UBA’s Leo launched on WhatsApp

Pan-African Financial Institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced the commencement of its chat bank ‘Leo’ on the WhatsApp platform.

With Leo on WhatsApp, customers who are users and lovers of the app can now can perform basic banking services including checking their balances on the go, transferring funds, paying bills, among other services.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who expressed excitement about the development remarked that the bank is continuously working in line with customers’ demand to ensure that banking services are made convenient and without stress.

He said, “This only goes to show that our resolve in continuing to deploy innovative solutions that place customers first, using cutting edge technology for their collective satisfaction and excellent banking experience is important to us. This recognition will further spur us to do more in meeting the needs of our customers with unrivalled services.”

“Our recent launch of Leo in 13 other African countries is evidence that UBA has on its agenda, the objective of digital creativity especially in service for our trusted customer base across the African continent.”

Also speaking on the new service, the Group Head of UBA’s Online Banking, Mr Austine Abolusoro, stated “United Bank for Africa is a technology-driven institution with vast knowledge in the business that we do and Leo, being a tested dependable and intelligent personality, will replicate on WhatsApp, the success it has experienced on the Facebook Messenger platform.  It is a solution that is from the customer’s standpoint, easy to use by anyone regardless of your demography.” “Leo is ready and waiting to help with any form of banking services,” continued Abolusoro.

WhatsApp has been in existence for over 9 years, reaching more than 1.5 billion people in over 180 countries. The premium private chat platform has assured that there will be no spam messages as the development is to enable businesses serve their customers with useful and helpful information.

LEO is already present in over 14 African subsidiaries, including Nigeria, available in  three languages, and has now been rolled out to customers on WhatsApp. To use this service on WhatsApp, customers must add the LEO Whatsapp number: +234 903 000 2455 to their phone contacts, then search for UBA ChatBanking on WhatsApp to start enjoying the added convenience and ease of transacting with Leo on WhatsApp.

UBA is one of Africa’s leading banks with operations in 20 African countries and in London and New York, with  presence in Paris. Adjudged to be at the forefront of innovation and convenient banking, UBA is one of the first financial services institutions on the continent to deploy Finacle 10x, a new information technology platform that boosts its services and electronic banking channels. Today, UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally, through thousands of touch points and diverse channels.

UBA Innovates with another first ‘UBA Learn’ targeted at empowering students

The pan-African Financial Institution, United Bank for Africa(UBA) has introduced a unique and innovative product, called ‘UBA Learn’ targeted at helping students achieve all round academic success.

The Product, an online Learning Platform for students powered by Roducate, was launched yesterday, May 17, 2018 with particular emphasis on helping students within the age range of 5-16years and 17-24 attain academic excellence, while ensuring that the parents and teachers keep track and monitor their ward’s educational developments and performance.

UBA Learn is accessible online, through a downloadable mobile app and  USSD (*919*33#) and is open to both existing customers and non-customers.  Intending customers can have account numbers automatically generated once they enrol on the platform. The platform features academic curricula (e.g. WAEC), NECO, Continuous assessments and tests, financial education, learning/fun games, etc.

Speaking at the launch of the Product, Group Managing Director, Kennedy Uzoka said: “United Bank for Africa is a technology-driven company with enormous capability in business. Because education is key to us and is a fundamental human right, we felt a need to extend our capability to education, by revolutionising access to education through technology. “

That’s the main reason we are here today- to bring knowledge to the doorstep of everyone across Africa and other parts of the world, through this Unique innovation, called UBA learn”.

Uzoka continued: “The app is a distinctive and well-tailored product loaded with all the needed learning tools and required subjects put together in a robust manner that is guaranteed to grow with the student early on to when he or she becomes a young adult.

“UBA Learn was carefully conceptualised to suit a niche focus of our customers who are mostly students; because more than anything, we are a bank that is particularly passionate about the growth and development of youths especially as it concerns their academic growth as is evidenced in the plethora of campaigns and Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (CSR) targeted at helping them find their paths in life, e.g.  Read Africa Initiative, Campus Ambassadors, National Essay Competition among others”. said Anant Rao, Group Executive, Digital & Consumer Banking.

Rao further explained: “UBA Learn is unique in the banking industry because it is a product that suits a special need. The app which empowers student through their mobile device  and available in Google play store and app store is a concept where the bank is taking on a mentorship role intended to equip and guide students into a bright future, life of prosperity.” Anant explained.

