E-Financial
Zain Bank Chooses iMAL from Path Solutions
Path Solutions has announced that Zain Iraq Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance (Zain Bank), a newly established Islamic retail bank in Baghdad, has selected iMAL Islamic Core Banking System for the launch of its Islamic banking services, as it seeks to tap into the growing demand for Islamic banking products across the country.
After evaluating offerings from a range of international vendors including Temenos, Misys, Oracle FS, ICS Financial Systems and Capital Banking Solutions, Zain Bank decided to go for Path Solutions. This is the company’s second win this year in Iraq following the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Al Rajeh Islamic Bank in July.
A recent entrant in Iraq, Zain Bank is a newly established Islamic bank with headquarters in Baghdad. The bank has received its Islamic banking license from the Central Bank of Iraq on August 11, 2016 and officially opened its doors on December 4, 2016. With an ambitious expansion plan, Zain Bank aims to become the premier Islamic corporate and retail bank in Iraq by offering its clients world-class digital banking services supported by state-of-the-art Sharia-based technologies.
Tawfeeq Hashim Tawfeeq, Managing Director, Zain Bank, said, “We selected iMAL because of its excellent reputation in delivering to local banking demands including Islamic banking requirements. This scalable platform will allow us to grow quickly by launching a wide range of innovative Sharia-compliant banking products to meet the demands of our customers in the country. We feel confident that our investment in Path Solutions will pay off by helping us adhere to local standards, attract new business and subsequently win superior market share”.
Path Solutions is enjoying a landmark year, with Islamic banks across the globe selecting its cutting-edge core banking system as the foundation for their Sharia-based banking operations, firmly establishing iMAL as the core banking system of choice for forward-thinking Islamic banks facing diverse industry and market challenges.
Mohammed Kateeb, Group Chairman & CEO, Path Solutions, said, “Iraq experiences increasing momentum in the growth of Islamic banking and we are excited to further build upon our unique position in this country. We are confident that Zain Bank will benefit from our industry know-how to launch and expand its business significantly, and manage future growth in a competitive environment”.
Zain Bank chose Path Solutions’ iMAL because of its proven success in meeting local regulatory requirements and supporting the full range of Islamic banking business models. The new system will empower the bank to provide modern Islamic banking services to its customers and become one of the most forward-looking banks in Iraq.
“We want to provide an enriching, memorable experience to our customers with a wide range of products and services that are both compatible and up-to-date with the digital world and support compliance with Sharia rules”, added Hashim Tawfeeq. “iMAL will enable us to immediately achieve the results we desire, while also providing us with a modern, robust Islamic banking platform to ensure compliance with upcoming regulations. We are proud of partnering with Path Solutions to meet our corporate goals for ambitious growth”.
Zain Bank will implement iMAL*2Mobile and Internet Banking, part of the iMAL banking suite, so that the bank can engage more closely with its customers. Zain Bank has received a license to undertake foreign transactions as well. This is a major growth opportunity for the bank; and to underpin its trade finance and treasury services channels and operations, the bank will also implement iMAL*TradeFinance and Islamic Treasury, in addition to BI, Risk Management and FATCA solutions, the reporting module with its feature-rich and user-friendly web interface, and a next-generation HR operational portal to ensure a modern digital workplace.
Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) database expanded to 69.55 million as of July 5 2026 from 69.32 million in June 2026, according to latest data released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
BVN is an 11-digit biometric identification system introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria and managed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to secure customer accounts and reduce fraud.
This means that BVN enrolments increased by 228,947 between June and July 5 this year.
With the BVN database standing at 67.8 million as of December 31, 2025, it also means that the database grew by 1.75 million between the end of last year and July 5, 2026.
Specifically, with less than 1.8 million BVN enrolments so far recorded for this year, it is looking highly unlikely that BVN registrations at the end of 2026 will come close to the 4.3 million total registrations recorded in 2025.
Analysts note that while the expansion in the BVN database last year was largely driven by the introduction of the NonResident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which enables Nigerians in the diaspora to do their BVN enrolment remotely, thereby removing physical barriers and boosting cross-border financial engagement, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in March this year, announced a revised BVN regulatory framework, that saw it introducing stricter controls on suspected fraudulent transactions, BVN enrollment, and data access within the banking system.
