Banking
GTBank Swoops 6 at 2017 CBN EPIS Efficiency Awards
By Dipo Olowookere
In what can be categorized as a really great moment, foremost financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc GTBank), has reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s leading financial institution on e-payments with its emergence as a multiple award winner during the 2017 Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) awards organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
With six awards, GTBank took home half of the dozen honours won by Banks and had the highest number of the total awards presented to the financial institutions, Fin-techs, merchants and other stakeholders in the Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme.
The EPIS Efficiency awards was established to reward and celebrate financial institutions, merchants and other stakeholders at the forefront of driving electronic payment in Nigeria.
Among the awards won by GTBank are the Best Customer Experience Award (Electronic Payment Platform Experience);for achieving the highest level of overall customer satisfaction in the delivery of electronic payment services to customers, the Cashless Driver: Instant Payments; for the Bank’s outstanding performance in recording the highest transaction count on the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) Platform and the Cashless Driver: Point of Sale (POS) Issued Cards’ Transactions for having the highest Point of Sale (PoS) transaction count on the National Central Switch with Issued Payment.
GTBank also won the award for Instant Payments Transaction Efficiency; for achieving the highest transaction count in Point of Sale (PoS) terminals through the National Central Switch (NCS) Platform, the Point of Sale Card Transaction Efficiency;for the Bank’s outstanding performance in recording the highest level of efficiency in card payments on POS terminals connected to the National Central Switch and the award for the Electronic Data Rendition Compliance and Integrity for the Bank’s outstanding performance in ensuring customer data integrity and compliance to CBN mandated submissions.
“We are delighted and proud to recognise, encourage, appreciate and reward financial, non-bank and other stakeholders in the EPIS that has been driving the electronic banking channels in Nigeria,” said the Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, at the EPIS efficiency awards.
Managing Director of NIBSS, Adebisi Shonubi, added that the event was a reward for all the years of commitments by stakeholders in the finance industry who have tried to push forward Nigeria’s quest for electronic payment.
Commenting on the awards, Mr Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, said; “We are incredibly excited to receive such outstanding honours from the apex regulators in the banking sector. Receiving these awards is indeed humbling and we are encouraged to continue to do more. He further added that, “As a bank, we will continue to focus on digitising our services and creating a well segmented and integrated customer experience.”
GTBank is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions in Nigeria and across its subsidiary countries where the bank is reputed for its innovative financial solutions, superior financial performance, world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery.
The bank’s latest E-payment service, known as 737 banking was adjudged the best banking product in Africa at the 2016 Asian Banker awards.
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.
