nigeria
Industry:Financial services
Products:Banking and financial services
Assets:US$1.7+ billion (NGN:483.4 billion) (Dec 2015)
Homepage: Homepage
Foundation:2012
Location:143 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Num Employees:4000

Heritage Bank Plc., usually called Heritage Bank, was a financial services institution. It was one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country's banking regulator,[1] with a national operating license, that offered retail banking, corporate banking, online/internet banking, investment banking and asset management services; its head office was at 143, Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. It's banking license was revoked on Monday, June 3rd 2024.

Overview

In 2012, the core investor, IEI Plc, through IEI Investments Limited, acquired the Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria license from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Having fulfilled all required criteria, the bank returned 100% of existing Societe Generale account holders’ money to their owners. Heritage Bank Plc is a large financial services provider in Nigeria. Currently licensed as a National Bank, it offers banking and financial services in the country, including the South, West, Southeast and the North.[2], the total asset valuation of the bank was estimated at US$1.7+ billion (NGN:483.4 billion). Its shareholders' equity is worth at least US$88 million (NGN:25 billion), the minimum capital requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, for national banks.

History

The bank traces its roots to the late 1970s, when it was founded as Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria), by the late Dr. Olusola Saraki.[3] In January 2006, the Central Bank closed down Societe Generale on account of failure to meet new minimum capital requirements of US$155 million (NGN:25 billion) for a National Bank. Societe Generale successfully challenged the closure in court. In December 2012, the Central Bank re-issued Societe Generale's banking license, but as a regional bank.[4] Having acquired the banking license, the new ownership re-branded the bank as Heritage Banking Company Limited and opened for business under the new name on 4 March 2013.[5]

In October 2014, Heritage Banking Company Ltd successfully met the requirements of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Central Bank of Nigeria toward owning 100% shares in Enterprise Bank Ltd.

On 27 January 2015, AMCON officially transferred ownership of Enterprise Bank Ltd to Heritage Bank Plc.

Ownership

, the bank's stock is publicly owned by the following corporate entities and individuals:[6]

Rank !!Name of owner!!Percentage ownership
1Heritage Investment Services Limited80.0
2Priority shareholders9.0
3Other minority shareholders11.0
Total100.00

Branch network

Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, Heritage Bank Plc has 127 branches and 202 automated banking centers with over 350 ATMs in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Governance

Jani Ibrahim FNSE, FAEng., OON, mni, a non-executive director, serves as the acting chairman of the seven-person board of directors. The managing director and chief executive officer is Akinola George-Taylor.[7]

Acquiring Enterprise Bank

In October 2014, Heritage Bank acquired 100% shareholding in Enterprise Bank Limited, a nationalized financial services provider with over 160 branches and US$1.6 billion in assets. Heritage paid AMCON US$340 million (NGN:56.1 billion), in cash, for the acquisition.[8] Heritage Investment Services Limited, the investment arm of Heritage Banking Company Limited, was the winning bidder out of 24 Nigerian and International companies who competed for the acquisition of Enterprise Bank.[9]

Operating License Revoked

In June 2024, Heritage Bank revoked its operating license by the Apex Bank (CBN), citing that it failed to comply with operating best practices. this comes as a shock as most customers are caught off guard and their funds are stuck in the bank with no clear direction on how to access their money.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Licensed Commercial Banks In Nigeria. Central Bank of Nigeria. 4 November 2014.
  2. Web site: Heritage Bank Begins Operation January 29, Gets CBN Licence. 30 January 2013. 4 November 2014. Peter. Egwuatu. Vanguard (Nigeria).
  3. Web site: Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria Returns As Heritage Bank. 29 January 2013. Kanyi. Okeke. KanyiDaily.Com. 4 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Saraki’s Bank, SGBN, To Return As Heritage Bank. 16 November 2012. Ata. Udo. 4 November 2014. Premium Times (Abuja).
  5. Web site: Heritage Bank Resumes Operations Today. 4 November 2014. 4 March 2013. Obinna. Chima. Thisday (Lagos). 4 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141104203916/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/heritage-bank-resumes-operations-today/141127/. dead.
  6. Web site: Shareholding In Heritage Bank Nigeria Limited. 4 March 2013. 4 November 2014. Obinna. Chima. Thisday (Lagos). 4 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141104203916/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/heritage-bank-resumes-operations-today/141127/. dead.
  7. Web site: The Board of Directors At Heritage Bank Plc. 4 November 2014. Heritage Bank Plc.
  8. Web site: Nigeria’s Heritage Is Acquiring Enterprise Bank for $340 Million. 16 October 2014. Emele. Onu. 4 November 2014. Bloomberg News.
  9. Web site: Heritage Bank Plans Stock Listing To Fund Enterprise Purchase. 23 September 2014. 5 November 2014. Onyedimmakachukwu. Ventures Africa Magazine (Lagos). 5 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141105160208/http://www.ventures-africa.com/2014/09/heritage-bank-plans-stock-listing-to-fund-enterprise-purchase/. dead.