E-Financial
UBA Deepens e-Banking Channels, Toasts Robust Banking Platform
United Bank for Africa (UBA), the leading African Bank that offers online/internet banking, consumer banking, business banking, investment banking, institutional banking, at the weekend, said that it was scaling up its e-banking channels in line with increasing trend in Nigeria and beyond.
Dr. Adeyinka Adedeji, divisional head, E-Banking (UBA) told journalists at the weekend that the bank derives its motivation to deepen e-banking channels; introduce reloadable prepaid card, among others, by the increased awareness among customers of the channels.
He said UBA, for instance, witnessed N95 billion transactions via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), approximately N8 billion transactions on U-mobile (mobile banking) and N10 billion on internet banking monthly in 2013 alone.
Adedeji added that the UBA’s innovative e-Channels have accorded the customers triple gains of financial control, convenience and security.
“We have seen tremendous changes in attitude of our customers since the commencement of cashless policy which started in Lagos and later six other States and expected to begin to function in other States by the end of the year. Due to that and the innovative culture embraced by UBA we have rolled out a number of channels on U-mobile, U-Direct, internet banking and redefined card issuance and usage,” he said.
Adedeji added that, with U-Direct, UBA’s Online Banking Service, customers can access many banking services and carry on with their banking activities without inhibitions, “that is, everywhere, you have access to the internet from a computer, tablet or Smartphone at anytime,” he explained.
Explaining the U-Mobile as, “Robust mobile banking platform which only requires a customer has an account (savings or current) or Prepaid Card with UBA Plc and a Java Enabled Mobile Phone. If offers the financial transactions freedom, especially at the international level. We are out to ensure none of our customers experiences stress or is stranded while on holiday or business trips”.
On his part, Obinna Umo, head, Debit & Credit Card Unit, said, apart from UBA setting up ATM galleries closer to the customers, it has enhanced individual-customer banking experience and apt in promoting central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) cashless policy thrust.
On corporate level, the leading African bank had initiated and implemented U-Collect, U-Schools, U-Malls, U-Payroll and other channels for organizational seamless cash transactions experience.
UBA, with strong retail franchise reaching close to 10 million customers, over 700 business offices, in 19 countries in Africa, has continued to enjoy international reputation for excellence as a result of its commitment to constant innovation.
Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading Tier-1 financial institutions, has announced a remarkable financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, recording a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N105.8 billion, representing an impressive growth of 167.8% compared to N39.5 billion in Q1 2024.
Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc
The bank’s unaudited financial statements, released on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on April 30, 2025, highlight a substantial increase in Gross Earnings, which rose to N315.4 billion, marking a year-on-year growth of 64.2% from N192.1 billion in the same period last year.
Growth in interest income was primarily led by 38.6% yoy (7.4% ytd) expansion in earning assets base, while the increase in non -interest revenue came from FX-related income, trade and commission on banking services, etc., supported by increased customer transactions.
Commenting on the bank’s performance, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, stated, “We started the year with triple-digit growth in profit and sustained the momentum in our earning assets growth.
This performance shows the resilience of our business model and reinforces our confidence in delivering a better result in the 2025 financial year.”
Other areas of the unaudited financial statements, equally show a marked improvement with Total Deposits growing by 11.1% ytd to N6.6tn from N5.9tn in December 2024, driven by 10.6% ytd growth in low-cost deposits to N6.1tn, which represents 92.2% of total customer deposits. Local currency deposits increased by 2.0% ytd while foreign currency deposits increased by 21.4% from $1.9bn in December 2024 to $2.3bn.
Net Loans and Advances increased by 5.0% ytd to N4.6tn. The growth in the bank’s Loan Book was skewed to LCY Loans as cost of risk declined to 0.6% from 1.5% in 2024FY.
“Beginning the year with such positive momentum reinforces our commitment to supporting the growth of individuals and businesses, while enhancing our financial sustainability. As we go into the rest of the year, we remain focused on building a resilient banking franchise with a diversified earnings base,” Onyeali-Ikpe added.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.
Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unveiled a technology adoption assessment survey for registered capital market operators as part of efforts to deepen innovation and efficiency in the Nigerian capital market.
In a circular, the SEC stated that the exercise was designed to evaluate the level of adoption of advanced technologies among CMOs operating within the Nigerian capital market.
According to the notice, “The following technology adoption survey is designed by the Commission to assess the adoption of advanced technologies among registered Capital Market Operators.”
The SEC directed all registered operators to log into the e-portal at using their current access credentials to complete the survey. The exercise will run for two weeks, from 5 to 20 May 2025.
Speaking recently on the role of innovation in the capital market, Emomotimi Agama, director-general of the SEC, urged stakeholders to embrace technology as a catalyst for growth, improved transparency, operational efficiency, and market resilience.
He noted that the SEC recognises the emergence of new financial products and services driven by technological advancements, and remains committed to adapting its regulatory framework to meet the evolving needs of the market.
According to him, the commission’s approach to innovation is anchored on three pillars: investor safety, market deepening, and problem-solving aimed at building a robust and efficient capital market ecosystem.
Agama also highlighted the commission’s Regulatory Incubation Programme, which allows fintech startups to operate within a controlled environment for one year while appropriate rules are developed to govern their activities.
He said the programme is part of the SEC’s broader strategy to support innovation while safeguarding market integrity and investor interests.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) ,has confirmed that Nigeria has fully repaid about US$3.4 billion loan it got in April 2020 under the Rapid Financing Instrument to help alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp fall in oil prices.
IMF said the loan has been repaid as of April 30, 2025 in a statement issued in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Thursday.
However, IMF said Nigeria is still expected to honour some additional payments in forms of Special Drawing Rights charges hat will amount to US$30 million annually.
“In line with the IMF’s Articles of Agreements, these charges, levied at the SDR interest rate, which is updated at the beginning of each week, apply to the difference between Nigeria’s SDR holdings (SDR 3,164 million) (US$4.3 billion) and its cumulative SDR allocation (SDR 4,027 million) (US$5.5 billion)
“The net payment of the charges stops when Nigeria’s SDR holdings reach the cumulative allocation amount,” IMF said in the statement. Online fitness
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