E-Financial
Mark Zuckerberg Recognises UBA’s Leo at Facebook F8
Without a doubt, the digital revolution in the financial space is one that is sweeping across the globe, reshaping the industry’s vision on banking based on some fundamental elements, namely: proficiency, speed, opening hours, and all round total efficiency.
Having thoroughly understood that the financial industry is experiencing a deep transformation, with customers’ needs shifting from simple banking solutions to ‘ more advanced seamless financial solutions’.
United Bank for Africa, (UBA), Pan African financial institution, a bank that has scored many firsts in the industry and is ranked among the top three banks in the financial space once again showed why it is ranked highly by scoring yet another first not only in Nigeria but in Africa, with the introduction of Leo, an innovation that is capable of revolutionizing the way banking is done in Africa.
After, investing heavily in building a robust and secure e-banking platform that supports its e-banking operations globally through strategic partnerships with various local and international organizations, you could only expect the bar to keep going higher.
Beyond being active on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Google Plus, and also running a corporate blog, Africa’s global bank is continuously innovating and developing strategies aimed at making banking seamless and effortless for millions of its existing and potential customers, while also ensuring utmost safety of their transactions.
While some banks are still sticking their head in the sand, United Bank for Africa, amongst many, was quick to realize that social media is fundamentally changing the way people communicate making it pertinent, that the total customer experience needs be considered when providing value propositions. It is with this awareness that the Pan-African financial institution moved to change the face of e-banking with the introduction of Leo, the UBA Chat Banker that enables customers make use of their social media accounts to carry out key banking transactions.
Kennedy Uzoka, bank’s Group Managing Director, intelligently noted during the lunch of Leo that, customer experience needs to be considered when providing value propositions hence, in no distant time, instant payments will greatly foster innovation in payments and reshape the way we do payments in the coming years, adding value and great satisfaction for customers, who have now become our hallmark at UBA.
Today, barely four months after its launch, testimonials are bound with this new artificial intelligence banker, millions of UBA customers across Africa can now perform series of bank transactions through the Facebook messenger chat platform. All you need to do is ‘chat.’ Yes! Chat with LEO. Like we do on a daily basis with family, friends and business partners. LEO comes in handy for business individuals and organizations who have limited time to visit a bank to process banking services and requests. With easily accessible data service/network, you can chat with Leo on the go and perform your normal bank transactions such as opening new accounts, checking account balance, Airtime recharge/Top up, Fund transfer, Payment of bills, Quick application for loans, request for mini statements, etc.
Following this growing pedigree and massive impact on Nigeria and by extension, Africa’s financial space, Leo got a well -deserved recognition that was gleefully given him, by the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, at the tech giant’s F8 conference for developers.
“Leo is doing incredible things,” Zuckerberg reportedly said. When he reached a slider on Business and Bots, Zuckerberg said Facebook has seen good momentum for messenger business with more than 300,000 business bots and 8 billion messages exchanged between them and users. But out of the over 300,000 bots mentioned, Leo was the prime example used. See link:https://youtu.be/vLOuuOG7c-0
Launched by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in January this year, the UBA Leo ‘Chat Banker’. Leo is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered bot that performs banking transactions on Facebook.
Leo lets you open new accounts, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, transfer funds and airtime top up. You can also confirm cheques, pay bills, apply for loans, freeze accounts, ask for mini statements, among other things and even check the weather.
It would be recalled that When Leo was introduced, it was the first time that a financial institution in Africa ever came up with this manner of solution to simplify the way customers transact.
Leo lets you open new accounts, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, transfer funds and airtime top up. You can also confirm cheques, pay bills, apply for loans, freeze accounts, ask for mini statements, among other things and even check the weather.
Designed to work within the platforms people are already familiar with, Leo has already taken off on Facebook Messenger. In the nearest future, the app is expected to show up on other social media platforms and all it takes to enjoy the services is simply to have a Facebook account.
Apart from being your perfect virtual banker, Leo also doubles as the perfect buddy and lifestyle application.
With Leo, an individual can carry out money transfers and airtime top-up on the go, pay for Uber, as well as perform other transactions like payment of bills, data top-up, mini-statements, loan applications, cheque confirmation, account freezing, among others right on their mobile phones.
To experience the ease, simplicity, and excellence of a banker and friend, log on to the web or mobile versions of your Facebook Messenger, type “UBA ChatBanking” into the search area of the messenger app and click on the icon, the power to transact with ease is at your finger-tips.
E-Financial
First Asset Management Launches National Initiative to Raise 100m Investment-Smart Nigerians
First Asset Management, one of Nigeria’s leading investment managers and a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc, launches the 100 million Smart Inventors campaign.
Nigeria’s investment market has huge potential, yet it remains underutilised due to widespread distrust, misinformation, and past losses suffered through fraudulent schemes. Trillions of Naira have been lost, leaving many Nigerians fearful and excluded from real, rewarding investments and leaving them on the economic sidelines.
Reports show that less than 5% of adult Nigerians currently participate in the formal capital market, and as low as 0.25% invest in Mutual Funds, a stark contrast to participation rates often exceeding 50% in developed economies like the United States. This highlights the urgent need to restore trust and improve access to credible investment education.
In response to this critical challenge, First Asset Management has announced the launch of a landmark national movement, the “100 million Smart Investors Initiative”. The campaign is positioned as a direct strategy to rebuild investor confidence and democratise financial knowledge across the nation.
