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UBA@75: Still Trendy, Waxing Strong, Maintaining Steeze and Composure

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Mr. Ernest Nwoko, a 65-year-old loyal retiree is a long-standing customer of UBA, who has enjoyed the services of the bank for over four decades.


In the 1970s he opened up his first account with the United Bank of Africa as a young individual and has over the years witnessed the various evolutions of the bank which according to him, has adapted steadily to the dynamics of the financial landscape.


In his words, “UBA has been my trusted bank for as long I can remember. Whether it has been in securing loans for my then small business, or meeting up with my financial needs, they treated me right and with respect. Because of this, all members of my family have accounts with the bank, and even my youngest daughter who turned 18 a few weeks ago, has now begun to run her Next Gen account with UBA by herself, and she is currently enjoying the benefits.”


Over the past seven decades, UBA, aptly known as Africa’s Global Bank, has continued to serve its wide clientele of customers which are spread across all age group and class with its rich array of financial products specifically and tailor-made to suit their individual needs.


The bank which began operations in Africa in 1949 under the British and French Bank Limited (BFB), has undoubtedly become a household name with its operations in 20 African countries: Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Chad, Uganda, and Zambia. It also operates in United States, United Kingdom, France and United Arabs Emirates.


The bank has left its global footprint with its various innovative offerings and growing investment in infrastructural development across several economies in Africa, thus having a significant impact on multiple generations, their businesses, and the economy.


As of today, UBA has invested several millions of dollars in several vital sectors of economies including Oil and Gas, Infrastructure Finance, Agriculture, and Commodity/Export, and this has helped position it as a preferred financial and development partner for key governments and corporations on the continent and beyond.


Its focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental sustainability through its CSR Arm, the UBA foundation, has earned the bank several recognitions and awards as a socially conscious financial institution especially with Generation Z popularly known as the Gen Zs, who seem to have become more conscious about environmental protection and sustainability.


“For me, it’s not just about the banking services and diverse products that UBA offers the young people like us, but I think it is also about the values and impact that the bank places on making the environment friendly,” Wura Abolade, a 23-year old customer of the bank said. “I think I am impressed with UBA’s continuous effort at environmental sustainability, such as their Tree Planting for instance. Their efforts to address pressing environmental and societal needs endears them to me and my guys,” she stated.


In the area of technology, UBA remains at the forefront of developing innovative products and services that meets the current technological needs of its customers. A case in point was the introduction of LEO UBA’s chatbot, an artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant, introduced in 2018, that enables customers to perform banking transactions via social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, IOS and other social media platforms from the comfort of their mobile phones.


Festus Obidinma, who uses LEO for most of his quick transactions said, “I’m a young man, I don’t like stress and I do not have time to be going up and down, I work and do my stuff remotely, so LEO is very apt for me, I can lie on my bed and carry out my transactions with ease, and for me, this is a very big plus. I also use UBA’s Mobile Banking App, it is very interactive and can provide all the information that I need from my phone without me having to visit the branch. It really saves me time and money, and for this, I am very pleased. I will say the bank really took the youth into consideration when they developed this app.”


“It’s the security of my apps and data protection for me, says Usman Bala, “As a generation that takes data privacy seriously and is highly conscious of privacy, I appreciate UBA’s commitment to keeping our personal and financial details secure,” he stated.


As UBA celebrates its 75th anniversary, the bank’s ability to cater to the evolving financial needs and preferences of the Gen Z demographic and its older customers remains evidence of the bank’s innovation, adaptability and visionary acumen. By blending its traditional processes with contemporary innovations, UBA continues to reinforce its position as a trendsetter in the financial industry and Africa’s global bank.

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UBA Unveils Diaspora Platform to Connect Global Africans with Investment, Wealth Opportunities

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Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has unveiled a diaspora banking and investment platform designed to serve Africans living and working across the world and within the continent.

The platform, launched in collaboration with leading ecosystem partners including United Capital, Africa Prudential, UBA Pensions, Afriland Properties, Heirs Insurance Group, and Avon Healthcare Limited — represents a major step in redefining diaspora banking beyond remittances toward structured wealth creation and long-term investment.

