Standard Chartered has announced plans to explore the potential sale of its full Botswana franchise, combining its Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) and Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) businesses, following strong bidder interest in the unit’s scale and growth potential.
The bank said the sale process is expected to take between 12 and 15 months, subject to regulatory and other approvals, as part of its strategy to accelerate income growth and improve returns.
In a statement issued in Gaborone on January 13, 2026, Standard Chartered PLC said it had first announced its intention to explore the sale of its Botswana WRB business in November 2024, in line with strategic priorities outlined during its Q3 2024 results. However, subsequent market engagements revealed that potential bidders saw “significant value in the combined scale of the full SC Botswana franchise.”
The Group said this value lies in “the potential for efficient funding, operational leverage, and client coverage,” prompting the decision to broaden the scope of the potential transaction to include the entire Botswana operation.
“The Group has therefore decided to explore the potential sale of the full Standard Chartered Botswana franchise,” the statement said.
Mpho Masupe, CEO and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Botswana, said the development reflects the strength of the local business and its people.
“The strength and attractiveness of the full SC Botswana franchise is a testament to the hard work of the entire SC Botswana team, and we remain committed to securing the best possible outcome for them, our clients and our shareholders,” Masupe said.
He added that the bank believes the business has strong prospects beyond the sale. “We strongly believe that Standard Chartered Botswana is well-placed to thrive under new ownership with the necessary local scale,” he said, noting that the bank would work closely with staff and clients to minimise disruption during what he described as a lengthy process.
At a regional level, Dalu Ajene, Head of Coverage and CEO, Africa, reaffirmed the Group’s long-term commitment to the continent despite the planned divestment.
“Standard Chartered is committed to our global strategy of combining differentiated cross-border corporate and investment banking capabilities and leading wealth management expertise for affluent clients,” Ajene said.
He noted that the bank has operated in Africa for 170 years and that the continent “remains core to our network.” Ajene added that recent investments have delivered strong growth, revealing that wealth assets under management in sub-Saharan Africa have “more-than doubled from $1.7 billion to $4.0 billion” over the past three years, driven largely by growth in Kenya and Nigeria.
“We will do our utmost to minimise disruption and uncertainty during this period as we continue to work in the best interests of all our people and stakeholders,” Ajene said.
