Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (GTBank) has increased its share capital to 504.037 billion naira, surpassing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum threshold for internationally licensed commercial banks. The capital raise comes amid a sector-wide race to comply with the CBN’s recapitalisation directive issued in March 2024.

The directive requires commercial banks to bolster their capital bases by March 2026, following economic headwinds including the naira’s sharp devaluation and persistent inflationary pressures.

The capital injection was carried out by GTBank’s parent, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), through a rights issue that issued nearly 7 billion ordinary shares of GTBank to GTCO. The transaction was disclosed in a regulatory filing on Friday, signed by Company Secretary Erhi Obebeduo.

Before the rights issue, GTBank’s share capital stood at 138.186 billion naira. The increase ensures compliance with central bank rules, secures the bank’s international banking licence, and strengthens its balance sheet to support lending, investments, and operational growth.

GTBank now joins tier-1 lenders Access Bank and Zenith Bank in meeting the new capital threshold, reinforcing its position in Nigeria’s banking landscape and positioning it for strategic expansion.