E-Financial
NIBSS Approves Standard Guidelines for BVN Matching System
The Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) has issued approved standard operating guidelines for Bank Verification Number (BVN) matching system, mainly for a harmonized way of verifying customer’s identity.
This, the company owned by all deposit money banks said, is to undergird the centralized BVN for a uniform repeatable approach in using the system in the banking industry.
This uniform approach needs to define the routine processes and procedures followed by every organization in the industry that would facilitate consistent conformance to technical and quality system requirements and support data quality.
In a statement to this effect, it said, the NIBSS standard operating procedure for the BVN system would be specific to the banking industry and assist the industry to maintain their quality control and quality assurance processes and ensure compliance with governmental and nongovernmental regulations.
This document is developed by the Bankers’ Committee Operations committee for the project. The Operations Committee is commissioned to champion the development of BVN standards for the banking community.
“The purpose of these standard operating guidelines (SOG) is to prescribe the processes for collecting, updating, linking, storing and using identification data from bank customers.
“This SOG takes into consideration the regulatory requirements as well as established standards and industry best practices. In particular, this SOG describes the operationalization of the approved regulatory framework for BVN operations and watch-list for the Nigerian banking industry,” the statement read in part.
The DMBs presently adopt various methods for Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. The methods used in identifying customers differ from bank to bank because there is no harmonized way of verifying customer’s identity.
In view of this, the financial services sector through the Bankers’ Committee proactively embarked upon the deployment of a centralized bank verification system for the banking industry.
This is to aid the delivery of its services by building a technology system for verification and secure authentication of the identity of bank customers.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in furtherance of its mandate for the development of the electronic payments system in Nigeria released the exposure draft on the regulatory framework for Bank Verification Number (BVN) operations and watch-list for the Nigerian financial system for your review and comments.
This harmonized system, according to NIBSS, will have the ability to identify a person by a physical characteristic such as fingerprints, facial, voice or retinal scans.
This has had several applications in security and has been used by several organizations. It has become popular because of its many advantages over traditional security systems such as passwords and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).
The selected identification option for the Nigeria Bank Customer Identification Scheme is fingerprints and facial recognition.
The CBN in conjunction with the bankers’ committee embarked on a shared services program with three key objectives. These are to: improve KYC process within the banking sector; increase access, convenience, service levels across the industry and enable greater financial inclusion and integration of financial services into the economy, with its attendant positive impact on economic development.
The Bankers’ Committee with CBN recognized that payments are a key driver of costs, hence the committee’s focus on payment system transformation.
A major requirement that affects the Nigerian payment system is the need to “Know Your Customer”. Additionally, the need to know your customer is reinforced by the latest anti-money laundering/ counter-terrorism directive and requirements.
NIBSS explained that uniquely identifying bank customers would help immensely to reduce the current administrative costs of the KYC requirement.
This is in addition to the revision of the KYC requirement. More importantly, as the regulators (CBN and others) are focused on transforming the payment system (policy and its processes), a unique identity for customers would impact other areas such as credit check, authenticity and non-repudiation of transactions and fraud management creating more efficiency and effectiveness within the payment system.
“In view of this, the financial services sector through the Bankers’ Committee and the CBN proactively embarked upon the deployment of a centralized bank verification system for the banking industry.
“The BVN matching system will aid in uniquely identifying customers across all banks. This solution will also help in reducing the repudiation of transactions. Verification of identity is possible without resort to documents that may be stolen, lost or altered,” the statement clarified.
On the benefits of this new system, it noted that a person’s fingerprint cannot be shared easily or stolen and no two persons can have an exact match.
Biometrics is easy to use and does not have associated stress of forgotten password/password resets and can never be forgotten as they are physical characteristics of the person; a biometric feature unequivocally attaches a person to an event.
If there is a fraudulent/suspicious transaction, regulatory authorities and banks would have an accurate record of the customer involved among others.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a comprehensive review of documentation requirements for transactions processed through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), aimed at enhancing intra-African trade, promoting financial inclusion, and improving operational efficiency for cross-border payments within Africa.