At the unveiling, which took place at UBA’s global headquarters in Lagos under the theme: “Beyond Banking: Powering the Global African Lifestyle, all the company representatives were on hand to showcase a seamless platform that goes beyond remittances, wealth creation, protection, and long-term prosperity.

Speaking at the event, UBA’s Head of Diaspora Banking, Anant Rao, described the initiative as a strategic shift in how Africa engages its global citizens.

“For decades, Africa’s engagement with its diaspora has focused largely on remittances. Today, we are moving beyond that. This platform represents a transition from simple money transfers to a financial ecosystem where Africans globally can bank, make payments, invest, protect their families, and build long-term wealth seamlessly,” he said.

Rao noted that African diaspora remittance flows exceed $100 billion annually, making them one of the most resilient and consistent sources of capital into the continent.

“Diaspora capital is not just a flow of funds — it is a strategic growth partner for Africa.

Our role is to provide a trusted platform that converts capital into structured investment and shared prosperity across the continent.”

The objective is to provide a platform that brings together offerings across the numerous needs of the Global African, including Banking and payments, Investments, securities services, asset management, Insurance, Pensions, real estate and Pensions.

Through this coordinated ecosystem, diaspora customers can access financial solutions across multiple sectors through a single trusted platform, enabling them to manage their financial lives and family commitments across borders with ease and transparency.

UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, emphasised the importance of collaboration in delivering a seamless diaspora experience.

“The modern African is a global citizen — mobile, ambitious, and deeply connected to home. Whether living in Africa, Europe, the Americas, or the Middle East, there must be a structured and secure financial connection back home. This platform ensures that Africans everywhere can remain economically connected to the continent with confidence and transparency.”

Partners within the ecosystem highlighted growing demand among diaspora Africans for structured investment opportunities, secure property ownership, insurance protection, and long-term financial planning.

United Capital showcased globally accessible investment products designed to deliver professionally managed and transparent wealth creation opportunities.

Afriland Properties emphasised structured and well-governed real estate investment pathways for diaspora clients.

Heirs Insurance highlighted protection solutions for life, and assets, while Avon Healthcare Limited demonstrated healthcare access and insurance solutions for families across borders.

Africa Prudential and UBA Pension reinforced digital investment management and long-term pension savings solutions designed to support diaspora participation in African capital markets.

Together, the partners underscored a shared commitment to providing diaspora Africans with credible, transparent, and professionally managed financial pathways. Rao also reiterated the guiding philosophy of Africapitalism, championed by UBA’s Founder and Chairman, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR.

He explained that Africapitalism is the belief that Africa’s private sector must play a leading role in the continent’s development by making long-term investments that generate both economic returns and social impact.

As Africa continues to position itself as one of the world’s most dynamic growth frontiers, UBA believes mobilising diaspora capital through trusted financial institutions will be central to shaping the continent’s next phase of development.

“Africa will increasingly be financed by Africans themselves, including Africans abroad,” Rao added. Our responsibility is to build the trusted financial infrastructure that makes this possible.”


“When Africa’s global citizens invest back into Africa, growth becomes inevitable,” he concluded.

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UBA revamps agency, merchant banking services

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The United Bank for Africa Plc has introduced a new Aggregator Sales Structure for its RedPay POS and Agency Banking Network, aiming to strengthen its relationships with partners and promote greater financial inclusion throughout Nigeria.

The newly launched multi-benefit structure was unveiled at the inaugural UBA Aggregator Engagement Session, held at the bank’s head office in Lagos on Tuesday. The session, themed ‘POS-itive Impact: Connecting Agents, Merchants, and Customers’, served as a collaborative platform to align strategies for scaling the UBAMONI Agency Banking ecosystem and bringing together key industry aggregators, Point-of-Sale partners, and network managers.

UBA’s Executive Director Designate, Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, who spoke at the event, said, “Today’s session marks a pivotal step in our collective journey to democratise financial access in Nigeria.

