Banking
UBA Cuts Interim Dividend to 17 Kobo as HY’20 Profit Drops 22%

By Dipo Olowookere
The much-awaited half-year results of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc for the period ended June 30, 2020, have been released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
The documents containing the financial status of the top Nigerian bank were released on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, a day after the company issued a statement that the results could be filed by month-end.
In the financial reports, the board of UBA recommended the payment of an interim dividend of 17 kobo for the period under review, 15 per cent or 3 kobo lower than the 20 kobo paid in the corresponding period of 2019.
From the brief analysis of the earnings done by Business Post, it was observed that the net profit of the lender went down by 22 per cent to N44.4 billion from N56.7 billion last year, while the pre-tax profit reduced to N57.1 billion from N70.3 billion, with the earnings per share (EPS) dropping to N1.24 from N1.62.
In the results, UBA said it had an interest income of N205.6 billion in the first six months of this year, higher than N204.9 billion recorded in the same period of last year. This slight growth was boosted by earnings from term loans and overdrafts despite a decline in revenue from bonds and treasury bills as a result of the low-yield environment.
However, the interest expense reduced to N86.3 billion from N94.8 billion in the first half of last year, while the net interest income rose to N119.3 billion from N110.1 billion.
The fees and commission income increased to N55.9 billion in the period under review from N52.3 billion just as the fees and commission expense jumped to N17.3 billion from N16.3 billion, with the net fee and commission income closing at N38.6 billion as at June 30, 2020, as against N36.1 billion as at June 30, 2019.
In the course of its business operations in the first six months of this year, UBA said it was involved in 846 legal cases, higher than 644 cases in the same period of 2019. It noted that the total amount claimed in the cases against the bank was estimated at N300.42 billion versus N472.04 billion in 2019.
During the period, investors traded a total of 3,523,723,566 units of UBA shares on the stock exchange, representing 10.3 per cent of the shares outstanding of the lender.
However, the share price reduced by 12.6 per cent in the period, closing at N6.25 per unit from N7.15 per unit as at December 31, 2019, reflecting the bearish performance of the local equity market, as signified by the about 8.8 per cent and about 21.0 per cent loss in the All Share Index (ASI) and the banking sector index respectively during the period ended June 30, 2020.
Banking
Verve Makes Contactless Cards Available to Customers

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Making payments for at malls, restaurants, petrol stations, and other places have now been made seamless by Verve through its contactless cards, which are now available to customers.
This payment method provides a safe, fast, and convenient way to handle everyday transactions.
Customers can enjoy this service by simply tapping their Verve cards on a contactless-enabled terminal, input their PIN, and complete the transaction without hassles.
This method eliminates unnecessary delays, making chance for a smoother and more efficient payment experience.
It is available for use on an extensive network of payment terminals throughout Nigeria, including contactless-enabled terminals such as those provided by Opay, Palmpay, Global Accelerex, Interswitch, Paystack, and even at FAAN Terminals around airports.
Verve said users have to first confirm that the payment terminal is contactless enabled and when this is done, the user has to hold the Verve Card over the terminal for a few seconds, and wait for confirmation, which may include a beep or a notification on the screen displaying the transaction total. After this is done, the PIN must be entered and the payment is completed.
The company disclosed that this technology was designed not only to save user’s time but also to elevate the payment experience, making it more efficient and enjoyable.
It also stated that a special attention was placed on security for secure financial transactions. The Verve card incorporates advanced security technologies to ensure that transactions remain safe and protected.
To enhance security further, after confirming the transaction amount, a customer will be required to enter the PIN, adding an extra layer of safety.
Banking
Access Bank Begins N194bn Commercial Paper Sales

By Dipo Olowookere
One of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Access Bank Plc, has commenced the sale of commercial paper worth N194 billion under its N400 billion commercial paper programme.
Access Bank, one of the subsidiaries of a financial services provider, Access Holdings Plc, currently trades its equities at the NASD OTC Securities Exchange, with its share price closing flat at N19.30 per unit on Thursday.
Subscription for the debt instrument began on Wednesday, March 20, 2025, and will close on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
The lender is offering the commercial paper for sale in two tenors; 180 days and 270 days, according to details of the exercise obtained by Business Post.
It is selling the six-month maturity at a discounted rate of 19.44 per cent and the nine-month tenor at 20.92 per cent. The minimum subscription is N5 million and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter.
Access Bank combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management and capital management capabilities.
The lender was the first deposit money bank (DMB) in the country to meet the N500 billion minimum capital requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks with international operations, with its share capital exceeding N600 billion.
The bank has been acquiring different financial institutions outside the country, including in South Africa, as part of its expansion drive.
It operates commercial banking services through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning three continents, 24 countries and over 60 million customers spread across Africa, Europe and Asia.
Banking
Fidelity Bank GAIM 6 Promo Produces 20 Additional Millionaires

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
No fewer than 20 fresh millionaires have emerged in the Fidelity Bank Plc Get Alert in Millions (GAIM) Season 6 promo.
They winners were picked at the second and third monthly draws of the financial institution held at its corporate headquarters in Lagos recently.
The events were monitored by the representatives of relevant regulatory bodies, including the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), Mrs Aboluwade Margaret; and the Principal Legal Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Oyinkan Kusamotu.
A statement from the lender disclosed that the 20 lucky winners were randomly selected through an electronic draw across Lagos, North, Abuja, South-West, South-South, and South-East zones and would be rewarded with N1 million each.
The Fidelity Bank GAIM campaign was launched in November 2024 and about N19.75 million has been won by 869 customers across different categories.
The GAIM 6 campaign, which will run until August 2025, is set to reward lucky customers with a total of N159 million.
Speaking at the draws, the promo Chairperson and Executive Director for Lagos and South-West, Fidelity Bank, Dr Ken Opara, noted that the GAIM 6 promo was designed to reward customers’ loyalty, encourage a savings culture, and promote financial inclusion across the country.
Dr Opara, represented by the Regional Bank Head for Ikoyi, Chetachi Okechukwu, said, “Fidelity Bank is dedicated to the financial well-being of our customers and this commitment inspired the launch of the GAIM Promo, designed to cultivate a strong culture of savings.
“Through this promo, customers have the chance to win substantial cash prizes up to N10 million by saving and transacting with their Fidelity Bank Savings accounts.
“In addition to the monetary rewards, winners will receive complimentary financial advisory services to secure and grow their wealth for the future.”
Fidelity Bank, ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
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