According to the regulator, the amendments to the BVN framework, which came into effect on May 1, 2026, were aimed at strengthening fraud monitoring, improving identity management within the financial system and safeguarding the integrity of banking transactions, by strengthening identity verification and ensuring that BVN registration aligns with legally recognised age thresholds.
Thus, under the revised BVN framework, the apex bank introduced a stricter age requirement for BVN enrolment, limiting registration to 18-year-old individuals and above.
Also, under the new framework, customers will only be allowed to change the phone number associated with their BVN once. The CBN further stated: “Under the new guidelines, financial institutions are required to establish and maintain a temporary watch-list for BVNs linked to suspected fraudulent transactions reported within the banking system.
“A BVN may remain on this temporary Watch-list for a maximum period of twentyfour (24) hours, during which the BVN owner shall be contacted to provide clarification regarding the identified transaction(s).”
Launched on February 14, 2014, by the CBN in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, the NIBSS, and the German firm Dermalog, the BVN scheme was designed to capture the biometrics of all bank customers and provide each with a unique 11-digit identification number that can be verified across the Nigerian banking industry.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed that the standard N100 banknote remains legal tender across the country, warning that its rejection by individuals, businesses and institutions violates the law.
The clarification follows reports that some members of the public have refused to accept the standard N100 note over concerns about its legal tender status following the introduction of the commemorative N100 banknote issued to mark Nigeria’s centenary.
In a statement signed by Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, acting director of Corporate Communications, the apex bank stressed that “both the commemorative N100 banknote and the standard N100 banknote are valid legal tender and must be accepted for all transactions nationwide.”
The CBN explained that the commemorative N100 note was introduced to celebrate Nigeria’s centenary and did not replace the existing standard N100 banknote.
The CBN cautioned individuals, businesses, financial institutions and other economic agents against rejecting the standard N100 note, noting that such action contravenes the provisions of the CBN Act and undermines public confidence in the national currency.
It warned that appropriate enforcement measures would be taken against any person or organisation found violating the law.
The apex bank reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of the naira, maintaining confidence in all duly issued banknotes and ensuring the smooth circulation of currency across the country.
The CBN also urged members of the public to continue accepting and transacting with all banknotes legally issued by the Bank and advised anyone seeking further clarification to use its official communication channels.
FCMB Asset Management Limited (FCMBAM), the asset management arm of FCMB Group Plc, has received an upgrade to its national scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings of A(NG) and A1(NG), from A-(NG) and A2(NG), by GCR Ratings, a leading pan-African credit rating agency.
The outlook on the ratings remains stable, said the rating agency.
The upgrade is anchored on FCMBAM’s competitive resilience and financial discipline, alongside the strengthened credit profile of FCMB Group.
GCR highlighted FCMBAM’s decade-long track record of strong performance, well-established brand franchise, diversified product suite and robust distribution network as key drivers of its standalone strength.
These are further supported by consistent earnings growth and a disciplined, unleveraged balance sheet, it said.
According to GCR, FCMBAM’s competitive position is supported by “its relatively long track record, strong brand franchise, established product and geographical distribution network and cross-selling opportunities,” with the rating agency noting that FCMBAM ranks among the top five asset managers in Nigeria, with an estimated five per cent share of a fragmented market as of 31 December.
The Company’s financial performance underpinned the upgrade, with revenue growing by 30 per cent and operating cash flow increasing by 13 per cent, enabling the business to be fully funded without recourse to debt.
Liquidity strengthened further, with liquidity sources versus uses improving to 5x as of December 2025, from 3.6x a year earlier, while the EBITDA margin edged up to over 58 per cent.
Commenting on the upgrade, the Chief Executive Officer of FCMB Asset Management, James Ilori, said: “This upgrade is an important external validation of a strategy we have pursued with discipline over many years: building an investment franchise that performs reliably, governs itself rigorously, and earns trust in every market cycle. It speaks to the strength of our membership of FCMB Group and to a culture that holds itself to local and global standards of risk management and capital stewardship.
“As Nigeria’s asset management industry enters a new era of higher capital thresholds and rising investor expectations, we intend to lead from the front – ahead of regulatory timelines, ahead in digital transformation and ahead in the outcomes we deliver for the clients who trust us to assist them in achieving their investment objectives.”
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