Banking
American Express Launches First Business Credit Card in Nigeria
By Adedapo Adesanya
American Express is launching its first business credit card in Nigeria in a partnership with O3 Capital, a Nigerian fintech company, in a move that could potentially ease access to Dollar.
According to a statement, O3 Capital will become the first non-bank credit card issuer after announcing the agreement with American Express to issue four new American Express credit cards.
These are the O3 American Express Green Card for consumers, the O3 American Express Gold Card for consumers, the O3 American Express Platinum Card for consumers; and the O3 American Express Gold Business Card for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
With the O3 American Express Green, Gold, and Platinum Cards, O3 Capital will enhance its overall customer offering, providing American Express Card Members with a range of travel and lifestyle benefits for use in Nigeria and when travelling overseas – a major reason for FX demands in the country.
According to the statement seen by Business Post, these cards will provide access to discounts at select businesses across Nigeria, cinema and dining perks, hotel and car rental benefits, and various insurances and protections.
The O3 American Express Gold Business Card will be the first American Express card launched in Nigeria to specifically support the spending needs of businesses.
“This card will improve the day-to-day management of business transactions and cashflow with access to a credit facility, the ability to perform international transactions, and the inclusion of an extended repayment period of up to 45 days. It will also aim to support the running of a business, with benefits such as three complimentary visits per year to eligible local and international airport lounges, car rental perks, and travel insurance included,” the publicised statement said.
Additionally, the O3 American Express Platinum card will provide access to a travel and lifestyle concierge service, a membership with a global hotel programme, and five complimentary visits per year to eligible local and international airport lounges. The cards will be able to be used at American Express accepting merchants across Nigeria and around the world.
Speaking on the move, Mr Abimbola Pinheiro, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of O3 Capital, said, “This agreement with American Express is a significant milestone, both for O3 Capital and for Nigerian businesses. We will provide solutions for a wide range of customers – from consumers looking for more value from their payment products to businesses who want to enjoy the benefits of a domestically issued card with the international reach of American Express.”
“We are particularly proud to be the first who will issue an American Express Business card to the Nigerian business community and we look forward to working with American Express to fulfil our potential,” he said.
On his part, Mr Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, added that “With the O3 Capital American Express cards, consumers and businesses in Nigeria will have even more payment choice. American Express is excited to continue to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and expand its reach across Africa. The first-ever American Express Business Card in the most populous African country will give us another way to support local businesses with their growth aspirations.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Access Bank Plc has assured customers that their funds are safe with the company, stressing that there’s nothing to worry about.
The lender gave this assurance in reaction to a video making the rounds on social media that about N500 million belonging to a customer was missing.
The financial institution described this allegation as “baseless,” denying any involvement in “any unethical behaviour.”
“Our attention has been drawn to a video on social media wherein allegations of missing funds and unethical behaviour have been made against Access Bank PLC.
“First and foremost, we wish to emphasise that the safety and security of our customers’ funds are core priorities which we take seriously. Second, Access Bank Plc does not engage in or condone any unethical behaviour.
“In the instant case, the allegations of missing funds in the Bank are most untrue and baseless.
“There is no N500 million or any other fund or amount missing from the subject customer’s account or any other customer’s account with us.
“We and other independent stakeholders in the banking industry have thoroughly investigated these allegations and independently arrived at the same conclusions.
“Access Bank PLC operates with the highest ethical standards, and we protect our customers’ interests whilst also respecting privacy laws.
“Consequently, whilst we have engaged and will continue to engage with our customers, we must advise the public not to rely on or believe sensational and unverified claims that are designed to titillate and mislead the public,” a statement from the firm stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Ajose Adeogun Street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State has been decorated by Zenith Bank Plc in line with its yearly tradition.
The area was lightened up by the financial institution ahead of the yuletide season and at the unveiling on Saturday, November 23, 2024, the lender said it was happy to do it again for the 18th year.
“Over the years, Zenith Bank has hosted this spectacular event, transforming the entire Ajose Adeogun Street into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland.
“Our beautiful and elaborate Christmas decorations have become a centre of attraction and shared on social media platforms globally.
“As we light up the street tonight, we celebrate the essence of Christmas and Zenith Bank’s unparalleled Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“Our customers will always be at the centre of all that we do in Zenith Bank,” the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji said.
She urged everyone to imbibe the message and spirit of Christmas which is about love, kindness, generosity and respect for humanity, and thanked the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling environment for the initiative.
She also praised the efforts of Quantum Markets, who have been responsible for the annual decorations, for their expertise and creativity in putting together the lovely decorations.
“I want to thank the management of Quantum Markets for all the beautiful, creative and innovative ideas they keep coming up with. Quantum Markets always make it bigger and better every year, and we are always looking forward to it,” she stated.
The beautiful Christmas decoration, which transforms the entire stretch of Ajose Adeogun Street (home to Zenith Bank’s corporate headquarters) and roundabout into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland, has come to be recognized as an iconic tourist attraction, bringing visitors from far and wide who visit with their families and friends to take pictures and enjoy the ambience of the street.
The company’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, has launched a digital wallet known as EazyByZenith.
This was unveiled at the 2024 Zenith Tech Fair held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The lender said this wallet will help to support its retail and financial inclusion strategy, as the company further pushes to expand its share of the retail banking space in Nigeria.
The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, said the bank cannot sit back as the world moves into the digital age.
“It is paramount that we adapt and adopt technology to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen various cases of companies that failed because of their lack of innovation.
“It is quite obvious that when companies fail to innovate; they can easily be displaced, so this is not the time to be orthodox, innovation should be a top priority for us,” she stated.
Explaining why Zenith Bank came up with the fair themed Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity and Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI, she said it was to “empower and nurture young fertile minds,” with the mindset to “produce the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk” in the nearest future.
“According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population are youths which is an economic asset when properly harnessed.
This is part of the reason why Zenith Bank is hosting this event to support the development of technology startups.
“Their success not only fosters innovation and growth in Nigeria, but it also plays a vital role in creating employment opportunities for our youth,” Ms Umeoji also said, stressing the importance of innovation and embedded finance in ensuring strong and enduring institutions.
Business Post reports that the fair also included presentations on the leading technological innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Compliance, Financial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Communication Technologies, with the keynote address, Banking Transformation in a Digital World, delivered by Robin Speculand, a renowned Strategy and Digital Implementation Specialist.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Travel/Tourism8 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Banking6 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy1 year agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN