First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has introduced a set of new features on its mobile app, led by a reward points system that turns everyday transactions into tangible benefits for customers.

With this update, FCMB shifts the focus from routine banking to value creation, giving customers a stronger reason to engage, transact, and stay within its digital ecosystem.

At the centre of the upgrade is the Reward Points feature, which allows customers to earn and redeem points on transactions made in the app. The more customers use the platform, the more value they unlock, creating a direct link between daily banking activity and real-life rewards.

Beyond the rewards, the enhanced app introduces a Regal Premium Lifestyle Subscription that offers users access to curated lifestyle benefits across travel, dining, and entertainment, plus a three-month free transfer for new-to-bank customers.

Customers can now access mutual fund investments directly within the app, helping them grow wealth without multiple platforms. This feature reinforces FCMB’s commitment to empowering customers with accessible financial tools.

To improve customer experience, the app now includes “Chat with Temi”, an intelligent in-app support feature that delivers instant assistance and quicker issue resolution.

Speaking on the update, Oladipo Alabede, divisional head, Payments and Solutions, said: “At FCMB, we are constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of our customers. These features are designed to provide convenience, reward loyalty, and empower our customers to do more with their finances, right from their mobile devices.”

In line with its financial inclusion drive, FCMB has simplified account upgrades from Tier 1 to Tier 2, allowing customers to access enhanced banking services without visiting a branch.

Additionally, the introduction of instant virtual card request and activation ensures customers can immediately create and use secure digital cards for online transactions.

Adetunji Lamidi, divisional head, Personal Banking, emphasised the Bank’s digital transformation journey: “These upgrades reflect our technology-driven strategy to build a smarter, more intuitive banking platform. By integrating intelligent support systems like Temi and enabling instant services such as virtual card activation, we are redefining convenience and accessibility in banking.”

This comprehensive upgrade reflects FCMB’s ongoing commitment to innovation, customer focus, and digital excellence, positioning the mobile app as a one-stop platform for seamless, rewarding, and future-ready banking.

Customers are encouraged to update or download the FCMB Mobile App today from their app store to use these new features and take full control of their financial journey.

Paystack has launched Paystack Index, an experimental AI-powered payments tool, enabling users in Nigeria to complete everyday transactions through AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude.

The product allows users to buy airtime, send money via Zap by Paystack and order food from Chowdeck using simple text prompts. Instead of switching between multiple apps, users can instruct an AI assistant to execute transactions directly.

Paystack Index acts as a bridge between AI agents, merchants and Paystack’s payments infrastructure, while ensuring users retain control of authorised transactions.

The company said it does not store sensitive financial information such as card details, PINs or bank account credentials.

Developed with support from TSG Labs, Paystack’s innovation arm, the product builds on Paystack Checkout and Zap and forms part of the company’s broader work on AI-enabled commerce.

It is initially available to selected Zap users in Nigeria through an early-access beta programme and currently supports airtime and data purchases, wallet funding, money transfers and food orders.

Paystack said the launch reflects its belief that AI agents are emerging as a new interface for commerce, enabling users to move from prompts to real-world transactions.

Announced by co-founder and chief executive officer Shola Akinlade, the product positions AI assistants as execution layers for payments and commerce, rather than just tools for information and recommendations.

The launch comes amid rising AI adoption in Nigeria. According to a Google-Ipsos survey, 88% of Nigerians surveyed said they had used generative AI in the past year, while 62% said they used it for everyday tasks such as planning trips, meals or workouts.

The launch also follows Paystack’s recent restructuring under The Stack Group (TSG), which created dedicated business units for merchant payments, consumer transactions, banking services and emerging technologies.

Paystack plans to expand Paystack Index to more merchants, services and African markets, including Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, as it evaluates user behaviour and AI-powered checkout experiences.

As Nigeria continues its journey towards a more efficient, transparent and citizen-focused tax system, the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening tax awareness, promoting voluntary compliance and supporting the nation’s economic transformation.

This renewed commitment was reinforced during a high-level courtesy visit by the President and Governing Council of CITN to the newly inaugurated headquarters of the Nigerian Revenue Service in Abuja as part of activities marking the2026 National Tax Awareness Day.

The CITN team also visited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele who charged CITN to institute an annual awards to recognise the most compliant citizens.

The Minister who thanked the leadership of CITN for the initiative of a national tax awareness day and for all they have been doing to support the tax reform of the federal government, charged the institute to do more because according to him, many Nigerians still believe that when government speaks about tax it is just to take money from the people.

He said if Nigeria gets its tax system right, the level of development will be monumental.

According to him, “We are still not getting enough revenue from tax, it is not about increasing tax, but making sure that those who are supposed to pay tax pay. We want to promote fairness in tax administration.”

The tax awareness event brought together key stakeholders within Nigeria’s tax ecosystem, including Executive Directors of the NRS, members of CITN Governing Council, senior management staff, tax professionals and industry leaders.

At the NRS, the team was received by the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Mohammed Abubakar, who represented the Executive Chairman of NRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji; Executive Director, Technology and Innovation, Iniabasi Akpan; Group Director, Medium Tax Group, Dr. Gbenga Daniel; Group Director, Emerging Tax Group, and other senior officials of the service.

Addressing guests on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Abubakar highlighted the significance of the occasion as a commemoration of one year since the signing of the landmark tax reform legislation.

“That historic milestone signalled the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s tax administration, one anchored on simplicity, fairness, transparency, efficiency and service delivery,” he said.

He said the reforms are designed to build a tax administration system that is trusted, technology-driven and responsive to the needs of individuals and businesses.

According to him, the presence of Executive Director, Technology and Innovation, Iniabasi Akpan, further underscored the central role technology plays in the Service’s ongoing transformation agenda.

“With initiatives such as Rev360 and other digital platforms, the Service continues to position itself as a forward-looking institution leveraging innovation to deliver world-class tax administration services”, he said, adding that sustainable revenue mobilisation goes beyond enforcement and depends heavily on awareness, education, trust and taxpayer confidence.

“Taxpayers are more likely to comply when they understand their obligations, appreciate the value of taxation and have confidence in the institutions administering our tax laws,” he stated.

The Group Director, Medium Tax Group, Dr. Gbenga Daniel, described the occasion as a significant milestone not only for tax professionals but for the entire nation.

He emphasised that the Nigerian Revenue Service remains committed to collaborating with professional bodies and stakeholders to advance taxpayer education, improve service delivery and strengthen voluntary compliance nationwide.

“The Nigerian Revenue Service values its longstanding partnership with CITN. Together, our institutions share a common vision of improving tax administration and fostering voluntary compliance for national development,” he added.

The gathering served as both a celebration and a reflection on the progress recorded since the signing of Nigeria’s landmark tax reform legislation exactly one year ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Earlier in his speech, the Presiden/Chairman of Council, CITN Innocent Ohagwa, thanked the leadership of Nigerian Revenue Service for collaborating with the Institute in executing the National Tax Awareness Day initiative.

He said the initiative represents a coordinated nationwide movement designed to deepen tax awareness, improve tax education, encourage voluntary compliance and reinforce CITN’s position as a leading institution supporting the implementation of Nigeria’s tax reform agenda.

“Today’s date, June 25, holds dual significance. It commemorates the signing of the tax reform legislation by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while also coinciding with the peak period for filing corporate tax returns. This makes it both a symbolic and strategic date for the initiative”, he said.

He noted that the theme of the 2026 National Tax Awareness Day which is: “Tax Awareness for National Growth Through Reforms, Compliance and Shared Prosperity” captures the essence of the tax reforms currently transforming Nigeria’s tax landscape.