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Standard Chartered Contributes $10.7Bn to the Economy

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(L-r) Dr. Rene Kim, Partner, Steward Redqueen, Joke Adu,Corporate Affairs Manager and Diran Olojo, Head, Corporate Affair, both of Standard Chartered Bank Plc during the press conference on the bank's report titled - 'Banking on Africa: Standard Chartered's Social & Economic Impact' in Lagos recently.
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Standard Chartered has officially launched a report titled “Banking on Africa – Standard Chartered’s Social and Economic Impact” in which it highlighted a number of ways the bank could deepen its impact in Sub-Saharan Africa, including further increase of its engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by catalysing the region’s economic complexity, for example through increasing financial access for supply chain companies.

In 2013 Standard Chartered Bank commissioned an independent study by Professor Ethan Kapstein of Goergetown University, USA and Dr. Rene Kim of Steward Redqueen, The Netherlands to measure the role of Standard Chartered, and banking more broadly, in generating trade, growth and jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria included) and to find out what the bank can do better.

The findings in the report released by the bank recently, showed that across Sub Saharan Africa, Standard Chartered Bank directly and indirectly supports 1.9 million jobs, equivalent to around 0.6 per cent of the total workforce and contributes $10.7 billion to the economy, equivalent to 1.2 per cent of the region’s GDP.

It also showed that it supports trade worth $7.2 billion, equivalent to 1.2 per cent of total trade with the rest of the world; and supports $1.8 billion in tax payments to governments in Sub-Saharan Africa, equivalent to 1.1 per cent of total receipts of governments in the region.

The report further provides recommendations on how banks can, over time, make even greater contributions to economic growth in Africa.

Some of the recommendations include: further increasing engagement with SMEs by providing greater access to value chain finance;   building on existing collaborations with the international community’s bilateral and multinational development agencies to improve local infrastructure.

Some of the ways this can be done according the report for example, is “building on the extensive work that the Bank is already doing to finance power in Africa; and continue working closely with governments and regulators to ensure a business environment that supports and encourages investment, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

The report reinforces the vital role banks can play in supporting sustainable economic development, insisting that opportunities across the continent are extraordinarily exciting and the bank is committed to playing its part in realising Africa’s potential.

It draws on quantitative and qualitative assessments by examining Standard Chartered Bank’s direct and indirect impact in 13 of its 15 Sub-Saharan Africa markets (excluding South Africa and Mauritius) to answer questions around what the wider impact of Standard Chartered’s business is on Africa’s economies.

How the bank contributes to employment, personal incomes, business profits, and tax generation across the continent as a whole and how Standard Chartered continues to help the economies in Africa remain on a positive trajectory in the future.

In addition, it assesses Standard Chartered’s impact on Africa’s trade, deploying its global network spanning 68 markets, and as the only international bank with a major presence across both Africa and Asia.

The report also focuses on four countries – Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya and Ghana (markets representing over half Standard Chartered’s African revenues).

Commenting on the report, Mrs. Bola Adesola, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, said: “In all of our markets, Standard Chartered is committed to supporting our clients and customers, creating value for our shareholders and making a broader contribution to society. We are proud of our history in Nigeria and are determined to uphold our promise to be “Here for good” in the markets in which we operate.  This report demonstrates the powerful role that Standard Chartered can and does play across Africa in social and economic development, financing growth, trade and jobs.”

Co-author of the report Dr. Kim added: “A key message of the report is that it is very important for the Nigerian economy to become more ‘complex’ – more interwoven. This complexity will put the Nigerian economy on a more sustainable growth path. Standard Chartered, with its large international footprint, can play an important role in conjunction with the private and public sectors to spur sector linkages in Nigeria’s economy.’’

Standard Chartered Bank has been operating in Africa for more than 150 years and is present in 16 African countries and active in 36 countries across the continent.

Currently it serves more than one million retail customers, approximately 100,000 small and medium sized enterprises, and has well over 6,000 corporate client relationships in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing them with a comprehensive range of wholesale and consumer banking services.

The bank contributes to Sub-Saharan Africa’s development in a number of ways. Standard Chartered plays a vital role in financing cross-border trade and investment, while bringing much-needed innovation in financial services.


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E-Financial

Edun, Finance Minister Inaugurates NDIC New Management

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Mr Wale Edun, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy,  has inaugurated Mr Thompson Oludare Sunday, new managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and Dr Kabir Sabo Katata, executive director (Operations),  at the Ministry of Finance, Abuja.

Mr Wale Edun, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, flanked by Mr Thompson Oludare Sunday, new managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and Dr Kabir Sabo Katata, executive director (Operations),

In his speech during the occasion, the Minister submitted that the NDIC, as a component of the financial safety-net has a crucial role to play in the nation’s march to economic stability and prosperity.

He therefore charged the Management team to bring their diverse wealth of experience to bear on their new assignment while assuring them of the ministry’s full support in the task ahead.

Responding, Mr Sunday who spoke on behalf of the Management team, expressed appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their appointment.

He assured the Hon Minister of the readiness of the Management under his leadership to live up to expectations of the President in particular and the nation in general in the discharge of their duties.

The Management  later received by the Corporation’s Head Office with a warm welcome by the workforce.

