L – R: Head, Central Collections Unit, Olaide Adeyemo; Executive Director -FCT & North, Sufiyanu Garba and Regional Bank Head, Abuja 3 Regional Bank, Martin Ayodele (all of Fidelity Bank Plc) at the Comptroller-General of Customs Award Night 2025 in Abuja where Fidelity Bank Plc was recognised as the first bank to successfully process Customs Duty and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) recently. 

Fidelity Bank’s leadership in digital innovation and public sector collaboration has once again been spotlighted as the tier-one lender was honoured at the Comptroller-General of Customs Award Night 2025.

At the ceremony, which took place at Abuja, Fidelity Bank was presented with a prestigious award by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for being the first bank to successfully process Customs Duty and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS).

The award, presented under the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi (MFR), serves as a formal recognition of the bank’s “Distinctive Performance and Commitment to the Ideals and Vision of the Nigeria Customs Service.”

Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, the Executive Director, FCT & North, Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, stated:

“This award is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence and our resolve to support the digital transformation of Nigeria’s trade and customs ecosystem. We are proud to be at the forefront of this historic milestone and remain dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that drive Nigeria’s economic development.”

The bank’s quick adoption of the UCMS stems from its vision for a truly seamless and borderless African trade.  Earlier this year, the bank officially launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), following a successful onboarding and over N46 billion in early transactions.

PAPSS enables instant, local currency cross-border payments across Africa, particularly benefiting SMEs. By integrating PAPSS into its core operations, Fidelity Bank continues to dismantle trade barriers, empower businesses, and expand its impact across the continent.

This latest recognition by the Nigeria Customs Service adds to Fidelity Bank’s impressive streak of achievements in 2025, including its double win as “Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance” and “Most Innovative Bank of the Year” at the BusinessDay Bank and Other Financial Institutions’ (BAFI) Awards. These accolades underscore the bank’s commitment to empowering businesses, driving innovation, and supporting Nigeria’s economic advancement.

The Comptroller General of Customs Award further affirms Fidelity Bank’s pivotal role in modernising trade processes and aligning with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.

Additionally, the Bank was recognised as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Stanbic IBTC Bank continues to enhance the financial well-being of its customers through its Reward4Saving Promo.

At the seventh monthly draw, 70 savers won a total of ₦7 million, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to transforming everyday savings into meaningful rewards while fostering a strong savings culture among Nigerians.

The monthly draw took place at Stanbic IBTC’s Head Office in Victoria Island, Lagos, where 70 winners, 10 from each of the bank’s seven business zones, received ₦100,000 each.

The event was supervised by regulatory bodies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), ensuring complete transparency and fairness.

Since the launch of Reward4Saving Promo Season 4, a whopping 506 customers have won ₦67 million. With a total prize pool of ₦130 million, ₦63 million is still up for grabs before the promo concludes on 31 March 2026, keeping excitement high among the bank’s customers nationwide.

Speaking at the event, Chuma Nwokocha, Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, emphasised the bank’s commitment to its customers and Nigerian’s savings culture: “Today, we are celebrating our loyal customers by rewarding 70 savers with ₦7 million.

This promotion demonstrates our commitment to recognising customer efforts while emphasising the importance of saving. The promo is open to both existing and new customers who are simply required to save a minimum of ₦10,000 in their Stanbic IBTC Savings Account or @ease Wallet for 30 consecutive days to qualify for the monthly draws automatically. The more our customers save, the higher their chances of winning.”

For many Nigerians, these wins represent far more than money; they are lifelines at critical moments. Valentine Ugochukwu, one of the 70 winners, runs a clothing business and lost everything in the Mandilas fire outbreak in September 2025. When his call came through announcing he had won ₦100,000, he could hardly believe it.

“I had been saving to restart my business” Valentine explains. “When I got the call, I did not believe it at first. I decided to come and confirm for myself, and it turned out to be true. This prize is giving me the chance to rebuild what I lost.”

For Valentine and countless others, the promo has become more than a banking incentive.  “I will keep saving so I can win more and hopefully win the grand prize of ₦5,000,000. Thank you, Stanbic IBTC Bank, for putting a smile on my face.”

His story reflects the real impact behind the numbers. Behind each winner is someone with hope after setbacks, and dreams that a well-timed prize can help restore.

With five more draws including the grand finale still ahead, customers have multiple opportunities to win big. To participate, save at least ₦10,000 for 30 consecutive days in a Stanbic IBTC Savings Account or @ease Wallet. Children are not left out; you can open a Chess account for children and save a minimum of ₦10,000 for 30 consecutive days.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has been named Nigeria’s ‘Asset Management Company of the Year 2025’ by the Global Banking & Finance Awards.

This honour recognises the company’s continued innovation and excellence in providing investment solutions that help Nigerians build and preserve wealth.

As a market leader in the asset management industry, Stanbic IBTC manages over 45% of the industry’s Assets under Management (AuM), reflecting its strong reputation, expertise, and trust among investors. This leadership position underscores its dedication to building a financially informed and confident investor base while continuously driving industry growth and innovation.

Commenting on the recognition, Busola Jejelowo, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, expressed delight at the award, noting that it reflects the company’s active strategy to help Nigerians make informed investment decisions while appreciating their clients for the trust they have in the company.

She said “We are truly honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team. Most importantly, I want to sincerely thank our clients for their trust and unwavering commitment to our company. It is your confidence in us that motivates us to maintain the highest standards of excellence and to continually innovate in serving your investment needs.”

Busola added: “Stanbic IBTC Asset Management’s purpose will remain to empower individuals and businesses to grow their wealth sustainably. Stanbic IBTC Asset Management is committed to empowering its clients through its BluNest platform that provides a wide range of mutual funds tailored to suit various investment goals, risk appetites and age groups. We are also well positioned to empower the youths with financial knowledge through our signature Beyond Dreams initiative, which actively engages audiences across various social media platforms by sharing educational content, tips, and insights through storytelling, to foster financial literacy and responsible investing.”

The recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for Stanbic IBTC Asset Management. In recent years, the firm has been honoured by several reputable bodies, including the Global Banking & Finance Review and the International Finance Awards, for its performance, innovation, and leadership in the asset management space.

These consistent wins underline the company’s culture of excellence and its reputation for integrity, transparency, and investor-first focus.

Also reflecting on the win, Chukwuma Nwokocha, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings noted that, “Our Asset Management business continues to raise the bar for investment excellence in Nigeria. This award reinforces the Group’s long-standing commitment to helping individuals and institutions achieve sustainable wealth creation. Stanbic IBTC remains fully invested in the financial success of Nigerians.”

The Global Banking & Finance Awards, established in 2011, celebrates outstanding achievements within the financial services industry; recognising institutions that demonstrate innovation, progressive leadership, and measurable impact on their markets.

As one of Nigeria’s most experienced fund managers, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management continues to deepen financial inclusion by providing products that serve diverse investor needs from conservative savers to growth-focused professionals and corporates seeking sophisticated investment solutions.

The introduction of new products helped to boost customer demand in November, leading to further expansions of new orders and business activity in the Nigerian private sector.

Meanwhile, the recent trend of easing inflationary pressures continued. Input costs increased at the slowest pace in almost five years, while output prices rose to the least extent since April 2020. The headline figure derived from the survey is the Stanbic IBTC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions on the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.

The headline PMI remained comfortably above the 50.0 no-change mark in November and has now signalled improving business conditions on a monthly basis throughout the past year.

Muyiwa Oni, Head of Equity Research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank commented: “Nigeria’s headline PMI remained in the expansionary territory in November but moderated when compared to October. Nonetheless, the strong output continues to reflect easing inflationary pressures which is helping to support higher sales for businesses who are now launching new products and securing more customers. Hence, new orders rose to a three-month high of 56.9 points from 56.3 points in October. More positively, new orders have now increased in each of the past 13 months.

Consequently, output increased across all four broad sectors (Agriculture, Manufacturing, Wholesale & retail, and Services) covered by the survey, led by Manufacturing and Services. “Input costs continue to soften, easing to their slowest since December 2020, underpinned by weaker rises in both purchase prices and staff costs.

Survey participants that signalled a rise in purchase prices compared to October linked this to higher costs for raw materials and transportation. The changes in output prices also mirrored the input cost. This is as output price inflation also eased in November, slowing for the sixth time in seven months to the weakest since April 2020.

“We still see the Nigerian economy growing by 4.0% in 2025. Both Manufacturing and Services are likely to see higher growth in 2025 compared to 2024 levels, based on the results from the PMI surveys so far this year. Elsewhere, the government has been visible in infrastructure, livestock development, easing trade constraints, and attracting investments in oil & gas and manufacturing. Aside from that, the Dangote refinery is expected to continue to have forward-linkage impact on other sectors of the economy. Also, likely lower interest rates in line with lower inflation and exchange rate stabilization should support private consumption and business investments in 2026. Because of these factors, we see more sectors contributing to real GDP growth rate in 2026 compared to 2025, likely translating to an improvement in the quality of lives of the citizens relative to 2025.”

At 53.6, the latest reading signalled a solid strengthening in the health of the private sector, and one that was only slightly less pronounced than seen in October (54.0). In line with the headline PMI, output growth eased slightly in November but remained marked overall. Expansions were signalled across all four broad sectors covered by the survey.

Panellists linked output growth to higher sales, the securing of more customers and the launch of new products, which also helped to boost new business. New orders increased for the thirteenth month running, and at a sharp pace that was the fastest in three months. Companies were helped by an easing of inflationary pressures, continuing the trend seen through much of 2025.

