First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has clinched the title of Nigeria’s Best SME Focused Bank for 2025, awarded by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at its 60th Annual Bankers Dinner in Lagos. This top honor comes as FCMB commands a leading 24% share of the industry’s ₦1.8 trillion SME disbursement for 2024, underscoring its pivotal role in empowering Nigeria’s small and medium-sized businesses.
FCMB’s robust financing efforts directly target the nation’s most productive sectors. According to the Q3 2024 Nigerian GDP Report, the bank’s investments align with high-growth industries such as Crop Production, Trade, Telecommunications, Real Estate, and Food, Beverage & Tobacco. The CIBN’s recognition was based on comprehensive lending data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, highlighting FCMB’s significant contributions to enterprise growth.
Beyond lending, FCMB empowers entrepreneurs through tailored training, advisory services, and strategic partnerships, helping them overcome challenges and achieve sustainable expansion. The bank’s ongoing commitment to SME development has earned it multiple industry accolades, including the Excellence Award for Promoting Financial Inclusion for Grassroots Entrepreneurs and SME Financier of the Year (Africa).
At the award ceremony, FCMB’s Managing Director, Yemisi Edun (represented by Executive Director Obaro Odeghe), reiterated the bank’s dedication to Nigerian entrepreneurs: “This recognition affirms our commitment to making a meaningful difference for SMEs—the backbone of our economy. We remain focused on providing accessible finance, technology, and expertise to help them grow, thereby boosting national productivity.”
The CIBN, Nigeria’s leading professional banking body, organizes these awards to celebrate progress and resilience in the financial sector. FCMB’s achievement was further spotlighted by staff member Tooritsemoshe Ojei’s receipt of the Next Generation Class of 2025 Award for outstanding leadership potential.
With this new accolade, FCMB strengthens its legacy as a catalyst for inclusive growth, connecting people, capital, and opportunities both within Nigeria and across its global diaspora.
