Banking
Keystone Bank, CeLD Launch ‘CashToken’ Customers
By Dipo Olowookere
A ground-breaking product, ‘CashToken’, a new age of hyper consumer centricity in Nigeria, has been launched by the nation’s fastest growing financial institution, Keystone Bank Limited.
The product was unveiled in Lagos on Thursday, April 19, 2018, in partnership with a ‘Cash Reward as-a-Service firm, CeLD Innovations Limited.
During the launch at a conference tagged ‘500 Top CEOs Conference – Unleashing the Age of Hyper Consumer Centricity,’ the lender explained that ‘CashToken’ is an electronic reward and celebratory gift commodity which costs only N30.
The initiative, according to CeLD, creates an avenue for every customer in Nigeria to have an opportunity for life-changing cash rewards every Friday night at the National CashToken draws, to be monitored by Alexander Forbes and audited by Deloitte. The product is designed to optimize customer loyalty investment for business, celebratory gift value optimization and public emotional equity for government.
According to the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr Obeahon Ohiwerei, “At Keystone Bank, our vision as we begin our trajectory towards industry leadership is the enablement of new possibilities tied to our customer’s innermost desires as we connect our customers to a new era of Hyper Consumer Centricity; where every patronage of our bank is a life changing opportunity.
“And so, the establishment of the World’s First Cash Reward as-a-Service Platform by CeLD is indeed not only most commendable but worthy of strategic support of forward looking businesses; hence the support of the Board of Directors and management of Keystone Bank Limited.
“We have also taken a decision to partner with CeLD to adopt this ground-breaking product, ‘The CashToken’ as a Keystone Bank Customer Loyalty Reward Commodity. We believe every patronage of the bank should be a true life changing-opportunity with guaranteed cash for insurance, pension or savings.”
“We therefore call on all industry leaders, business owners, governments and the celebratory gift industry to join us as we project this great African Innovation to the world stage. We believe that One (1) to Three (3) Billion people will receive CashTokens in five years across the world,” Mr Ohiwerei concluded.
Also speaking at the launch, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited said that products like CeLD are the kind of empowerment that today’s startups earnestly require.
“CashToken is the miracle of the 21st Century, and it’s an innovation that makes business faster, and is transparent. It is an innovation that will bring growth to the economy of the country,” Mr Ekeh added.
Other speakers and guests at the launch include: Tunde Irukera (Director General Consumer Protection Council), Lanre Gbajabiamila (DG, National Lottery Regulation Commission), Mitchel Elegbe (GMD, Interswitch Group), Fuad Atanda-Lawal (Chairman Obalende/Ikoyi LCDA), Wale Olokodana (Enterprise Commercial Lead, Microsoft Nigeria), Bello Maigari (Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund), Alex Okoh (DG, Bureau of Public Enterprise,) and many more.
Summarizing the essence of the epoch-making event, through a concise letter to the CEOs, Mr Lai Labode, Founder and CEO of CeLD Innovations said: “the CashToken idea inspires a new age of HYPER Consumer Centricity, where the reward on every patronage is an incontrovertible life-changing opportunity and development of consumer emotional equity that will ultimately attempt to shape the several and individual preferences of the average consumer in the ever-competitive and volatile business world.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The flagship banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Limited, has been announced as the winner of Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank award at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.
The lender clinched this accolade at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 ceremony, held on July 17, 2026, at The Peninsula London, England, for its outstanding performance, innovation, customer service, and leadership.
GTBank’s recognition as Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank reflects its continued leadership in digital innovation and its commitment to delivering seamless, secure, and customer-centric financial solutions.
As the banking franchise of GTCO, GTBank has consistently set industry benchmarks in digital transformation, pioneering solutions that have redefined how individuals and businesses access, manage, and experience financial services.
Over the years, GTBank has transformed the banking experience through a suite of innovative digital platforms, including the GTWORLD mobile app and solutions that provide millions of customers with seamless, secure, and convenient access to financial services.
The bank continues to strengthen its digital capabilities by introducing products and services that meet evolving customer needs while maintaining the highest standards of security, reliability, and service excellence.
This latest recognition underscores the company’s position as a market leader and reflects its sustained investment in technology, operational excellence, and innovation.
“This recognition is a testament to the legacy upon which GTBank was built and the vision that continues to guide us today.
“From inception, our goal has been to deliver on the Group’s vision to make end-to-end financial services accessible to everyone by leveraging technology to remove barriers, simplify experiences, and create meaningful value for our customers,” the chief executive of GTBank, Mrs Miriam Olusanya, stated.
“While we are honoured by this recognition, we see it as an acknowledgement of what we have achieved and a motivation to do even more.
“We remain focused on raising the bar for digital banking, investing in innovative solutions, and delivering exceptional experiences that create lasting value for our customers.
“As the financial services landscape continues to evolve, we will continue to innovate, adapt, and lead with the same commitment to excellence that has defined our franchise for decades,” she added.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 convened leading financial institutions, industry executives, and policymakers from across the globe to celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in the financial services sector.
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.
