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Tanzania

About

We’re here for good

As a leading international bank, we strive to help people and businesses prosper across Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Who we are and what we do

Colleagues at work

Standard Chartered in Tanzania

Standard Chartered is  proud to be one of the oldest international banks in Tanzania, with a  presence dating back to 1917.

For over a century, we have stood as a cornerstone of trust and innovation, partnering with the nation through its most defining moments:

  • At Independence: When Tanzania attained her Independence, we were here!
  • At Unification: When Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964, we were here!

Now, as we mark 108 years since we first opened our doors in Tanzania, we celebrate our rich history and the significant contributions we have made to individuals, businesses, and communities across the country.

The End of a Transformative Chapter

Over the decades, our  Wealth and Retail Banking segment served thousands of Tanzanians through tailored financial solutions in Personal Banking, Priority Banking, and Business Banking. With branches in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha, we brought banking services closer to our clients, transforming how financial transactions were conducted.

As of 31 May 2025, we transitioned our Wealth and Retail Banking business to Access Bank Tanzania Limited, bringing this chapter of our operations to a close.

Focused on the Future: Corporate & Investment Banking

As we move forward, Standard Chartered remains committed to Tanzania by focusing on Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). This allow us to leverage our international expertise and local knowledge to provide cutting-edge financial solutions to Corporates and Financial Institutions.

Through CIB, we will continue to support the growth of businesses and enable Tanzania’s integration into the global economy.

Why Tanzania, Why this long?

Tanzania remains one of the most promising markets in Africa and globally. With a rich history and unparalleled potential, the country offers unique opportunities for growth and investment.

  • Economic Growth: Tanzania has achieved consistent GDP growth, averaging 7% annually over the last decade, driven by a well-diversified economy.
  • Strategic Location: As East Africa’s largest country, spanning 945,000 square kilometres, Tanzania serves as a regional hub for trade and commerce.
  • Population: With over 61.7 million people as of the 2022 Census, Tanzania’s large and growing domestic market presents tremendous opportunities.
  • Diversity: With more than 120 ethnic groups speaking a common national language, Kiswahili, Tanzania remains a beacon of stability, thanks to the socialist values instilled by its founding father, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

As Tanzania continues to grow, Standard Chartered is proud to support the nation’s progress and prosperity.

Our achievements: Revolutionizing Banking in Tanzania

Standard Chartered has been at the forefront of transforming banking in Tanzania, introducing innovations that have changed the way financial services are delivered:

  • In 1997, we chose to win by introducing Tanzania’s first-ever Automated Teller Machine (ATM), revolutionizing how clients accessed their funds. This milestone was so impactful that the Bank was requested to have it reserved at the National Museum.
  • In 2004, we chose to win again by launching Tanzania’s first Visa Electronic Debit card, empowering clients to travel and transact globally with unprecedented ease and security.
  • As champions of diversity and inclusions, we were the first bank in Tanzania to introduce a women’s only account called the Diva Account. This product, with its special features, further enhanced the savings culture amongst women in Tanzania.
  • We chose to win by becoming the first bank to offer Web Banking services for Corporate Clients, setting a benchmark for digital transformation in the Tanzanian banking sector.
  • In 2024, in a defining moment, we celebrated the maiden voyage of the Standard Gauge Railway train from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. As the Lead Arranger, we secured $1.46 billion in funding, making this project the largest syndicated transaction in Sub-Saharan Africa outside the oil and gas sector. This victory underscored our role in driving Tanzania’s infrastructure transformation.

At every turn, Standard Chartered Tanzania has chosen to innovate, to empower, and to win—leaving a lasting impact on Tanzania’s banking landscape and economic progress. Together with our CIB clients, we will continue choosing to win for the next century and beyond.

More than Banking…

At Standard Chartered, we believe in creating lasting value for the communities we serve. Our sustainability initiatives have touched millions of lives in Tanzania:

Seeing is Believing (2003-2020)

  • Over 360,000 children received eye health services, including surgeries and vision correction.
  • Trained over 1,000 health workers and equipped 17 centres to deliver child-eye care services.
  • Impacted over 17 million children through improved policies and national coordination on child eye health.

Futuremarkers by Standard Chartered (2019-2023)

  • Empowered over 15,000 youths through the GOAL project, providing life skills training to adolescent boys and girls.
  • Collaborated with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to deliver entrepreneurship and employability programs to over 180 young entrepreneurs (60% women, 10% youth with disabilities).

Futuremarkers Phase 2 (2024-2026)

  • Launched the RISE/E project to support 270 with disabilities and 90 young entrepreneurs, creating jobs and opportunities.
  • Invested TZS 2.25 billion over three years to provide business development and employability skills.

Now and the next 100 years

Benchmarking on our strong foundations and legacy that has been created over the years since our inception in Tanzania, coupled with disciplined execution of our strategy, we remain steadfast in our commitment to Tanzania—here for good, for the next 100 years and beyond.