According to the firm, the initiative was conceived from the need to address the anxieties that have historically prevented countless Nigerians from participating in real wealth-building investments. Drawing on its track record of trust and market expertise, First Asset aims to cultivate a new generation of informed, confident investors.
At the heart of the initiative is a comprehensive investor education programme. The goal is to transform casual interest in investing into active participation within a supportive, well-informed community.
Beyond expanding investor numbers, the movement seeks to improve the quality of investment decisions by equipping individuals with the tools to evaluate opportunities and avoid fraudulent platforms.
For everyday Nigerians, the initiative promises simplified, practical financial education that demystifies investing. By building a strong peer network through a nationwide community platform, it seeks to reduce the isolation often faced by new investors and promote collective financial empowerment.
Ultimately, the 100 Million Smart Investors movement represents a significant investment in Nigeria’s human capital. By providing actionable steps, success stories, and sustained education, First Asset Management aims to usher in a new era of financial literacy and participation.
This initiative would not only enhance the financial well-being of individuals and families but also contribute to the broader economic prosperity of the nation by channelling dormant capital into productive sectors of the economy.
To kickstart this bold quest, the brand has planned a series of free educational bootcamps, podcasts and community engagement with industry experts and leaders. The inaugural event will take place live on 26 July 2025.
Follow @FirstAssetManagement on all social media handles to stay informed and visit https://first-assetmanagement.com/smart-investors for details on how to join the movement.
PalmPay, a leading neobank and fintech platform focused on emerging markets, has been recognised in CNBC and Statista’s 2025 Top 300 Fintech Companies in the World list. This marks the second year in a row that PalmPay has earned a place among the world’s most innovative and impactful financial technology firms.
The selection is based on a rigorous evaluation of thousands of companies globally, assessing growth, innovation, market penetration, and impact. This year’s list includes a mix of global leaders – including Revolut, Nubank and Ant Group – alongside rising stars from high-growth markets, underscoring the growing influence of emerging-market fintechs like PalmPay.
PalmPay’s inclusion reflects its continued momentum as one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms. With over 35 million registered users and up to 15 million transactions processed daily, the company offers a comprehensive suite of digital financial services tailored to the needs of underserved communities.
In its main market, Nigeria, PalmPay operates as a full-service neobank, offering consumer financial services such as transfers, bill payments, credit, savings, and insurance – all accessible through its user-friendly app and supported by a nationwide network of over 1 million agents and merchant partners. The company also provides POS and API-driven B2B solutions tailored to the needs of merchants and enterprise clients.
“To be recognised as one of the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC and Statista is a powerful affirmation of our mission to build a more inclusive financial system,” said Sofia Zab, Founding Chief Marketing Officer at PalmPay.
“Through cutting-edge technology, deep local distribution, and a customer-first mindset, we’ve built Nigeria’s leading neobank. As we scale PalmPay to more emerging markets, including Tanzania and Bangladesh, our focus remains on closing financial access gaps for everyday consumers and businesses, while expanding the partner ecosystem that fuels our reach and impact.”
As part of its broader expansion strategy, PalmPay recently launched in Tanzania and Bangladesh through a smartphone device financing model that serves as an entry point to digital financial services.
“PalmPay is building a neobanking platform tailored to the realities of emerging markets,” said Jiapei Yan, Group Chief Commercial Officer at PalmPay. “We are creating the infrastructure for a connected digital economy – where people and businesses can thrive through reliable, inclusive financial tools.
This recognition from CNBC and Statista affirms our progress and also the scale of the opportunity ahead. As we expand across more emerging markets, we are committed to creating lasting value for our users, partners, and the communities we serve.”
PalmPay’s inclusion follows another major recognition earlier this year: the company ranked #2 overall and #1 in the financial services sector on the Financial Times – Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2025 list. The ranking, based on revenue growth between 2020 and 2023, highlighted PalmPay’s rapid scale and market traction across Africa.
PalmPay currently operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh, and is expanding its presence across Africa and Asia through device financing, digital banking, and B2B payment services. Backed by a robust neobanking platform and a partnership-led approach, the company is committed to shaping the next chapter of inclusive financial growth.
Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to quality education and youth empowerment with the renovation of a classroom block and donation of textbooks to Aso Pada Government Secondary School in Karu LGA, Nasarawa State.
L-R: The Team Lead, CSR, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Vice Principal, Government Secondary School, Aso Pada, Maraba, Mr. Abdullahi Idris; Project Co-ordinator, Elite Bankers 2025 Inductee Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Onyinyechi Ihesiaba; Vice Principal -Academics, Government Secondary School, Aso Pada, Maraba, Mr. Ela Isa; during the commissioning of a renovated block of classrooms and the distribution of Back-to-School Materials at Government Secondary School Aso Pada, Maraba, Nassarawa State recently.
The project was executed through the Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP), a corporate social responsibility initiative that enables staff to identify community needs, raise funds, and receive matched support from the bank.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, said the school was chosen due to its impact on the local community and its lack of renovation in over 15 years.
Vice Principal Abdullahi Idris praised the bank’s gesture, calling it “an investment in the future of our nation,” and expressed hope for a lasting partnership.
The initiative follows Fidelity Bank’s recent donation of 1,000 solar-powered schoolbags to pupils across Ogun State, aimed at improving study conditions in areas with limited electricity.
Fidelity Bank serves over 9.1 million customers and has received multiple awards for innovation and SME support, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation Award and Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney.
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