E-Financial
Access Money: How Airtel is Driving Financial Inclusion
A 2012 Access to Financial Services in Nigeria Survey conducted by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFINA), an independent financial sector development organisation, indicates that 56.3 million adults, representing 64.1 per cent of the adult population in Nigeria, do not have bank accounts.
The study also revealed that 76.2 per cent of the rural population had no bank accounts. Curiously, it was in that same year, 2012, that leading financial institution, Access Bank, partnered with leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, to develop a mobile money value offering that will not just enhance financial inclusion but also offer Nigerians – regardless of their social status, income level, educational background or location – a convenient and easy outlet to perform financial transactions.
The resolve by the two organizations to transform the mobile money landscape with a big-bang value offering became a reality recently (November 19th, 2014) when the Chief Executive Officers of both companies came together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mobile Money at a colourful ceremony held at the Eko Hotel & Suites. At the same event, both organizations announced a joint intervention that will help bridge the wide divide between the banked and unbanked population in the country.
Dubbed Access Money, the new product, according to the companies, will help Nigerians who have access to mobile phones to perform financial transactions instantly and with great ease. Even rural dwellers in remote areas will not be left out as Access Money runs on basic handsets without data or Internet features.
Access Money empowers users to perform a wide range of financial activities on their mobile phones, including bill payments, airtime purchase, money transfer, card-less withdrawals from ATM and deposits, among others features, at the dial of *903#. Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, described Access Money as an innovative service that will transform the mobile money domain in Nigeria.
While admitting that the product was not the first Mobile Money value offering in the country, he noted that the service is unique is several ways as it is a result of hardwork, careful design and extensive research, saying the product was deliberately designed to be very simple and user-friendly.
He noted that through Access Money, Access Bank and Airtel will be providing financial access to more and more people and small businesses; creating an easier channel for the distribution of financial aid; and also making it easier for government to receive taxes and deliver welfare payments.
According to him, Access bank and Airtel agreed to introduce Access Money powered by Airtel, into Nigeria’s financial landscape in line with the Financial Inclusion initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) even as it serves as a platform to bring more and more of the under-banked and unbanked into the world of banking.
“It is something that reaches new groups of people and helps them to build and grow the success stories of tomorrow. And it’s something we are proud to champion with Airtel,” he said.
Wigwe added that Access Bank, in partnership with Airtel has successfully implemented the requisite technology infrastructure, secured the operating license, and conducted extensive pilot operations in different parts of the country in accordance with the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, stated that the new mobile money offering bears testimony to Airtel’s relentlessness in offering innovative, relevant and practical products and services that positively transform the lives of the people and communities it serves, noting that “at Airtel, it is our tradition to always go the extra-mile to delight and exceed the expectations of our customers.”
Explaining the benefits of Access Money, Ogunsanya said with the service, customers can now buy and share airtime; send money to friends, business associates and loved ones; pay utility bills such as DSTV and PHCN bills; perform mobile banking; withdraw and deposit cash.
“Interestingly, you do not need an Internet-enabled mobile phone to perform all these services. Airtel and Access Bank have made the service very simple, easy to use and user-friendly, empowering millions of people regardless of income level, education, social status and location to benefit from this unique service.”
According to Ogunsanya, Airtel and Access Bank are empowering millions of Nigerians to own a functional bank account in the comfort of their homes and also enabling them to perform financial transactions with their mobile phones from anywhere and at any time. He also assured that Airtel has a robust network to support the Access Money platform.
“At Airtel, we are committed to improving Quality of Services (QoS) and this is evident in our investments in network coverage, quality and capacity. We will also continue to invest in the quality of our network to delight our customers as well as exceed their expectations,” he said.
To access the Access Money powered by Airtel, customers are to dial *903# to get registered and then follow the instructions thereafter to get started.
Customers who wish to make deposits into their Access Money powered by Airtel wallet are provided the option of either approaching any of the authorized agents or walk into any Access Bank branch.
Also any registered Access Money user can transfer funds from their own bank account to any wallet. A notification SMS will be received by all customers as confirmation for transactions performed.
Airtel and Access Bank will be leveraging on their wide distribution networks to leverage Access Money. Ogunsanya said over 1,000 Access Money Agents will be available to kick-start the distribution and ensure availability of the product, assuring that more distributors will be recruited to enhance the value chain.
Access Money is aimed at promoting financial inclusion for those with no access to formal financial services.
This collaboration between Airtel and Access Bank is geared towards deepening financial inclusion and bringing more Nigerians into the formal financial system. It will also serve to support CBN’s financial inclusion target of 80% of Nigerians by 2020.
Erhumu Bayagbon is the Public Relations Manager for Airtel Nigeria
Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has begun paying insured deposits to customers of the 46 recently failed microfinance banks.
Mr Thompson Sunday, managing director and chief executive, NDIC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The interview took place on the sidelines of the International Association of Deposit Insurers Africa Regional Committee meeting.
Sunday said the corporation was using the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS) and customers’ Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for the payments.
He said the NDIC had traced depositors’ alternative bank accounts and credited them directly without requiring physical visits.
He advised depositors without BVNs to visit the nearest NDIC zonal office for verification and payment processing
“The CBN revoked the licences of the 46 microfinance banks on July 1, 2026,” he said.
He said the NDIC automatically became the provisional liquidator after the revocation, in line with the law.
Sunday said the corporation had commenced payment of the insured maximum deposit of N2 million to eligible customers.
He explained that further payments would depend on the recovery of the failed banks’ assets and outstanding debts.
He said proceeds realised from recoveries would be distributed as liquidation dividends to eligible depositors.
