Banking
GTBank Applies for Payments Firm, to Split Banking Operations into Three
By Dipo Olowookere
After conquering the banking sector in Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc is looking to disrupt the financial technology (fintech) space by formally launching its payments arm.
The Managing Director of the lender, Mr Segun Agbaje, informed analysts this week that an application for the establishment of GTBank’s fintech company would be filed before the end of the week.
According to Mr Agbaje, this payments company will be part of the new structure of the company from the first quarter of 2021.
GTBank is planning to operate as a financial holding company, which will enable the organisation to operate in other sectors and thereby increase its revenue and profits.
In the past, GTBank and other banks were allowed to delve into other businesses, but the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which regulates the sector, later directed banks to only face their core business, banking.
This forced most lenders to sell-off their other businesses in insurance, stockbroking, asset management and others. Only those allowed to still have these arms are banks operating under a holding structure like Stanbic IBTC, FBN Holdings and a few others.
GTBank is planning to become a holding company from next year to allow it to operate in other sectors in the financial services industry.
At the analyst call monitored by Business Post, the MD/CEO of the financial institution said the proposed GTBank Holding Company (Holdco) will operate an asset management company, Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), a payments company and the banking business.
However, he said the banking arm will be split into three and will comprise GTBank Nigeria, GTBank East Africa and GTBank West Africa.
He noted that the managing director for the GTBank Nigeria will likely be announced by October 2020.
“On the Holdco structure, arrangements are going very well and as you know, it is a financial holding structure, which means we will need regulatory approval from the central bank, SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and other areas we do business,” Mr Agbaje said.
He explained that, “We will have the central unit, which will be the controlling body and a couple of business units.
“In terms of the bank operations, we are going to split it into three; GTBank Nigeria, GTBank East Africa and GTBank West Africa.
“We will then have other business units like asset management, a PFA and a payments company. Hopefully, this week, we will put in our application for final approval for the payments company.”
Speaking further, the banker, who is retiring from the position in 2021, stated that, “For the asset management and PFA, we are going through due diligence as we speak on an entity.”
“I believe we will be ready to go live will the Holdco structure by the first quarter of next year. We are just working on an operating model and others in preparation for the kickoff,” he declared, noting that, “I am really excited about the Holdco structure. I think everything that happened in the pandemic has proven that we are on the right part.”
He expressed optimism that the proposed payments company of GTBank will succeed because of the level of inflows and outflows in the space.
GTBank is not relatively new in the payments industry in Nigeria as it already has a platform called GTPay. However, the ecosystem is filled with top players like Interswitch, Paga, Paystack, Rave by Flutterwave, PayU, Remita, QucikTeller and a couple of others.
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.
