UBA Wins 2025 Banker Awards, Clinches Africa’s Bank Of The Year As It Dominates Nine Countries
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has consolidated its position as one of Africa’s most formidable financial institutions, recording a sweeping victory at the 2025 Banker Awards after being named Africa’s Bank of the Year for the third time in five years. The winning streak didn’t stop there—the Pan-African giant also clinched Best Bank of the Year in nine out of its 20 African subsidiaries, a feat that underscores the bank’s unmatched reach, resilience and innovation across the continent.
The awards, organised annually by The Banker.com, a Financial Times publication, are revered globally for their depth, independence and rigorous assessment of bank performance. This year’s ceremony, held at The Peninsula in London, saw UBA rise above heavyweight competitors once again. UBA UK CEO, Deji Adeyelure, received the awards on behalf of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, accompanied by senior executives Mark Ifashe and Shilpam Jha.
In its citation, The Banker praised UBA’s consistency in outperforming larger banks and dominating key markets across West, Central and Southern Africa. The publication highlighted that UBA secured one-quarter of all African awards, more than any other continent-wide competitor, with particularly outstanding wins in Benin and Mozambique—two highly competitive categories.
The bank’s recognitions cut across a wide geographical spread: Benin, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zambia, reflecting UBA’s influence in ECOWAS, CEMAC and SADC regions.
Beyond awards, The Banker spotlighted UBA’s robust financial performance, innovation drive and expansion strategy. In 2024, the bank recorded a 46.8% rise in assets and 6.1% growth in pre-tax profits, while intensifying investment in digital transformation and talent development. West Africa remained the bank’s powerhouse, delivering an impressive 87% increase in operating revenue and 89% growth in profit in the first half of 2025.
UBA’s dominance in digital banking also earned praise, with landmark achievements such as the launch of its 919# Advance Top-Up buy-now-pay-later feature and the continued rise of its AI-powered chatbot, Leo, which saw a 29% increase in transaction volume. Notably, Leo made history in August 2025 as the first African banking chatbot to process cross-border payments through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Reacting to the achievement, GMD/CEO Oliver Alawuba described the recognition as a validation of UBA’s long-term strategy and unwavering commitment to customers across Africa. He noted that the awards reflect the bank’s disciplined execution and its deep understanding of diverse markets across the continent.
“This honour reflects the strength of our Pan-African network, the trust of our customers, and the dedication of our people,” Alawuba said. “Winning Africa’s Bank of the Year for the third time in five years is a testament to innovation and impact. Our nine country awards show that UBA is not just expanding—we are transforming lives, supporting economies, and making banking simpler and more accessible for millions.”
With over 25,000 employees, more than 45 million customers, and operations spanning 20 African countries, the UK, USA, France and UAE, UBA continues to reinforce its status as one of Africa’s most influential financial brands—powering inclusion, accelerating development, and shaping the future of banking across the continent.