Bank of Uganda approves NC, CBA merger

FINANCIAL BUSINESS

KAMPALA - Bank of Uganda (BOU) has given a letter of no objection to the proposed merger of two Kenyan based lenders; Commercial Bank of Africa Limited (CBA) and the NIC Group PLC. 

The two banks submitted their request to merge their operations last year. 

The proposed merger was first announced by the respective boards of NC Bank and CBA on December 6, 2018. In April 2019, shareholders of both banks approved the merger. 

NC Bank Uganda Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIC Bank Limited which has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. NC Bank was incorporated in Uganda on August 8, 2011, and was granted a license to transact financial institutions business on February 8, 2012.

Meanwhile, CBA entered the Ugandan market in 2014. The merger will see the two financial institutions operate as one entity in the region. 

The merger of the two banks will lead to the creation of a financial institution with an asset base of sh548b as at March 31, 2020.  

In arriving at the decision to merge the two entities, a joint statement by the banks' indicated that the BOU's move follows "the merger approval in Kenya between Commercial Bank of Africa Ltd and NIC Group by the Central Bank of Kenya…"

Anthony Ndegwa, CBA's chief executive officer said the approval will see the two banks embark on the last leg of the merger arrangements. 

"Soon, we shall be announcing the brand, which is a reflection of both banks' values, borrowing from the best if both and building new strengths to deliver banking experience for our customers and set new standards for the industry," he said.   

Sam Ntulume, NC Bank's managing director said by end of quarter three 2020, all the banks' customers will experience a seamless service after harmonization of systems. 

Banks' performance in 2019

As at end of December 2019, total assets for CBA increased by 23.8% to sh248b. The bank made a loss of sh10.4b from a profit position of sh567m in 2018. The bank wrote-off bad debts worth sh14b compared to sh1.1 b in 2018. 

On the other hand, NC bank total assets increased by 5.9% to sh289b from sh273b. They made a profit after tax of sh3b in 2019 compared to a loss of sh4b in 2018. The bank reduced lending by 2.7% to sh139b.