Sunday cited Heritage Bank, Aso Savings and Union Homes as examples of the NDIC’s prompt reimbursement efforts.
He said insured depositors of Heritage Bank were paid within four days of the revocation of its licence.
He added that customers of Aso Savings and Union Homes received payments within 72 hours.
“The law allows us 30 days, but we are working to surpass our previous records,” he said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the banks’ licences for failing to meet regulatory requirements for continued operations.
The apex bank said the action was aimed at protecting depositors, strengthening financial stability and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Mr Taiwo Oyedele, minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has warned that fear, rumours and misinformation could trigger instability in the banking sector if not properly managed.
Mr Taiwo Oyedele, minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Oyedele gave the warning in Abuja at the 2026 International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) Africa Regional Committee (ARC) Annual Meeting and Workshop, with the theme: “Safeguarding Stability: Public Awareness and Crisis Readiness for a Stronger Future.”
The minister said public confidence remained the foundation of every stable financial system, stressing that panic triggered by false information could create liquidity challenges even for financially sound institutions.
According to him, “there can be no economic growth without financial system stability, and there can be no financial stability without public trust.”
He explained that in the digital age, misinformation could spread rapidly across social media platforms, causing depositors to react out of fear.
“Public trust is fragile. In the digital age, rumours and misinformation can spread across social platforms in seconds, creating liquidity shocks even for solvent institutions,” Oyedele said.
He stressed that building public awareness should not be viewed as a public relations activity, but as a key risk management strategy capable of protecting depositors and strengthening the financial system.
Oyedele noted that deposit insurance had evolved beyond a mechanism for handling bank failures, describing it as a strategic tool for promoting confidence and economic stability.
He said effective crisis preparedness required clear frameworks, communication channels, simulation exercises and coordination among financial sector regulators before emergencies occur.
“Preparedness is not an event, it is a culture,” he said, adding that the strongest crisis response was one that prevented panic from occurring in the first place.
Highlighting Nigeria’s financial sector reforms, the minister said the country’s banking recapitalisation exercise, concluded in March 2026, strengthened the resilience of banks.
He disclosed that 33 out of Nigeria’s 37 banks met the new capital requirements, raising a combined N4.65 trillion in fresh capital, with over 70 per cent sourced from domestic investors.
Oyedele said a better-capitalised banking system would be better positioned to absorb shocks, sustain lending and reduce pressure on the deposit insurance fund.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 as another milestone that strengthened confidence in the country’s financial system.
Also speaking, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said public awareness and crisis preparedness were central to maintaining financial stability.
Represented by Solaja Olayemi, director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department represented, Cardoso said financial systems globally were undergoing rapid transformation due to technological innovation, digital finance, changing consumer behaviour and increasing market interconnectedness.
According to him, while these developments create opportunities, they also introduce new risks that require stronger cooperation among financial safety-net institutions.
The CBN boss warned that misinformation could spread quickly through digital channels, amplifying depositor reactions and creating potential threats to financial stability.
He added that institutions must continuously strengthen crisis management frameworks, operational resilience and coordination mechanisms to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
The apex bank governor also highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s banking sector recapitalisation policy, saying stronger capital buffers would reduce the likelihood of bank failures and reinforce depositor confidence.
“No single institution can safeguard financial stability in isolation. It is through the coherence and complementarity of this institutional relationship that Nigeria’s financial safety net derives its strength,” he noted.
Earlier, Mr Thompson Sunday, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), said confidence remained the most valuable asset in any financial system.
The NDIC boss said trust could take years to build but could be lost quickly if stakeholders perceived uncertainty or instability. He said deposit insurers must ensure that the public understands and trusts existing protection frameworks during both normal periods and times of crisis.
He noted that the 2023 global banking turmoil highlighted the need for institutions to invest in crisis simulation exercises, contingency planning and effective communication strategies.
According to him, the NDIC has continued to strengthen its operational readiness through improved depositor reimbursement systems, public awareness initiatives and enhanced crisis management capabilities.
European Union (EU) has warned the public against a fraudulent document circulating online which falsely claims that the bloc, in collaboration with the World Bank, is offering compensation to individuals whose funds are allegedly trapped in banks and financial institutions across West Africa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS described the purported compensation programme as a scam, stressing that neither the European Union nor the World Bank is involved in any such initiative.
The fake document, fraudulently attributed to Thérèse Blanchet, secretary-general of the Council of the European Union, claimed that a special EU-World Bank recovery programme has been established to compensate citizens of Europe and other countries whose legally transferred funds were allegedly withheld by banks in the region.
It also falsely stated that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS has been mandated to supervise the compensation exercise and directs potential claimants to contact him for processing.
However, the EU categorically dismissed the claims, describing every aspect of the document as fabricated.
“The document in its entirety is a scam. The information and claims contained therein are false. The European Union is neither aware of any such bogus programme nor part of it,” the Delegation stated.
The EU further disclosed that the email addresses and telephone numbers listed in the fraudulent document, purportedly belonging to Ms. Blanchet and Ambassador Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, , are fake and are being used by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The Delegation urged members of the public to ignore the fraudulent claims and avoid engaging with anyone promoting the scheme.
It emphasized that all official announcements from the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS are published exclusively through its official website and verified social media platforms.
The warning comes amid increasing cases of cyber-enabled financial fraud in which criminal syndicates impersonate international organisations, government institutions and senior officials to lure victims into paying fictitious processing fees or divulging sensitive personal and financial information.
The EU reiterated its commitment to combating fraud and misinformation while urging citizens to remain vigilant against scams exploiting the names and identities of reputable international institutions.
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