Paystack Acquires Ladder Microfinance Bank in Nigeria

Paystack, the Stripe-owned Nigerian fintech giant, has made a calculated move into the banking industry with the acquisition of Ladder Microfinance Bank.

This is one of the most significant changes in its ten-year journey from payments infrastructure to financial services provider.

The agreement, which was made public in January 2026, grants Paystack control over a regulated deposit-taking institution and a microfinance banking licence. The new venture, called Paystack Microfinance Bank (Paystack MFB), will operate separately from Paystack payment, the company clarifies.

With this development, Paystack can now retain customer funds directly. It can provide loans and expand its services beyond the basic payment solutions that have driven its growth across Africa.

TechCabal quoted Paystack’s Chief Operating Officer, Amandine Lobelle, as saying:

“After 10 years of building payment infrastructure and going deep, we realised that businesses needed more than just getting paid to grow… We wanted to leverage the expertise that we have built over the last decade to continue to address some of the pain points that (businesses) have.”

Lobellle mentioned that Paystack MFB will function independently under its American parent company and as a sister company to Paystack’s payment platform.

“The two entities (Paystack MFB and Paystack Payments) will collaborate closely within the relevant regulatory framework but fundamentally have their own licences, governance, scope, products and seservices.”

She also stated that the bank will first focus on lending to companies, then gradually expand into consumer goods and broader financial services.

According to industry experts, Paystack’s banking licence will reduce the company’s reliance on partner banks for settlement and liquidity. It also put the bank in a more direct competitive position with integrated financial platforms.

Paystack aims to strengthen ties with companies, access new revenue streams, and support Nigeria’s broader financial inclusion.