African banks and telecommunications companies continue to perform strongly in global brand rankings, according to the latest reports released by the brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
The Global Banking Brands 2026 and Telecoms 150 2026 reports show that banks from South Africa (SA) dominate Africa’s brand value rankings, while telecom giants such as MTN Group and Safaricom rank among the strongest telecom brands globally.
According to the report, MTN is the most valuable telecom brand in Africa, followed by Vodacom. In the banking sector, Standard Bank emerged as Africa’s most valuable bank brand, followed by First National Bank, Absa Group and Nedbank.
Globally, the reports show that the world’s most valuable telecom brand is Deutsche Telekom, valued at about $96 billion, followed by Verizon and AT&T.
In banking, the most valuable brand worldwide is Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), with a brand value of roughly $91 billion, followed by China Construction Bank, Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China.
However, African brands performed particularly well in terms of brand strength, which measures trust, customer loyalty and market performance. MTN and Safaricom ranked fifth and sixth strongest telecom brands globally, reflecting strong domestic customer support.
Strategy and insight consultant at Brand Finance Africa, David Winkfield, said African banks have long been recognised for delivering services that meet customer needs.
He noted that banks across Africa, particularly in SA and Kenya, have historically been strong adopters of technology, including early expansion of ATM networks and digital banking services.
Winkfield said this innovation and the high levels of trust customers place in financial institutions such as Equity Bank, KCB Bank and Capitec Bank help explain why African brands continue to rank among the strongest globally.
He added that companies in developing markets often excel at building services tailored to customer needs, giving them an advantage in brand strength rankings compared with some institutions in more developed economies.
The report also noted major global growth in digital banking brands. The UK-based fintech Revolut recorded one of the largest increases in brand value, while Brazil’s Nubank remains among the world’s strongest banking brands.
Overall, the findings highlight the growing competitiveness of African financial and telecom companies in the global marketplace.
–ChannelAfrica–
