Stephen Ubanna
Kingsley Uzoka, managing Director, United Bank For Africa,plc, a pan frican African and his management Team are never tired of initiating good ideas to meet the demand of millions of its individual and Custorate Organisation Customers within Nigeria and 20 other African countries including those in in the industrialised nations of France, Britain and the United states.
Given the automation of banking operations , the world over, Uzoka, was said to have master-minded the bank huge investment in technology that had put it ahead of its Competitors.
This is evident going by the continuous launching of different products between last year and now, ostensibly to sustain its old Customers and win new ones as well as assist the Customers to conduct their business transactions both within and outside the country with ease.
As a prelude to meeting the need of Customers the bank had started with the launching of the africash in the recent time . This was quickly followed with the launching of the UBA Connect last July which encourages Customers of the bank to conduct their transactions at any branch within the 20 African countries where it had established presence . The product, according to a Statement by the Bank would facilitate intra-African trade as cash withdrawals can be done in the local currencies within the African Continent . Deposits could also be made in any branch of the bank no matter where the account was domiciled within the Continent.
That much for businessmen and Corporate Organisations involved in importation of raw materials and finished goods from any part of the 20 African countries who are currently enjoying the good services of the pan African bank.
Aware that the younger generation also needs to be encouraged on the use of banking services, to carry out all their transactions, the pan-African bank was said to have revamped its NextGen account. The product, according to the bank sources is targeted at students in tertiary institutions and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. The revamped NextGen Account, the source said has ad new added features and benefits.
An insider described the ‘NextGen as a ‘suit of personal accounts designed to meet the needs of young persons, grooming and growing with them from teenage years to adulthood’.
According to the source, the bank would take up the additional role of mentorship of these young ones and assist them with tips towards guiding their future. The added benefits, he further said is the premium services that would be conferred on the young account holders.
The good news was that the UBA, Next Gen Account, would operate both within Nigeria and the 20 other African countries, where the bank has branches in order to encourage active savings among young people and teach them to manage their money effectively while enjoying world-class services that suite their lifestyles.
Jude Anele, the UBA Group Head, Retail Banking, said the importance of inculcating in the young people the culture of saving and being finance-wise cannot be overemphasized, stressing the importance the bank attached to the account.
“The NextGen Account is our way of putting students in charge of their money so that they can do more, especially at this critical stage of their lives with an account that comes free of fees,”. He had said.
An elated Anele, said the newly revamped NextGen Account has somewhat openeds the eye of many students and NYSC members up to the several benefits and opportunities, including multiple digital channels that makes ‘banking just another fun thing to do on their mobile phones,”.
Perhaps, to encourage the NextGen Account holders to maintain and sustain it, the bank was said to have lined up other benefits such as winning pocket money , complimentary invitation to the bank prime events as well as enjoy zero charge on all transactions.
Dupe Olusola, the bank Group Head, Marketing who could not hide her feelings over the revamped Next Gen Account to serve the needs of younger persons, disclosed that the bank will partner with DRBLasGidi, a three-member group to ignite the interest of young people in the offering.
The bank may have agreed to to partner with “DRB LasGidi, because of its established records as culture shapers, pioneering the popular Alté (meaning alternative movement, which promotes self-confidence and encourages young people to embrace their individuality.
“As the face of the Alté subculture in Nigeria, DRB LasGidi is a perfect representation of the NextGen lifestyle of self-confidence and uniqueness,” Olusola had said.
Bolaji Ojodukan, popular, as BOJ, who spoke on behalf of DRB LasGidi, expressed excitement at the partnership. “Like most young people today, we were just being ourselves. But now, we have a movement and now our own bank; the Alté Bank of Africa,” BOJ remarked.
Beyond launching new products to cater for the need of Customers at every point in time, the bank also has a way of rewarding loyal Customers annually. Recall that in 2019, it had launched the Wise Savers Draw, which made 80 Customers instant millionaires.
This year, it has started with the Bumper Account Promo, where about 100 Customers who would participate in the Draws are sure to go home with mouth- watery sum N100,000.00 each, being the value of the prize award. The first set of winners were said to have emerged in the first Draw conducted last month. In fulfillment of its promises, the winners were said to have been given a UBA cheque of N100, 000.00 each, ‘what a good way to start the new year, remarked one of the winners’.
The successful Customers who were cited at the Bank Head office, Marina, by the Value News, were beaming with smiles and full of appreciation to Uzoka and his Management team for the gesture, promising to remain good Customers of the bank.
It is not surprising why UBA, has been described as the ‘’people’s bank’’ as it cares for Customers welfare.This is where the Management of the major Competitors of the bank like of First Bank, Zenith, Access, and Guarantee Trust Bank, popular, GTB, may have to sit up to be able match the technological speed of the pan African bank.
It is not surprising why UBA, has been described as the ‘’people’s bank’’ as it cares for Customers welfare.This is where the Management of the major Competitors of the bank like of First Bank, Zenith, Access, and Guarantee Trust Bank, popular, GTB, may have to sit up to be able match the technological speed of the pan African bank.
