Across Africa, banks are expanding, but unfortunately their returns are not. Many banks are promising high returns as they expand across Africa. The main attraction of the continent’s banking market is that it is vast and virtually untapped. Banking penetration among Africa’s billion inhabitants varies significantly from nation to nation, but many people in countries like Senegal and Tanzania have virtually little access to banks.

These banks are expanding their network and are willing to take risks. Here is a brief overview of the top 10 richest banks in Africa by assets as of 2014.

10) Credit Populaire du Maroc – $27.662 Billion (Morocco)

Credit Populaire du Maroc (Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire) is a Morocco-based group of banks engaged in the provision of financial products and services. It offers products and services to individuals, professionals and businesses. It has assets of around $27.662 billion.

9) Banque Misr – $29.436 Billion (Egypt)

Egyptian bank Banque Misr was founded in 1920 and nationalized in 1960. The bank has assets of approximately $29.436 billion. It has branches in all of Egypt’s governorates.

8) Investec Bank – $31.335 Billion (South Africa)

Investec Bank is a specialist bank and asset manager. It provides a wide range of financial products and services to a niche client base in South Africa.

7) Banque Exterieure d’Algerie – $34.373 Billion (Algeria)

Banque Exterieure d’Algerie (BEA) was founded in 1967. This commercial bank is based in Bir Mourad Rais, Algeria. It has a total assets of $34.373 billion.

6) Attijariwafa Bank – $40.026 Billion (Morocco)

Attijariwafa Bank is a leading bank is Morocco that has assets of around $40.026 billion. Founded in 1904, the bank has been listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange since 1943.

5) National Bank of Egypt – $51 Billion (Egypt)

The National Bank of Egypt is the oldest and the largest bank in Egypt. It has assets of approximately $51 billion. The bank accounts for more than 23 percent of the Egyptian banking system’s total assets.

4) Nedbank Group – $80.110 Billion (South Africa)

Nedbank has assets of around $80.11 billion and offers a range of banking solutions for individuals, small businesses and large corporations. It is headquartered in Johannesburg.

3) FirstRand – $89 Billion (South Africa)

FirstRand offers banking, insurance and investment products and services to retail, commercial, corporate and public sector customers in South Africa and other African countries.

2) Barclays Africa Group – $97.241 Billion (South Africa)

The Barclays Africa Group (formerly ABSA Group) has assets of around $97.24 billion. If offers personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and Bancassurance in various nations of Africa.

1) Standard Bank Group – $184.518 Billion (South Africa)

With assets of over $184.518, Standard Bank is the richest bank in Africa. It has a 151-year history in South Africa. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the bank has operations in 32 nations worldwide. More than 49,000 people work in Standard Bank. It offers commercial banking, investment banking and investment management solutions. The bank’s market cap is around $20 billion.