The rate of overall input cost inflation remained sharp, but eased to the lowest in almost five years amid weaker increases in both purchase prices and staff costs. In turn, the pace of output price inflation eased for the sixth time in the past seven months and was the weakest since April 2020.

Companies increased both their staffing levels and purchasing activity in November, albeit to varying degrees. While employment growth slowed and was only marginal, the rate of expansion in input buying hit a seven-month high.

The sharp rise in purchasing helped inventories to increase at the fastest pace since June 2023 as companies stockpiled in response to higher new orders and prepared for future customer requirements.

Despite expanded capacity, backlogs of work increased for the first time in four months amid delayed payments by customers. Suppliers’ delivery times, on the other hand, continued to shorten, with vendor performance improving for the fifth month running in November.

Business confidence continued to trend downwards midway through the final quarter, easing for the fifth month running to the lowest since May. Those respondents with an optimistic outlook for output over the coming year linked this to business investment and expansion plans.

The MD/CE of the NDIC, Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, has called on the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) to strengthen strategic collaboration with the Corporation as the NDIC relies on NIESV members for accurate and credible valuation of assets of failed banks, which is critical for effective liquidation and payment of depositors.

The MD/CE made the call during a courtesy visit by the President/Chairman of Council of the NIESV, Dr. ESV. Victor Adekunle Alonge, and members of his executive team to the NDIC Head Office, Abuja. The NDIC Chief Executive explained that the Corporation relies on precise and credible valuation reports during the liquidation of failed banks to determine the true worth of assets, which enables their sale at the best possible value.

Mr. Sunday further noted that proceeds from the sale of these assets are applied toward the payment of depositors’ balances above the insured amount, making accuracy and professionalism in valuation essential to protecting depositor funds.

He emphasised that NIESV’s professionalism therefore contributes directly to financial stability and depositor protection by ensuring transparency, fairness, and value-for-money in the disposal of assets and the recovery process.

While calling on the leadership of the Institution to uphold the highest ethical standards and guard against insider abuse, the NDIC Chief Executive added that the Corporation is further strengthening its internal processes, including the development of a comprehensive Asset Management Policy to guide asset identification and documentation, valuation procedures, disposal strategies and transparency and accountability in recoveries.

The NDIC Chief Executive emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between both institutions, noting that the Corporation welcomes opportunities for joint training and knowledge exchange between NDIC staff and NIESV professionals, particularly in emerging valuation methodologies, asset management, and sustainable valuation practices.

President/Chairman of Council of the NIESV, Dr. ESV. Victor Adekunle Alonge reaffirmed the Institution’s commitment to professionalism and integrity.

He explained that NIESV was established by an Act of Parliament and maintains strict disciplinary procedures to sanction any member found to be unethical or unprofessional. He reaffirmed the Institution’s commitment to sustained cooperation and technical support to the NDIC, noting that the partnership remains vital to enhancing service delivery and strengthening public confidence in the banking system.

The courtesy visit underscored the shared commitment of both institutions to deepen collaboration, enhance professional standards, and strengthen the bank liquidation process in Nigeria for the overall stability of the financial system.

Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Standard Bank Group, has launched its Digital Lending Suite, an integrated platform that consolidates all the Bank’s retail loan offerings into one digital access point.

The platform has products such as EZ Cash, Unsecured Personal Loan (UPL) and many more consumer loan options reflecting the bank’s commitment to simplifying borrowing and strengthening financial inclusion through technology.

The Digital Lending Suite was developed in response to customers’ evolving needs for convenient, secure, and reliable credit solutions. By providing seamless access to multiple loan products via digital channels, the bank continues to demonstrate its leadership in driving financial innovation within Nigeria’s banking sector.

EZ Cash is designed to meet immediate, short-term needs, offering customers instant access to loans from ₦50,000 up to ₦10 million with a tenor of up to 24 months.  The Unsecured Personal Loan (UPL) caters to medium- to long-term financing requirements, providing larger loan amounts with repayment tenors of up to 48 months.

It is structured to accommodate salaried customers seeking to fund personal projects or lifestyle needs, with the added option to revolve the facility once a portion of the loan has been repaid.

Both products are exclusively available to salaried customers whose accounts are domiciled with Stanbic IBTC Bank; subject to credit assessments and approvals.

Commenting on the launch, Olu Delano, Executive Director, Personal & Private Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, noted that the Digital Lending Suite reinforces Stanbic IBTC Bank’s commitment to delivering customer-centric, technology-driven financial services.

By integrating our loan offerings into a single digital platform, we are improving access to credit while maintaining the speed, security, and reliability that our customers trust Stanbic IBTC Bank to provide.”

The Digital Lending Suite is available across multiple digital touchpoints, enabling customers to apply and receive funds with ease.

Applications are processed digitally via the new Stanbic IBTC Mobile App 3.0. The product is collateral-free, comes with a fixed monthly interest rate, and offers flexible repayment, including early repayment without penalty.