Standard Chartered recorded a $5.4m loss on the sale of its Gambian subsidiary as part of its withdrawal from several African markets, according to the bank’s 2025 financial results.

The divestment formed part of an agreement under which Nigeria’s Access Bank acquired Standard Chartered’s operations in The Gambia and other African countries including Angola, Cameroon and Sierra Leone.

The exits were part of the bank’s strategy to streamline its international operations.

The financial report showed that Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Limited generated a disposal loss of $5.4m, including translation adjustment losses of about $8m.

The bank also recorded a similar loss in Cameroon, while posting gains from disposals in other markets.

Despite the losses linked to the divestments, Standard Chartered reported strong overall results for 2025, with operating income rising to $20.9bn and underlying profit before tax increasing to $7.9bn.

The bank said its performance was driven by growth in wealth management, global markets and international banking activities.