Business
Access Bank: Soaring Beyond Borders as Africa’s Leading Brand
When you think of resilience, innovation, and transformation in Africa’s financial services sector, one name that resonates and continues to shine above the rest is Access Bank Plc.
For the fourth consecutive year, it has been crowned, once again, as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand in the “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking by Brand Finance, the world’s foremost brand valuation consultancy.
This ranking, backed by a detailed research study from the Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA), affirms Access Bank’s monumental impact across Nigeria, Africa, and key global markets.
Access Bank’s ascension to the top isn’t by a fluke — it’s as a result of strategic clarity, customer trust, and a corporate vision centered on sustainable growth and inclusive finance. The NOMA-backed research underscores that the bank’s brand equity is a direct reflection of customer satisfaction, digital transformation, and regional impact.
From Lagos to London, Nairobi to Paris, Access Bank is redefining African banking. Operating in 23 countries, with over 60 million customers, and 700+ branches and service outlets, the Bank is not only scaling—it is setting new frontiers in global banking standards.
According to Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, emphasized that “This recognition as Nigeria’s most valuable brand for the fourth year running is a testament to the strength of our people, our customers’ trust, and the strategic clarity that drives everything we do.
“At Access Bank, we remain committed to delivering value through innovation, financial inclusion, and impactful partnerships across Africa and beyond.”
In a time when Nigeria’s economy faces headwinds, the banking sector has emerged as a pillar of strength. Also, according to Brand Finance, banks now account for 59% of the total brand value in the “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking—signaling public trust and the sector’s expanding influence.
Babatunde Odumeru, Managing Director of Brand Finance Nigeria, noted: “Nigerian banking brands continue to grow, successfully navigating a challenging economic landscape with strategic agility while also maintaining customer loyalty.”
Beyond the data lies the heartbeat of Access Bank’s success—its customers. Across urban centers and rural communities, individuals and businesses are experiencing the bank’s transformative touch.
A known fashion entrepreneur in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, South West Nigeria, Mrs. Kemi Olawale, said of the bank: “Access Bank believed in my business when no one else did. Their digital banking tools make it easy to manage my finances and reach global clients from my living room.”
To Umar Yusuf, a Youth Tech Developer in Kano, in his reflection of the bank, observed: “Through Access Bank’s innovation hub support and SME financing, I was able to scale my coding startup and employ five other youths. That’s real impact.”
In her reverend compliments, Mrs. Ngozi Eze, a retiree in Enugu, added: “I feel safe and respected with Access Bank. Their customer service is a top-notch, and I love ingenuity making financial literacy part of their service.”
To Mr. Femi Dare, a logistics operator in Lagos, “The bank’s flexible business loans helped me expand my fleet. What I love most is how they combine tech with the human touch,” just as Mrs. Fatima Mohammed, a teacher in Minna, remarked, “Their school savings initiative helped our students’ parents stay on track. I see Access Bank as more than a bank—they’re partners in education.”
Mr. Chijioke Onyekachi, a diaspora returnee in Abuja, adds: “Coming back to Nigeria, I needed a bank I could trust. Access bank made the transition seamless and safe. Their cross-border services are world-class.”
Under the evolving leadership of Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group CEO of Access Holdings PLC, the bank is setting its sights even higher.
She noted that “Access Bank’s brand leadership reflects the Group’s long-term vision of becoming the world’s most respected African financial institution. As we continue to evolve and expand our footprint, we are focused on delivering sustainable growth, deepening stakeholder trust, and enhancing the customer experience across all our markets.”
Access Bank’s consistent top-ranking performance stems from its:
• Commitment to financial inclusion and digital transformation
• Investment in youth empowerment, SMEs, and innovation
• Focus on green finance and sustainability
• Strategic expansion into key international markets
As Access Bank celebrates yet another milestone, its journey serves as a beacon for other African institutions aspiring to global relevance to emulate. More than a financial brand, Access Bank represents a movement—one rooted in trust, innovation, and human progress.
With strategic leadership, a loyal customer base, and a relentless drive for excellence, Access Bank isn’t just Nigeria’s most valuable brand—it’s Africa’s flagship of financial ingenuity.