In a press release issued on Monday, the CBN outlined key updates to the documentation framework in a circular addressed to Authorised Dealer Banks (ADBs) and the general public.
The revised guidelines are part of the CBN’s ongoing efforts to streamline processes and support seamless financial transactions across the continent.
Under the new framework, individuals conducting low-value transactions up to USD 2,000 equivalent in naira and corporates transacting up to USD 5,000 equivalent in naira can now rely on basic Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) documents already provided to their ADBs.
This measure simplifies compliance requirements for smaller transactions and reduces administrative burdens.
For transactions exceeding the specified thresholds, parties must comply with the full documentation requirements as outlined in the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual and related circulars to ensure regulatory compliance.
Applicants are also responsible for ensuring that all necessary regulatory documents are available to facilitate the clearance of goods as mandated by relevant government agencies.
The new policy permits ADBs to source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements directly from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, eliminating the previous requirement to obtain forex directly from the CBN.
Additionally, all export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS must be certified by the relevant processing banks to promote transparency and regulatory adherence.
The CBN urged all ADBs to adopt PAPSS and commence originating transactions in accordance with the updated policy.
Exporters, importers, and individuals were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and leverage PAPSS for efficient cross-border transactions across Africa.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has directed banks across the country to immediately identify and close any tax and levy collection accounts not authorised under its TaxPro Max platform.
The directive, aimed at promoting transparency and ensuring uniformity in tax collection, was disclosed in a public notice titled “Directive to close unauthorised FIRS tax collection accounts,” issued by the FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, and circulated to journalists on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi.
According to the notice, all tax and levy collections must now be processed exclusively through assessments generated on the TaxPro Max system.
The FIRS warned that all banks participating in its collection, remittance, and reconciliation scheme must comply without delay, discontinue the use of unauthorised accounts, and ensure only transactions initiated from the TaxPro Max platform are processed.
“We count on your cooperation to ensure a smooth transition to this centralised system, thereby contributing to a more transparent and efficient tax collection process,” the agency stated.
Developed locally, the TaxPro Max platform facilitates key tax activities such as taxpayer registration, filing of returns, payment processing, and the issuance of tax clearance certificates.
It was introduced to streamline tax administration and support the FIRS’s broader digitalisation agenda.
The agency also urged taxpayers and stakeholders seeking clarification to contact its Revenue Accounting and Refund Department.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has unveiled an ambitious vision to expand its presence to over 100 countries worldwide in the next 75 years, deepening its role as a truly global African institution.
Looking ahead, UBA also plans to grow its customer base from over 45 million at present to more than one billion customers within the next 75 years.
The bank aims to achieve this by leveraging cutting-edge technology, customer-first innovation, trusted relationships, and collaborations to meet the evolving needs of individuals, businesses, and governments.
The bank projects to accomplish more, driven by its unwavering Customer 1st philosophy, the vast and untapped potential across Africa, and the deeply held belief that UBA possesses the capacity, resilience, and responsibility to confront and overcome the continent’s most pressing challenges while unlocking sustainable opportunities for future generations.
This vision was unveiled by Dr Oliver Alawuba, GMD/CEO of UBA Plc, over the weekend during his opening remarks at the UBA @ 75 anniversary gala dinner in Abuja.
Speaking during the celebration, themed “UBA @ 75 – A Legacy of Excellence… A Future of Impact,” Alawuba said, “At UBA, we are building more than a bank; we are building a future for the next generation of Africans—one defined by opportunity, inclusion, and transformation.
“In the next 75 years, we envision a UBA with a presence in every African country and an expansion to over 100 countries worldwide, deepening its role as a truly global African institution.
“In the next 75 years, UBA will serve more than one billion customers, leveraging cutting-edge technology, customer-first innovation, and trusted relationships and collaborations to meet the evolving needs of individuals, businesses, and governments.
“In the next 75 years, UBA will be more than a part of Africa’s economic renaissance—it will shape its trajectory and champion its transformation.”
Alawuba highlighted that 75 years ago, UBA commenced operations in 1949 on Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, as the British and French Bank. Today, through the strength and resilience of its people and the unwavering trust of its customers, the bank operates in 20 African countries and four global financial centres—New York, London, Paris, and Dubai.
