FCMB Wins Best SME Bank Award for 2025 Amid Rising Demand for Business Loans in Nigeria

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has been honoured as Nigeria’s Best SME-Focused Bank for 2025, an award presented by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The bank earned this recognition for maintaining a strong leadership position in small business financing, holding a 24% share of the banking sector’s ₦1.8 trillion total SME disbursement for 2024.

Recognition at the 60th Annual Bankers Dinner

The award was presented during the 60th Annual Bankers Dinner in Lagos on November 28, 2025. The event highlighted FCMB’s dedicated support for small and medium-sized enterprises across the country, reinforcing its role in promoting business expansion and economic growth.

Strong Contribution to High-Growth Sectors

Data from the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report for Q3 2024 shows that FCMB’s lending strategy aligns closely with the nation’s top-performing sectors. These include Crop Production at 26.51%, Trade at 14.78%, Telecommunications at 13.94%, Real Estate at 5.43%, and the Food, Beverage and Tobacco sector at 4.06%. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provided the lending data used for evaluating banks, ensuring transparency in selecting the winner.

Support Beyond Lending

Beyond financing, FCMB continues to empower entrepreneurs through capacity-building programs, advisory services, and partnerships designed to help business owners overcome operational hurdles, maximise profits, and scale sustainably.

FCMB Reaffirms Commitment to Nigerian Entrepreneurs

Speaking on behalf of FCMB’s Managing Director and CEO, Yemisi Edun, the bank’s Executive Director of Wholesale Banking, Obaro Odeghe, expressed appreciation for the recognition. She noted that the award reinforces the bank’s commitment to boosting Nigeria’s business landscape.

According to her, the bank will continue to expand access to funding, digital tools, and advisory support to enable more SMEs to thrive. She added that strengthening small businesses remains central to boosting productivity and accelerating national development.