“That is why there is a conscious effort aimed at helping them grow, because we understand, that the future is only secure when they are empowered”. “The UBA Learn platform is designed to appeal to the young and aspiring youth who is looking to actualise his or her dream likewise get to the exalted height only education can guarantee. UBA is more than aware that there is an urgent need to effectively guide them to actualising success and more, that is why we introduced UBA Learn”.

He further said, the benefits of enrolling and using ‘UBA Learn’ are enormous. Apart from preparing them academically it also aids them to becoming financially independent. At this stage, account holders will enjoy exclusive invitations to job and career fairs as well as entrepreneurship workshops.”

Also speaking, Dr. Brai Malik, appreciated the bank for picking International School UNILAG, out of many to officially launch the one of a kind, product. He  also noted that UBA learn is a great initiative deserving of commendation. According to Malik, “UBA as a financial institution and innovator of the wonderful product deserve applause for demystifying learning with this application”.

Malik also stated that, ISL is a school with  good taste that recognises quality and  in line with its foresight for the future the school will encourage teachers to join the train and also take advantage of the innovation in their classroom activities."

Account holders will also have access to 24 hour online banking services on UBA’s highly acclaimed internet banking platform, particularly Leo the Virtual banker which is now a hit with students besides other privileges like specially branded debit card, interest bearing savings accounts, career advisory, scholarships, work place experience schemes with the UBA Group, entrepreneurial skills development workshops and social media engagements.

UBA was incorporated in Nigeria as a limited liability company after taking over the assets of the British and French Bank Limited who had been operating in Nigeria since 1949.

UBA Holds 2018 Chairman’s Forum, Seeks Strengthening of Corporate Governance across Board

Pan- African financial Institution, United Bank for Africa Plc, last thursday,  ended its annual Group Chairman’s Forum, a platform for group integration, re-strategising and knowledge sharing with the overall aim of puting the bank on firm standing to actualize its goals and targets for the financial year.

The theme of this year's forum was focused on three main areas:  ‘Efficient and effective communication across the group; Entrenchment of enduring corporate culture and corporate governance.

The meeting which was chaired by the Chairman, UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, had in attendance all the group chair persons from across Africa, Group board executive and non-executive directors and CEOs of each of the 20 subsidiaries of the bank’s group. The top executive echelon in the bank, including heads of units were also present to put heads together to develop key strategies aimed at building the bank’s brand and satisfying its customers.

Elumelu, whilst addressing participants during the forum, reminded them that putting the customers at the forefront and tailoring the activities of the bank in line with their demands remains the focal point of the bank, adding that imbibing the corporate governance culture is key to building an enduring financial institution.

A strong and institutionalized corporate governance, laden with excellence in customer service, according to Elumelu will drive more investment to the bank and thus allow it to contribute meaningfully to the development of the African economy.

He said, “As long term investors and Africa enthusiasts, we are committed to the markets in which we operate and to the wider African economy.  We will continue to work with credible partners and governments across Africa to identify and develop those critical growth poles required for the sustainable development of all African economies'.

“In line with this, we must inculcate a culture that enforces corporate governance, individual and corporate accountability, a high sense of urgency and a customer first orientation in getting things done. Responsiveness and accountability are key attributes of High Performing Organizations. We know that the culture of corporate governance is key and we intend to focus on this to ensure that our goals for the financial year are duly met,” Elumelu said

Also speaking at the 3rd Chairman’s Forum, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who emphasized the bank’s goals of Excellence, Enterprise and Execution, said that the business had to be more customer-focused than ever before, adding that the elements of effective and efficient communication could not be toyed with as they represent an embodiment of what the bank stands for at all times.

Participants at the Group Board Forum resolved to do all in their power to continue to position the bank as the leading Pan-African Bank across all key indices – brand equity, human capital, customer service and profitability, whilst also inculcating a culture of responsiveness at UBA, with zero tolerance for any regulatory infraction across all operations.

Speakers at the Forum included Director of Marketing Corporate Communication,  Bola Atta, Director of Human Capital Management, Patricia Aderibigbe; Head of Risk, Uche Ike and the Managing Partner of Angela Aneke Associates. The newly appointed Regional CEOs, Emeke Iweriebor, Amie Sow, Abiola Bawuah and Martin Che also presented on how they intend to achieve their strong objectives for this financial year. The forum ended on a very strong and positive note which witnessed all participants in an up beat mood