“We are serving over 45 million customers through 1,000 business offices and a diverse array of channels: more than 430,000 POS terminals, 2,600 ATMs, and 21 million cardholders, powered by a workforce of over 25,000 staff across our network,” he stated.
UBA has consistently recorded numerous achievements, delivering an impressive performance in the 2024 fiscal year, with gross earnings soaring by 53.6% to ₦3.19 trillion ($2.14 billion)—underscoring the bank’s strong earnings momentum.
Furthermore, total assets expanded by 46.8% to ₦30.32 trillion ($19.58 billion), and shareholders’ funds strengthened by 68.39% to ₦3.42 trillion ($2.21 billion)—reflecting UBA’s growing balance sheet and unwavering resilience.
The GMD/CEO said, “These milestones stand on the pillars of stability, resilience, and excellence—pillars that have anchored UBA’s growth over the last seven and a half decades.”
Earlier, Senator Kashim Shettima, vice president, extolled what he termed the staying power of the United Bank for Africa (UBA Group) over the past 75 years, describing the financial institution as a pacesetter in innovation, emerging markets, and generational ambition.
“Seventy-five years is not something you pick up at a supermarket. It is earned. It’s through risks and calculations, through storms and sunshine, through mergers and acquisitions, and through the brainpower and courage of those who believe in its promise of a new world. That is what leadership means,” he declared.
Senator Shettima said the celebration of an institution like UBA “that has outlived generations and still pulses with the vibrancy of youth” is not something that happens every day.
“The United Bank for Africa, or simply UBA, is not what it is because of the age of its ideas. It is what it is because of the attention it pays—attention to innovation, attention to emerging markets, attention to shifting dreams, and attention to the changing contours of generational ambition.
“UBA has remained a pacesetter because it is led by people who do not just manage capital but manage curiosity.
“UBA’s staying power is owed to its pursuit of relevance. It has stood as a reward for new thinking, expanding not just across geography but across ideas.
“It serves millions, it shapes economies, and it influences the narrative of what an African institution can become when excellence is institutionalised and when well-intentioned dream-makers are in charge.”
The Vice President acknowledged the leadership ability of Mr Tony Elumelu, group chairman, UBA, whom he described as one of the finest sons of the African continent, noting that no institution writes its history without the signature of those who believe in it.
According to him, Elumelu has “become a bridge between the old and the new, between the outdated and the emerging,” adding that he “has won the trust of even the Gen Zs, or whatever this brilliant, digital generation calls itself.”
He continued, “Tony Elumelu is not a dreamer. Dreamers are those who are stuck in the bubble. Mr Elumelu is a dream-maker. He has made true the imagination of those who wish for an empire from the comfort of their homes. He has taught us that it is possible to build without breaking, to lead without losing touch, and to dream without borders.
“One thing that has amused me about Mr Elumelu over the years is that he has cracked a code many still struggle to decipher—the delicate art of balancing the boardroom with the living room, of being a captain of industry and still a commander at home.
“Not many men have managed a balance between building empires and building families, between saving the world and being present at Christmas in their village. But this man, this maverick, this dream-maker, has shown us that you can help move the continent forward without losing touch with home and family.”
The Vice President also lauded Elumelu’s wife, Dr Awele Elumelu, saying she is not just a spouse “but an Amazon—a matriarch who gathers the kith and kin under her warm canopy,” as well as the quiet strength behind the force that is her husband.
Earlier,Tony Elumelu, group chairman of UBA, expressed profound gratitude to the Vice President while acknowledging the bank’s foundational history.
“This is a night of celebration, gratitude to God and to customers and shareholders who have made it possible,” Elumelu stated.
The Chairman emphasised the importance of honouring those who established UBA’s foundation, saying, “We all today are under the shields because someone planted the tree. The foundation of UBA was laid by people before us; we are only taking it further.”
Looking toward the future, Elumelu expressed confidence in the bank’s continued success, tying it directly to Nigeria’s economic environment.
“On the vision of the next 75 years, just keep transforming our domestic economy as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing, and UBA will keep roaring,” he affirmed.
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