1904 – 1913

The Second Decade of Banking

FirstBank has shown business leadership since its inception, having acquired its competitor, Anglo-African Bank in 1912, in the very first Merger & Acquisition recorded in this region.

1907

Sir Alfred Jones, founder of FirstBank, commissioned the reprint of the book, “A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea” (originally published in 1705). This was to boost trade along the West African Coastline. Today FirstBank remains a frontliner in promoting thought leadership globally.

1912

Calabar branch was opened, making it the second branch opened in the present-day Nigeria and the Zaria Branch was also opened in the same year as the first bank ever in what is today’s northern Nigeria.

FirstBank has shown business leadership since its inception, having acquired its competitor, Anglo-African Bank in 1912, in the very first Merger & Acquisition recorded in this region. 

More Key Milestones

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1894 – 1903

1

Incorporated in 1894 and headquartered in Marina, the heart of Lagos, where we still have our headquarters to date.
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1914 – 1953

3

At amalgamation in 1914, FirstBank was the first commercial bank to have branches in what would today be Kano, Zaria, Calabar, Lagos and Ibadan.
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1954 – 1963

4

At Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, FirstBank advanced the first ever loans to the citizens of the independent Nigeria, thus starting true retail banking in Nigeria.
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1964 – 1973

5

First listing on The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) allows Nigerians to buy/own a part of the FirstBank heritage, tapping into the huge potential of the financial services powerhouse.
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1974 – 1983

6

FirstBank London Branch established to foster international banking relationships for Nigerian and foreign businesses alike.
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1984 – 1993

7

First ATM introduced in 35 Marina as part of ease of convenience and round the clock banking.
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1994 – 2003

8

Revalidated business transformation project code-named “Century II: The New Frontier”, to revolutionise the Bank’s operations in line with the dynamics of the operating environment, strengthen the FirstBank brand to leverage and heighten customers’ experience, and project FirstBank as innovative, creative and dynamic.
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2004 – 2013

9

FirstBank won The Nigerian Stock Exchange Annual President’s Merit Award for the 2003 Financial Year.
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2014 – 2023

10

Major technology-driven innovations introduced resulting in FirstBank’s evolution from a traditional Bank to a technology company rendering financial services.
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2024

11

FirstBank’s 130th Anniversary sustaining a legacy of being woven into the fabric of society and building giants through the ages.
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