CRDB Bank

The bank has also expanded its footprint beyond Tanzania into Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, having more recently also established a representative office in Dubai to support regional trade and investment corridors. 

Reflecting confidence in CRDB's credit profile, growth strategy and regional banking franchise, the syndication attracted strong support from international lenders and further reinforced the bank's access to global liquidity markets.

The transaction marked another step forward in the evolution of CRDB's funding strategy. The 2026 facility introduces a new three-year tranche alongside the existing one-year and two-year tenor structure, extending CRDB's maturity profile and further diversifying its funding base. The longer-dated tranche proved particularly attractive to development finance institutions seeking to support sustainable long-term growth across the region.

As a result, the syndication attracted participation from 34 financial institutions across Europe, the United Kingdom, the Gulf region and Africa, including both commercial banks and development finance institutions. Investor participation has continued to deepen over time, with several existing lenders increasing their commitments while new institutions joined the facility.

According to Gustaaf Eerenstein, Syndication Director at Intesa Sanpaolo the transaction also underscores the growing interest among international lenders in Africa's banking sector and the critical role that well-capitalised and sound financial institutions play in supporting trade, investment and economic development. “CRDB Bank remains well positioned to capture these opportunities and contribute to sustainable growth across the region.” 

"Investor participation has strengthened consistently since the inaugural transaction,” adds Leanne Large, Head of Investec Distribution and Loan Syndication. “We have seen ticket sizes increase, long-standing lenders seeking larger allocations and growing appetite for longer tenors. The introduction of the three-year tranche also demonstrates the market's confidence in CRDB's long-term growth strategy and ability to deliver sustainable performance.” 

Abdulmajid Nsekela, Group CEO of CRDB Bank, said the transaction represented another important milestone in the bank's growth journey. “The successful completion of this facility reinforces our standing in international funding markets and provides additional flexibility to support our clients and the economies in which we operate. We are grateful to Investec, Intesa Sanpaolo and our lending partners for their continued confidence and support as we expand our regional footprint and deepen our contribution to economic development across East and Central Africa.”

Read more in our press release.

About CRDB Bank

CRDB Bank Plc, established in 1996 and listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange in 2009, is a leading financial services provider in Tanzania with a presence in Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The bank also runs a fully-fledged insurance company, CRDB Insurance Company, and has established CRDB Bank Foundation as its social impact arm. The bank offers a wide range of products including savings, loans, trade finance, investments, and insurance. With total assets valued at approximately $5.055 billion as of 2024, CRDB is the largest commercial bank in Tanzania. The bank's commitment to innovation and customer-centric services has made it a key player in the East African financial landscape.