Banking
Sterling Bank Offers Free Bus Rides to Nigerians
After sparking a national movement with its Zero Transfer Fees campaign, Sterling Bank has once again pushed the boundaries of what corporate citizenship can mean to everyday Nigerians.
Last week, regular Lagosians stepping out after long workdays were met with an unexpected gift: Sterling OneBank-branded buses waiting to take them home, free of charge.
Starting as a push against bank transfer fees, the initiative has now taken to the streets, as the bank began offering free bus rides to customers across major Lagos corridors, a gesture that will continue through May 2025 to ease the return of workers after the May Day holidays.
For a city where a single bus fare can be the difference between feeding a family or not, Sterling’s free ride initiative struck a deep chord. What began with free transfers through its OneBank platform has now evolved into a movement on wheels, connecting digital convenience with real-world survival. In a time of skyrocketing costs, the bank is reaffirming a simple belief: financial freedom should not end at the removal of bank charges, it should move you, carry you, and lift you.
Across Lagos, from Obalende to Ikorodu and TBS to Oshodi, the sight of Sterling buses pulling up to offer free rides sparked moments of disbelief, gratitude, and quiet celebration. For thousands of commuters, it was a tangible reminder that sometimes, the biggest changes come not from slogans, but from small, deliberate acts of care.
“For customers who have to choose between transport fare and groceries, this is more than a ride, it’s hope,” said Chidimma Okoli, Masterbrand Marketing Lead at Sterling. “When we said we were tearing down the barriers to moving your money, we meant it. But we also meant the barriers to moving yourself, to moving your dreams, to moving your life forward.
This isn’t just about banking apps. It’s about freedom, in every sense of the word.”
Mary E., a market trader from Oshodi, stepped off a Sterling bus last Friday and captured the mood perfectly. “This is the first time a bank is not just advertising but acting,” she said, beaming. “I have saved on transfers all month because of OneBank. And today, I saved on my transport. Sterling ehn, dem sharp. Dem dey move.”
Across town, a young professional shared his own experience on LinkedIn: “Every naira matters o. I already saved money on bank transfers using OneBank. Today, Sterling saved me time, money, and stress after a brutal day at work. They just get it.
Another rider, Amaka I., a single mother and hairdresser from Ajah, described the free ride as “a blessing nobody told me was coming.” She added, “We Lagos people work so hard just to move. Today, I didn’t have to count Naira for my bus fare. That is dignity. That is respect.”
Chidimma Okoli emphasized that this initiative was never about fanfare, but about putting philosophy into action. “Financial systems have for too long extracted from Nigerians,” she said. “At Sterling, we are making a different choice. We are giving back, not just in naira and kobo, but in opportunities, in relief and in real dignity.” This initiative builds on Sterling’s history of standing with Nigerians during critical moments.
During the pandemic, Sterling was one of the first banks to support remote work transitions and provide digital lifelines to struggling SMEs. Through programs like AltSchool Africa and entrepreneur bootcamps, Sterling has opened new doors to skills development and affordable financing. After fuel subsidies were removed, the bank financed transport cooperatives to keep mobility alive for thousands who would otherwise have been stranded.
But according to Okoli, what matters now is not history, it’s momentum. “We’re not trying to relive past glories,” she said. “We’re building new victories, alongside the people who trust us every day with their journeys.”
Beneath the buses and smiling faces lies a deeper story of infrastructure strength. Sterling’s robust digital banking backbone, capable of handling over 180 million transactions and scaling rapidly, allows it to absorb costs that many banks would have pushed onto customers. It is this invisible engine that has further helped make visible change possible.
As the month of May approaches, the momentum will continue. Workers returning from the holidays can expect to find the free rides still running across locations, a daily reminder that real banking doesn’t just live in apps but also on the streets, in the choices that make hard lives a little easier.
Sterling is encouraging all riders to share their experiences online, turning thousands of quiet journeys into a loud statement that Nigeria deserves a financial system that carries its people forward, not holds them back. Because true banking is not about hoarding profit; it is about moving lives and moving freely.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the non-interest banks in Nigeria, The Alternative Bank (AltBank), has opened a new branch in Effurun, Delta State.
The new office will serve the Edo-Delta region and provide purposeful banking and real financial empowerment for individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses, a statement from the firm stated.
The lender disclosed that the Effurun branch is a bold move in its mission to reshape banking in Nigeria.
The launch was graced by key dignitaries, including the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso Abe I; the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government, Anthony O. Ofoni, represented his vice, Andrew Agagbo; and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State on Community Development, Mr Ernest Airoboyi; amongst others.
The Divisional Head for South at The Alternative Bank, Mr Chukwuemeka Agada, emphasised the institution’s commitment to Warri and its surrounding communities.
“By establishing a presence here, we are initiating a transformation in the way banking serves the people of Delta. Our purpose-driven approach ensures that customers’ financial goals are not just met but exceeded,” he stated.
