Standard Chartered Plc is exploring the sale of its entire stake in Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Limited, raising the prospect of a full exit from the Botswana market as the London-headquartered lender accelerates a broader retreat from parts of Africa
In a statement on Tuesday, Standard Chartered said interested parties had highlighted “significant value” in the combined scale of the full Botswana franchise, citing opportunities around more efficient funding, operational leverage and expanded client coverage.
“The group has therefore decided to explore the potential sale of the full Standard Chartered Botswana franchise,” the statement said. The process is expected to take 12 to 15 months to complete and will be subject to regulatory and other approvals.In November 2024, the banking group noted that it would explore strategic options for its Botswana Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) business as part of efforts to sharpen its focus on markets and segments that deliver stronger growth and returns. Following subsequent engagement with potential bidders, the scope of the process has now widened
A full exit would mark another milestone in Standard Chartered’s strategic recalibration across Africa. Over the past few years, the bank has exited or scaled back operations in Zimbabwe, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Tanzania, as it concentrates resources on higher-return markets and businesses, particularly in Asia, the Middle East and wealth management.
Standard Chartered is not alone. Several global lenders — including Société Générale, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Groupe BPCE, and Atlas Mara — have steadily reduced their African footprints. Pressured by weaker profitability, rising compliance and capital requirements, and intensifying competition from fintechs and agile local banks, international lenders are reassessing the economics of operating in smaller or less scalable African markets.