By bringing together our valued aggregators and partners, we are strengthening the ecosystem that connects UBA directly to communities and ensuring that reliable financial services are within everyone’s reach.”

Emphasising the need for partnerships, UBA’s Head of Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, who presented the keynote address, outlined the strategic imperative behind the new structure.

“Our aggregators are fundamental to realising our ambition of building Africa’s most impactful digital collections network. This structured framework is designed to be scalable, transparent, and mutually rewarding, empowering our partners with the technology and support needed to drive agent productivity as well as serve underserved communities effectively,” Fashola noted.

The lender said that the platform delivers comprehensive value to agents and aggregators alike, featuring instant settlement, reliable transaction processing, real-time dashboard reporting, and a full suite of services, including dispute and terminal management, analytics, card withdrawals, bill payments, and pay-with-transfer.

For aggregators specifically, the model provides a structured opportunity to onboard and manage agents within UBA’s network and access attractive incentives and commissions, as well as leverage a dedicated Aggregator Admin Portal for real-time visibility into agent performance and transactions.

Adetunji Iyiola, UBA’s Head of Agency Banking, highlighted the customer-focused nature of the initiative, saying the new structure significantly enhances collaboration between UBA, its merchants, and agents.

“This rollout is about creating superior value for every stakeholder and enabling better service delivery to customers while ensuring our partners have the tools and incentives to thrive. It reinforces our promise to deliver essential banking services exactly where they are needed most,” he said.

With the introduction of the aggregator framework, UBA further cements its leadership in pioneering innovative digital financial solutions that bridge the inclusion gap and drive economic empowerment across the African continent.

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UBA Group Announces Loknath Mishra as CEO UBA UK

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Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), has announced the appointment of Loknath Mishra as Chief Executive Officer of UBA UK.

The appointment which takes effect from February 2nd, 2026, reinforces the Group’s commitment to strengthening its international footprint and enhancing its role as a key financial bridge between Africa and the world.

As CEO of UBA UK, Mishra will focus on positioning the UK subsidiary as a centre of excellence for regulatory compliance and customer service, strengthening financial resilience through diversified liquidity and income sources, as well as deepening UBA’s leadership in trade, transaction, and correspondent banking in support of business flows in and out of Africa.

Mishra brings with him several decades of international banking experience across retail, corporate, investment and transaction banking, with a distinguished track record of building and leading regulated banking platforms in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Before joining UBA UK, Mishra served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank UK, where he played a central role in strengthening the bank’s presence across the UK and European markets, while significantly enhancing governance, regulatory engagement, and operational resilience.

He also held other senior leadership roles at ICICI Bank Limited, including Group Head of Wholesale Banking and Global Head of Transaction Banking, contributing to the expansion of the bank’s global wholesale franchise, strengthening risk management frameworks, and leading customer-centric transformation initiatives across corporate, institutional and financial institution segments.

Mishra is widely recognised for his leadership in complex regulatory environments and for driving digital innovation across trade finance, cash management and retail banking, and in recognition of his contribution to financial services, he was conferred with the Freedom of the City of London.

Commenting on the appointment, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said, “Loknath brings an exceptional combination of global banking experience, regulatory credibility and deep expertise in wholesale and transaction banking. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing UBA UK’s role as a flagship subsidiary for the Group and in strengthening our capacity to support trade and investment flows between Africa and international markets.”

Alawuba explained that the appointment underscores UBA’s continued investment in building a world-class international banking franchise that supports Africa’s economic integration into the global economy.

On his part, Mishra who expressed delight over his appointment, said, “I am honoured to join UBA at a time of significant opportunity for the Group. UBA’s unique role in connecting Africa to global markets is both compelling and strategically important. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Group to strengthen UBA UK’s platform and to support clients in unlocking growth across Africa and beyond.”

UBA UK plays a critical role within UBA Group’s international network, supporting African corporates, financial institutions, sovereigns and global partners through its strong capabilities in correspondent banking, trade finance, transaction banking and treasury services.

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