14 Banks Meet Revised CBN Capital Requirements

14 Banks Meet Revised CBN Capital Requirements

 

 

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, on Tuesday announced that 14 banks have complied with the new capital requirements set by the apex bank last year.

 

Cardoso made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja, while outlining the outcomes of the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

 

The new capital requirements, communicated in a circular on March 28, 2024, increased the minimum capital for banks in the country. International banks are now required to maintain a minimum capital of N500 billion, national banks N200 billion, and regional banks N50 billion.

 

To ease the recapitalisation process and encourage fresh capital inflow, the CBN exempted banks’ reserves, shareholders’ funds, and retained earnings from the new capital thresholds. The exercise commenced on April 1, 2026, and is scheduled to end on March 31, 2028.

 

Cardoso noted that the MPC expressed satisfaction with the current macroeconomic stability, highlighting improvements in several key indicators, including sustained disinflation, increased output growth, a stable exchange rate, and robust external reserves.

 

“The committee particularly noted the momentum of disinflation in August 2025, which marked the highest drop in the past five months,” Cardoso said. “This trend is supported by monetary policy tightening, exchange rate stability, increased capital inflows, and a surplus in the current account, all of which have helped anchor inflation expectations.”

 

He added that moderation in fuel prices and an uptick in crude oil production further contributed to the easing of inflationary pressures.

 

While welcoming the macroeconomic stability, Cardoso warned of persistent excess liquidity in the banking system, largely arising from improved fiscal revenues. He stressed that managing liquidity in the interbank market remains critical to ensuring effective transmission of monetary policy.

 

The CBN governor reiterated that the regulatory compliance by the 14 banks demonstrates resilience and readiness to support economic growth and recovery.