Special Report by Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA), a coalition of reputable digital news platforms and independent journalists committed to promoting factual, data-driven reporting and media transparency. NOMA conducts in-depth research, monitors brand performance, and amplifies stories that shape national conversations.
Their investigative insights and media audits are widely respected across corporate, civil, and governmental sectors, positioning NOMA as a trusted authority on brand perception and public engagement in Nigeria’s digital space.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the launch of the Verve Flash Promo, a special initiative rewarding customers with free Verve cards.
The campaign, which commenced on 6 October 2025, and will run until 30 January 2026, is exclusively targeted at FirstBank customers whose ATM cards have expired.
The free cards will be issued daily to 131 customers on a first-come, first-served basis across the Bank’s branches, nationwide. FirstBank’s unwavering commitment to convenience, accessibility, and customer satisfaction.
Speaking on the rewards to FirstBank customers, Chuma Ezirim, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, said: “The Verve Flash Promo is not just about rewarding customers with free verve debit cards; it is about celebrating our legacy of 131 years of trust, resilience, and innovation in the Nigerian financial services industry. At FirstBank, we remain committed to providing customer-centric solutions that enable secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences. Partnering with Verve International on these initiatives, including the Verve Good Life promo, underscores our shared vision of deepening financial inclusion while rewarding our loyal customers for their continuous patronage.”
Also commenting, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve International, noted:
“Through strategic collaborations like this with FirstBank, we continue to demonstrate Verve’s commitment to enhancing access to seamless payment solutions for every Nigerian. The Verve Flash Promo not only rewards loyal customers but also reinforces our vision of making everyday transactions more rewarding, secure, and convenient. As we extend the Good Life Promo, we remain steadfast in our goal of deepening financial inclusion while delivering real value to Verve cardholders across the country.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing Verve Good Life promo, designed to reward Verve debit card holders for using their cards at specific merchant points, has been extended to 30 November 2025.
During the period, Verve Card holders enjoy 10% cashback at The Place Restaurant, Quickteller, Buypower, Filmhouse, AlliExpress, Addide Supermarkets, and Chowdeck app every Thursday to Sunday.
Verve cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback on the Google Play Store any day of the week throughout the Good Life Promo, which runs until 30 November 2025. Moreso, every transaction made with a Verve card whether on ATMs, POS terminals, or online platforms automatically earns customers a chance to win up to ₦1,000,000.
Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Globacom, has announced enhancement of its data bundles to give subscribers more data volume at the same affordable prices.
The upgrade reinforces the company’s commitment to providing superior value and exceptional customer satisfaction.
The upgraded Glo Data Bundles are enhanced versions of the existing daily, weekly, and monthly plans, giving subscribers more data at no additional cost.
These improvements offer users greater freedom and convenience to enjoy their favourite online activities from streaming and gaming to social media, video calls, and more.
For daily users, the ₦100 plan has been upgraded from 105MB to 125MB, giving light internet users even more data to browse, chat, and stream short videos conveniently.
The weekly bundles have also received notable boosts, such as the ₦1,500 plan, which now offers 6GB instead of 5.9GB, enabling subscribers to stay connected longer.
Heavy data consumers will also enjoy remarkable value on the monthly plans. The ₦2,000 bundle now gives 6.25GB, while the ₦10,000 package has been enhanced from 38GB to 42GB, allowing users to do more from video streaming and large file downloads to remote work and virtual meetings.
Students are not left out, as the Campus Booster Plan has been upgraded with higher data allowances, ensuring seamless access to academic resources and social networks while on campus.
Globacom noted that the revised bundles are available to all Glo customers prepaid, postpaid, and hybrid and can be activated by dialing *312#, using the Glo Café app (available on Android and iOS), or visiting hsi.glo.com.
The company added that subscribers can use, share, or gift data through *312# or the Glo Café app. Customers will also continue to receive data usage alerts at 75% and 100% consumption levels to help monitor usage effectively.
Unused data is automatically rolled over upon renewal before expiry or when a new plan is purchased within the grace period (ranging from one to seven days, depending on the plan).
Globacom reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerians with reliable and affordable data access, urging customers to take advantage of the revised data bundles that combine affordability, quality, and more browsing power ensuring every Glo subscriber enjoys more data without paying more.
Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.
The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services
The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.
The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.
“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”
Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.
