Ghana International Bank Aims to Expand into U.S. Market as Interest in Africa Grows

The Ghana International Bank Plc (GHIB), based in London, is looking to enhance its footprint in the US as interest from American investors in African projects continues to rise, according to the bank’s new chief executive officer, Ian Greenstreet.

The Trump administration has prioritized critical minerals, and the UK-regulated bank—whose primary shareholder is the Ghanaian central bank—holds a unique position to connect investors with viable projects in this sector, Greenstreet shared with Bloomberg during a visit to New York on Monday.

“If you have someone who’s ready to do the heavy lifting, showcase the opportunities, and invest their own funds into those projects, while ensuring due diligence meets US standards,” he explained, the ‘friction’ of conducting business in Africa can be significantly minimized.

Greenstreet stepped into the role at GHIB in June, after accumulating over 40 years of experience at major banks such as ABN AMRO Bank NV, HSBC Holdings Plc, and NatWest Group Plc.

He noted that the bank has benefited from the recent growth of Ghana’s economy, particularly in the gold mining sector.

“Our strategy is to utilize our knowledge gained in gold, manganese, lithium, iron ore, and cocoa, and extend that expertise to other African nations,” he remarked.

GHIB currently has several debt deals “oven-ready” for investors as Greenstreet conducts his tour across the US.

“We’re seeking partners willing to join us in delivering the complete package,” he said. “That’s what we can achieve by increasing our presence here.”

Greenstreet refrained from revealing specifics about the deals, which are still under negotiation.

According to its 2025 financial report, GHIB’s assets increased by 9% to £1.2 billion last year, while net profits rose by 29% to £5.4 million.

Facilitating Cross-Border Banking

The bank is also broadening its services across Africa through partnerships with central banks and correspondent banking services.

Recently, global lenders have been withdrawing correspondent banking services due to the complexities and costs associated with complying with US anti-money laundering regulations, making financial transfers to and from the continent more challenging.

“We’ve developed technology that enables complete transparency,” Greenstreet explained, ensuring compliance with US know-your-customer regulations and facilitating quicker transactions.

The bank is also in discussions with governments looking to utilize their gold production as monetary reserves, a practice GHIB has successfully executed with Ghana’s central bank.

According to Greenstreet, the bank is in “the ideal position to facilitate that.” He added, “We can offer cash in exchange for those reserves should any central banks need liquidity.”

On another note, Greenstreet mentioned that demand for yuan borrowing among businesses, especially those engaging with China and seeking to diversify their funding sources, has not yet been observed at GHIB.

“We acknowledge this rising trend,” he stated. “If a significant number of our clients express interest, then it becomes worthwhile for us to explore.”

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