Joana Adwoa Bannerman
Head of Subsidiaries Business Development, UEMOA region, West Africa at Access Bank Plc

Joana Adwoa Bannerman is an accomplished banking and business development executive with over three decades of experience driving strategic growth, market expansion, and operational excellence across Africa’s financial sector. She currently serves as Head of Subsidiaries Business Development, UEMOA region, West Africa at Access Bank Plc, where she leads strategic initiatives to strengthen the Group’s footprint. She also serves as Head of Retail and Digital Banking, West Africa at Access Bank Plc. 

Joana’s distinguished career includes serving as Managing Director of Access Bank Zambia, where she led a turnaround that moved the subsidiary from the bottom tier to the mid tier among 19 banks, and oversaw the complex merger and integration of Cavmont Bank, expanding the bank’s presence to 7 out of 10 provinces in Zambia. Her earlier roles span commercial banking,
trade finance, credit and business development, with leadership positions at Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited and the Agricultural Development Bank Ghana, where she contributed to pioneering initiatives such as the introduction of Western Union services in Ghana. 

Joana holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Chartered Banking from Bangor University, U.K. and has completed executive education at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, renowned for its leadership and global strategy programs.  

Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agriculture with an Economics major from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana. 

Throughout her career, Joana has consistently delivered value for clients, stakeholders, and teams across West, East, and Southern Africa. She is widely respected for her strategic clarity, inclusive leadership style, and deep understanding of complex financial markets. Her leadership philosophy centers on the belief that governance, culture, and strategy are the true engines of transformation. 

Beyond her core banking achievements, Joana is deeply committed to advancing women in finance and leadership through mentorship, conference engagements, and building diverse teams. Today, she is extending her expertise beyond banking into boardrooms, advisory roles, and sector initiatives, with a focus on financial inclusion, innovation, and sustainable growth across Africa.