Who Are Nigeria’s Most Agriculture-Friendly Banks in 2025?
AgricNews Digest Special Report
Nigeria does not have one bank officially crowned “#1 for Agriculture” in 2025. Yet, five financial institutions have separated themselves by the size of their loan books, their consistency with CBN intervention schemes, and how deliberately they structure products for farmers and agribusinesses. For growers, processors, and cooperatives looking for capital this year, these are the names showing up most often.
Sterling Bank: The Value-Chain and Youth-Focused Leader
For more than five years, Sterling Bank has treated agriculture as a core sector, not a corporate social responsibility line item. The bank reports disbursing over N500 billion to commercial farmers and another $300 million to actors across the agricultural value chain. Its early participation in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme across Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo gave it deep rural traction. More recently, Sterling’s SWAY AgFin initiative has opened finance to over 25,500 youth and women farmers, blending technology with lending. If your interest is in agro-processing, digital loan access, or youth-led agribusiness, Sterling is positioning itself as the most aggressive and innovative partner in that space.
FirstBank: Scale, Heritage, and Commercial Agriculture Depth
With a banking history stretching over 130 years, FirstBank remains one of Nigeria’s most active lenders to agriculture and the non-oil sector. Its agricultural portfolio grew by N11.6 billion in the last review period, and it financed more enterprises than any other bank under the CBN’s Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, accounting for more than 23 percent of all participation. That scale matters. For farmers targeting export, large-scale production, or businesses that require branch support across multiple states, FirstBank’s nationwide footprint and long experience in primary production to export finance make it a reliable option.
Unity Bank: The Rural and Smallholder Specialist
Unity Bank has carved out a reputation as a rural-first lender. It is currently Nigeria’s fourth largest provider of single-digit, nine percent CACS loans, with disbursements to farmers exceeding N24 billion. In partnership with NIRSAL, Unity Bank is targeting more than 9,000 rice, maize, and wheat farmers across seven northern states including Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Adamawa. For smallholder farmers who operate mostly outside urban centers and need intervention funds with lower interest pressure, Unity Bank has built its model around that exact gap.
Jaiz Bank: Non-Interest Finance for the Rice Value Chain
Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first and most profitable Islamic bank, has invested over N75 billion in the agriculture value chain in the last decade. A significant portion of that has gone into rice production and new rice mills, placing Jaiz among the leading banks in rice value chain financing. Because it operates on a non-interest, profit-and-loss sharing model, it is often the first choice for farmers and cooperatives who require Shariah-compliant financing instead of conventional interest-based loans.
Bank of Agriculture and BOI: Federal-Backed Growth Capital
Two development finance institutions are also reshaping access in 2025. The Bank of Agriculture has received federal approval for a N250 billion single-digit facility aimed directly at smallholder farmers. On the other side, the Bank of Industry signed an €85 million agreement with the European Investment Bank focused on cocoa and dairy value chains, with 70 percent of the funds earmarked for MSMEs and cooperatives. Together, BOA and BOI are closing the gap between policy and actual funding for structured, medium-scale agribusiness.
Choosing the Right Bank for Your Farm
The best fit depends on your scale, crop, and structure. Commercial farmers and exporters will find stronger systems with FirstBank or Sterling. Youth, women, and digitally inclined farmers should look closely at Sterling’s SWAY AgFin. Smallholders in rural communities, particularly in the north, will find Unity Bank and the Bank of Agriculture more aligned with single-digit lending. And for Shariah-compliant models, Jaiz Bank remains the standout.
If you are farming in Jos or across Plateau State and want to match your crop, scale, and financing needs to a specific loan product, we can narrow it to one or two banks with active windows this quarter.