A statement signed by Hawwau Gambo, head, Communication & Public Affairs Department, revealed that Addressing the workers on behalf the Management team, Mr. Sunday promised to work in harmony with the staff to move the Corporation to its next level performance.

He stressed that the Management’s focus would be based on the public policy objectives, functions and mandate devolved on the Corporation by the enabling law that established it.

Thompson Oludare Sunday is a seasoned financial expert with over 30 years of regulatory and supervisory experience.

Having cut his teeth with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 1989, he went ahead to acquire high-end knowledge in Central Banking, spending 24 unbroken years in banking supervision.

While his vast experience is in the regulation and supervision of licensed institutions, his deep expertise span corporate governance, risk management and compliance as veritable tool for ensuring the safety and soundness of institutions.

He is a highly analytical and cross functional team worker with strong interest in building individual and institutional capacity for transformation and excellence.

Thompson’s skills and experience were horned by several key responsibilities and special assignments he handled for the apex Bank before his retirement as a Director 2021.

Kabir Sabo Katata, ED (Operations),  is a quantitative energy strategist and computational finance expert with strong power trading and risk management experience.

He has over twenty-eight years’ experience in the design and management of technically innovative systems in multiple industries including telecommunications, IT, energy (petroleum & power), finance and government.

He is a specialist in sophisticated financial optimization, the application of modern statistical techniques and mathematics to energy, deposit insurance and banking sectors.

Dr. Katata joined the service of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2012 as an Assistant Director in the Research, Policy and International Relations Department and rose to the pinnacle of his career as Director in January 2022, before his new appointment as Executive Director (Operations).

 

 


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Union Bank Rewards Customers with ₦5 Million Each in Save and Win Palli Promo Season 4 Grand Finale

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Union Bank of Nigeria has proudly concluded the fourth edition of its acclaimed Save and Win Palli Promo, awarding three fortunate customers a life-changing ₦5 million each at the grand finale. Since its inception, this transformative campaign has disbursed over ₦330 million in cash and gift prizes, touching the lives of more than 5,000 customers nationwide and elevating their financial prospects.

The grand prize winners, representing diverse regions across the country, emerged through transparent electronic draws supervised by regulatory authorities. The celebrated recipients, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Isah (Zaria Branch, North), Atilabor Seikemefa Friday (Sapele Branch, South-South), and Oluranti Ogunluyi (Ilaro Branch, South-West), received their prizes at The Stallion Plaza, Union Bank’s Head Office, Marina, Lagos, in the presence of other winners, and the Bank’s executive leadership led by Managing Director/CEO Yetunde Oni.

Vivian Imoh-Ita, Head of Retail and SME Business, reflected on the enduring impact of the campaign: “Over the past four years, the Save and Win Palli Promo has enriched the lives of thousands, providing crucial financial relief and rewarding diligent savers. We are unwavering in our commitment to empowering our customers so they may thrive and achieve their ambitions.”

Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilola Aluko, highlighted the Bank’s broader mission: “Union Bank is delighted by the ripple effect our targeted savings initiatives have created. We have seen a significant boost in savings culture, allowing customers to reach their financial goals, while our innovative promotions continue to cushion economic challenges and foster responsible financial habits.”

Kicking off in December 2024 and concluding in May 2025, the latest season saw over 3,000 customers rewarded with gifts and cash, including motorcycles, tricycles, fuel vouchers, and substantial cash prizes, with total giveaways exceeding ₦131 million.

To qualify, customers maintained a minimum balance of ₦10,000 and completed at least five transactions monthly. Monthly draw winners received ₦100,000, while quarterly draws featured exciting prizes such as motorcycles and tricycles.

As Season 4 draws to a close, Union Bank reaffirms its dedication to nurturing customer growth and extending robust financial support nationwide. Through continued innovation, the Bank remains steadfast in its mission to empower Nigerians and foster sustainable wealth for all.


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NIBBS: Banks Close 29.4m Accounts, Dormant Accounts Hit 33.39m

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Banks in Nigeria closed 29.4 million accounts as of March 2025, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS).

NIBBS: Banks Close 29.4m Accounts, Dormant Accounts Hit 33.39m

The figure represents a sharp year-on-year increase of 30.43 per cent from the 22.54 million closed accounts recorded in March 2024.

It also reflects a steady rise in account closures over recent months, with 33.29 million closed accounts reported in February 2025 and 29.43 million in January.

The report also revealed a significant increase in dormant accounts, which surged to 33.39 million in March 2025, up from 19.79 million in the same period in 2024, a 71.3 per cent rise in inactive accounts over the past year.

Despite the spike in closures and dormant accounts, the number of active bank accounts rose from 219.64 million in March 2024 to 320.05 million in March 2025, representing an increase of over 100 million, or 45.7 per cent.

NIBSS defines a dormant account as one that has seen no deposit, withdrawal, transfer, or point-of-sale transaction for a period of six months.

The surge in account closures and dormancy follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive issued in December 2023, mandating commercial banks to restrict Tier-1 accounts not linked to a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN) by March 1, 2024.

In response to the directive, BVN enrolment increased from 61.6 million in April 2024 to 66.23 million by July 2025, as more Nigerians rushed to meet the CBN’s compliance deadline.

 

 


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