“This branch represents our pledge to empower Warri’s dynamic businesses and families, providing them with the tools to grow without compromise,” Mr Agada added.
“We understand the heartbeat of this community, and we are excited to integrate our bank into the fabric of this dynamic region,” he stated further.
On his part, the representative of the Ovie, Mr Samuel Eshenake, challenged the bank to facilitate development and employment within the Effurun community.
The Regional Head for Edo/Delta at The Alternative Bank, Mr Akanni Owolabi, embraced this challenge, pledging that the bank will work sustainably to drive local commerce.
“At The Alternative Bank, we are committed to being an active partner in the development of Effurun. We see this branch as a catalyst for creating opportunities, driving employment, and supporting the growth of local businesses.
“Our mission is to empower this community, ensuring that every step forward is one of progress, prosperity, and shared success.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A partnership aimed to enable seamless, real-time and secure transactions for cardholders across Africa and the rest of the world has been entered into by Payattitude and PAPSSCARD, the card scheme initiative of the Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS).
The collaboration will allow Payattitude cards issued by banks and other deposit-taking institutions to be co-branded with PAPSSCARD, Discover, Diners and Pulse for acceptance across their networks in Nigeria, Africa and worldwide.
As an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and a key financial infrastructure supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the PAPSSCARD scheme will facilitate instant cross-border payments in local currencies.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to cross-enterprise alliances and enabling inclusive, efficient, and borderless payments across Africa and the world
“With Payattitude, Nigerian cardholders and financial institutions can now enjoy the benefits of a Nigerian card that can be used worldwide,” a director at Payattitude, Dr Agada Apochi, said.
The acting chief executive of PAPSSCARD, Mr John Bosco Sebabi, said the aim is “to connect African payment ecosystems, reduce the cost and inefficiencies of cross-border payments, and strengthen African sovereignty over payments infrastructure.
“Collaborating with Payattitude, a key innovator in Nigeria’s payment space, represents a significant step towards a more unified African payment landscape.”
The chief executive of PAPSS, Mr Mike Ogbalu, said, “By bringing together PAPSSCARD’s robust cross-border payment capabilities with Payattitude’s leadership in the Nigerian digital payments, we are taking tangible steps toward building a single African market where individuals and businesses can transact easily and securely, both within and beyond Africa.”
Payattitude is the first-in-kind Nigerian Payment Scheme to pioneer multibank App and USSD Code *569#.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its cash withdrawal rules, discontinuing the special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly, effective January 2026.
The new set of cash-related policies are designed to reduce the cost of cash management, strengthen security, and curb money laundering risks associated with the economy’s heavy reliance on physical currency.
This was contained in a circular released on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and signed by the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department of the central bank, Ms Rita I. Sike.
The apex bank explained that previous cash policies had been introduced over the years in response to evolving circumstances. However, with time, the need has arisen to streamline these provisions to reflect present-day realities.
“These policies, issued over the years in response to evolving circumstances in cash management, sought to reduce cash usage and encourage accelerated adoption of other payment options, particularly electronic payment channels. With the effluxion of time, the need has arisen to streamline the provisions of these policies to reflect present-day realities,” the CBN stated.
So, effective January 1, 2026, individuals will be allowed to withdraw up to N500,000 weekly across all channels, while corporate entities will be limited to N5 million.
Withdrawals above these thresholds will attract excess withdrawal fees of 3 per cent for individuals and 5 per cent for corporates, with the charges shared between the CBN and the financial institutions.
Daily withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) will be capped at N100,000 per customer, subject to a maximum of N500,000 weekly. These transactions will count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.
The special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly has been discontinued.
The CBN also confirmed that all currency denominations may now be loaded in ATMs, while the over-the-counter encashment limit for third-party cheques remains at N100,000. Such withdrawals will also form part of the weekly withdrawal limit.
Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) are required to submit monthly reports on cash withdrawals above the specified limits, as well as on cash deposits, to the relevant supervisory departments.
They must also create separate accounts to warehouse processing charges collected on excess withdrawals.
Revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, along with accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks with commercial and non-interest banks, are exempted from the new withdrawal limits and excess withdrawal fees.
However, exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have been withdrawn.
The apex bank clarified that the circular is without prejudice to the provisions of certain earlier directives but supersedes others, as detailed in its appendices.
This is the latest move by the apex bank to strengthen the Nigerian financial ecosystem. In October, the CBN issued a directive requiring all financial institutions to submit detailed monthly reports on the activities of their Point-of-Sale (POS) agents.
In the circular signed by the Director of the CBN’s Payments System Policy Department, Mr Musa Jimoh, it was stated that the reports must include comprehensive data on the nature, value, and volume of transactions conducted by agents.
The circular also stated that POS agents are restricted to a maximum of N1.2 million per day, while individual customers are limited to N100,000 in daily transactions.
CBN said these limits are intended to curb misuse, enhance financial integrity, and protect consumers within the agent banking framework.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn