Jamesty
The financial sector in Africa is a dynamic arena that is continuously evolving and expanding. It is driven by visionary entrepreneurs who have built formidable banking empires. As of the year 2025, there are a few individuals who stand out as the wealthiest bank founders on the continent. These individuals have not only amassed enormous personal fortunes, but they have also played pivotal roles in shaping financial inclusion and economic growth.
List Of Top 10 Richest Bank Founders In Africa 2025
1. Patrice Motsepe
Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s first black billionaire, is best known for his work in mining. However, through African Rainbow Capital (ARC), he has made significant progress in the financial services sector. ARC is a black-owned and black-controlled investment company that is not listed on any stock exchange. It focuses on financial services and other areas where it can help change the South African economy. Motsepe’s strategic investments are meant to promote inclusive growth, showing that he is dedicated to empowering people economically in ways other than mining. His foray into finance shows that he believes in a holistic approach to making money and improving the country.
2. Michiel Le Roux
Michiel Le Roux helped start Capitec Bank, a South African success story that changed the way retail banking works. Capitec started in 2001 and stood out by offering simple, clear, and cheap banking services that went up against the “big four” banks that had been around for a long time. Le Roux and his co-founders wanted to start a bank that really served the general public by focusing on financial education and easy access to credit. Capitec’s amazing growth shows that they have a unique business model and a deep understanding of what customers want. Le Roux is a key figure in modern African banking.
3. Othman Benjelloun
Othman Benjelloun is a big name in Moroccan and pan-African banking as the CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa. BMCE has grown its business in more than 20 African countries under his leadership, making it a truly continental player. Benjelloun took over a large business empire, but he strategically expanded and diversified the banking side of the business to make it a major financial powerhouse. His long-term vision, dedication to technological progress, and strong focus on building partnerships with other countries have made him one of Africa’s most powerful and lasting banking leaders.
4. Hitesh Anadkat
Hitesh Anadkat is the founder and a significant shareholder of FMBcapital Group, a prominent financial services group with operations spanning several Southern and East African countries, including Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Anadkat’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of a bank that has steadily grown its regional presence, adapting to diverse market conditions and regulatory environments. His strategic foresight and ability to navigate complex African economies have been key to FMBcapital Group’s expansion and success.
5. Thom Mpinganjira
Thom Mpinganjira is a banking tycoon from Malawi who started FDH Financial Holdings. Mpinganjira started out small, but he grew FDH into a large financial services group with banks, investments, and insurance companies. His journey shows how to be strong and grow strategically in a developing economy. Many people say that FDH is successful because Mpinganjira knows the local market very well, is dedicated to financial inclusion, and can build a strong financial institution that serves a wide range of Malawians.
6. Laurie Dippenaar
Laurie Dippenaar helped start FirstRand, which is one of the biggest financial services groups in South Africa. Dippenaar, along with his partners Paul Harris and GT Ferreira, played a big role in building a group of companies that includes FNB (First National Bank), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), and WesBank. FirstRand became a major player in the South African financial sector because of their entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to question conventional banking wisdom, and focus on building strong management teams. Dippenaar’s legacy is based on his work to build a powerful financial services company that is very successful and has a wide range of services.
7. Jim Ovia
Jim Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, which is one of Nigeria’s biggest and most profitable banks. Ovia carefully built Zenith Bank into a technological leader in the Nigerian banking industry from the ground up in 1990, adopting digital innovation long before many of its competitors. Zenith Bank’s amazing growth and consistent profitability are due in large part to his strategic leadership, focus on corporate governance, and unwavering commitment to excellence. He is a true titan of Nigerian finance.
8. Idrissa Nassa
Idrissa Nassa started Coris Bank International, a fast-growing pan-African banking group with its main office in Burkina Faso. Coris Bank has grown a lot under Nassa’s leadership and now has branches in several countries in West and Central Africa. His plan has been to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and big companies, which is a very important need in many African economies. Nassa’s drive to start businesses and expand into new areas has made Coris Bank a rising star in the continent’s financial sector.
9. Samuel Foyou
Samuel Foyou is a businessman from Cameroon who has a lot of interests in different fields, including finance. He is not just a “bank founder” in the traditional sense like some of the other people on this list. He has had a lot of power and ownership in banks, especially in the Banque Atlantique network, which is now part of Atlantique Financial Group, a subsidiary of the Moroccan group Banque Centrale Populaire. Foyou’s diverse business empire often makes strategic investments in the financial sector because he knows how important it is for economic growth.
10. Suresh Bhagwanji Shah
Suresh Bhagwanji Shah is a well-known person in the East African financial world, especially in Kenya. He started I&M Holdings Plc (formerly I&M Bank), which has grown into a large financial services group that works in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. Shah’s years of experience and strategic leadership have been important in turning I&M from a small bank into a publicly traded regional player. His conservative but growth-oriented approach has kept the bank stable and helped it grow over the years.
