By Adedapo Adesanya

Sterling Bank has partnered with global cross-border payments infrastructure company, Thunes, to enable easier international money transfers for Nigerians living abroad.

In a statement, Thunes said this alliance ultimately ushers in a new standard for cross-border payments, empowering Nigerians abroad with a quicker and simpler method of sending funds home.

Remittances have become a regular with an estimated 17 million Nigerians living and working abroad allowing billions trickling from diaspora into Nigeria with available data showing that the Nigerian diaspora remitted over $20 billion in 2024, an increase of 9 per cent on 2023.

Thunes and Sterling Bank believe that demand for fast, transparent and dependable financial connections to home has never been greater.

“This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Thunes and Sterling Bank to financial inclusion, and community empowerment, helping people improve financial oversight while spending more effectively. It also supports Thunes’ mission to onboard the next billion end users in emerging markets into the global economy,” they said in a statement.

By leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, Sterling Bank is rolling out this enhanced capability across multiple European markets, giving customers abroad a more consistent way to support their families and manage finances. Via the partnership, new and existing Sterling Bank account holders can now enjoy seamless, instant payments across borders.

“Together, we’re enabling a new level of convenience, speed, and confidence for customers managing finances across borders,” said Mr Daniel Parreira, Senior Vice President of Sales – Africa at Thunes, adding that, “ This alliance demonstrates our ongoing dedication to making global money movement instant, transparent, and accessible for all.”

On his part, Mr Ayodeji Saba, Head, Switch & Remittances at Sterling Bank, said “With Thunes’ trusted technology, we’re giving our customers a faster, more reliable, and more affordable way to fund their Sterling Bank accounts from their foreign bank accounts. It’s a major step forward in improving the experience for our diaspora community.”

The move is coming three years after Thune’s deal with Access Bank in 2023 to facilitate cross-border payments across its African subsidiaries.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Some food items and essential supplies have been given to children living with disabilities at the Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan, Oyo State by Fidelity Bank Plc.

The donation was made by the financial institution under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).

The gesture was in the spirit of the festive season to reaffirm the bank’s commitment to inclusive community support through a charitable outreach.

With this, Fidelity Bank continues to strengthen its legacy of community support, inclusion, and shared progress—demonstrating that impactful giving remains at the heart of its corporate culture.

Items donated included foodstuffs, toiletries and other essential supplies intended to ease the home’s operating costs during the festive season and beyond.

Receiving the items on behalf of the home, Caregiver and a senior representative for the organisation, Mr Jimoh Taiwo, expressed deep appreciation for the gesture while calling on Nigerians and organisations to emulate such acts of kindness.

“We sincerely appreciate Fidelity Bank for this gesture. It means a lot to the children and to the home.

“We want other stakeholders to support us like Fidelity Bank has done. Well-meaning individuals and organisations should emulate this gesture by putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged during this period,” he said.

At the presentation of the supplies, the Divisional Head for Brand and Communications Division at the lender, Mr Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized that the exercise was not just an act of seasonal giving but part of the bank’s broader mission to advance social inclusion and welfare.

“Under the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, our staff-led CSR initiative, we empower our employees to participate in community development projects; and one of such projects is our donation here today to the home.

“This home caters to children with special needs who are some of the most deprived members of our society and we just want to contribute our quota towards their welfare,” Mr Nwagboh said, explaining that the outreach which was spearheaded by the Visionary Team of newly inducted employees, forms a key component of Fidelity Bank’s onboarding programme. Through this platform, new staff are introduced to the bank’s CSR values and immediately tasked with identifying and executing impactful community projects.

“At Fidelity Bank, our CSR pillars are education, health, social welfare, the environment, and youth empowerment; and we ensure every new staff member is grounded in these principles. The Visionary Team has done an excellent job by showing that beyond banking, we owe society a duty of care,” he stated.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Bondholders who validly tendered their notes ahead of the February 2026 maturity date have been fully repaid by Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

The company issued a $300 million Eurobond with an original maturity date of February 16, 2026.

The notes were originally issued by EBN Finance Company B.V., with limited recourse to the issuer, for the sole purpose of financing the purchase of the $300 million 7.125 per cent Senior Note due 2026 issued by Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

But on November 27, 2025, Ecobank Nigeria launched a tender offer to eligible noteholders in respect of the outstanding $150 million on the bond, providing them with an opportunity to redeem their holdings ahead of maturity.

The early and late tender participation deadlines were December 11, 2025, and December 29, 2025, respectively.

Business Post reports that investors responded positively, with about $245 million of the $300 million Eurobond, representing more than 80 per cent of the total issuance, fully repaid.

It was learned that holders of notes validly tendered and accepted, received a cash consideration of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount, in addition to accrued interest from the last interest payment date up to, but excluding, the final settlement date of December 31, 2025.

Following completion of the offer, the outstanding principal amount of the notes has been reduced to approximately $55.092 million, reflecting the lender’s proactive approach to liability management and prudent balance sheet optimisation.

The tender offer was conducted with Renaissance Capital Africa (Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited) acting as financial adviser and dealer manager, while Sodali & Co Limited served as tender agent.