Banking
Access Bank Customers Win Prizes in AccessMore Mega Reward
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some Access Bank customers have won various prizes in the first phase of the AccessMore Mega reward scheme for the lender.
One of the winners, Mr Precious Nwuba, went home with N1 million. According to him, he reluctantly participated in the exercise and was surprised when he emerged as a winner.
“I learnt about the scheme and decided to participate reluctantly. I forgot all about it, and when I was told that I had won N1 million, I could not believe it; I felt it was a lie. But the bank urged me to visit my branch in Ondo State, and it was there I confirmed that I indeed won N1 million.
“I am grateful to God and the bank for coming up with this initiative amid the harsh times in the economy. I would spread the word about this; it is still a miracle to me,” Mr Nwuba said at the presentation over the weekend.
Access Bank designed the promo as part of its strategy to drive easy, effective and rewarding banking using its AccessMore mobile app.
According to the bank, N10 million to N12 million will be doled out to its customers between now and December 2022.
The Head of Marketing and Communications at Access Bank, Ms Chioma Afe, said the app was launched in 2020 to encourage customers to use the app to make transactions due to the lockdown.
She noted that the bank saw increased patronage of the app and decided to reward its customers by introducing the reward initiative in 2022.
“We kept it simple. We kept it in the app, and we said, if you make N100 on the rewards, you can just quickly redeem it, or we keep reminding you because it is available for you for a period of time.
“You can use it to offset bills such as light bills, Cable bills, and so we saw customers do it consistently from 2020.
“So, in 2022, we decided to do something to reward our customers so that more people can tap into the rewards and see the benefits for them, especially to refer other customers and to give them something more.
“So, we pegged some money down, and I think we will give out about N10-12 million including the trip between now and December. Hence, we have cash prizes, gadgets, iPhones and other amazing prizes for our customers,” Ms Afe said.
Corroborating her, Senior Banking Adviser, Retail Banking at Access Bank, Rob Giles, said that the first phase involved the bank rewarding about five customers with N100,000 and N1 million, while adding the second phase of the reward scheme will be between now and December.
Giles said, “The steps to take to enjoy rewards on the app are quite easy. Simply download the AccessMore app, register (signup) and opt into Access Rewards & Referrals on the app to get 100points.
“Each complete referral you make earns you additional 100 points. Once you onboard 20 – 30 new people onto the AccessMore app, you get 2000 – 3000 points, respectively, and this qualifies you for a chance to win cash prizes of up to N1 million.
“Customers can also stand a chance to win iPhone 13 phones and other cash prizes of N100,000 and N50,000 and other amazing rewards. The great thing is, the more you transact, the more points you earn.”
The Access Bank AccessMore app is a unique payment application built on cutting-edge technology, offering tailored and personalized services and an excellent customer experience. The app is easy to use and is available for download on Android PlayStore and iOS Store.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
