Business
DiamondXtra Season 15: Access Bank Set to Reward Customers with N135m
Access Bank, a leading financial institution, has announced it would reward customers N135 million in cash prizes to over 800 lucky customers in its season15 DiamondXtra campaign.
The bank also noted that in 15 years it had rewarded over 26,000 customers customers with N 6.38 billion.
The bank also emphasized that its commitment to encouraging savings and rewarding loyal customers remains unwavering, with this year’s goal aimed at reaching an even larger number of customers compared to previous years.
Speaking at the launch of DiamondXtra season 15, the Group, Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, Njideka Esomeju said: “DiamondXtra is one of the best things that has ever happened to banking in Nigeria, and it has transformed the lives of Nigerians who have been patronizing this special savings and reward scheme by Access Bank since 2008.”
“Since inception of the rewarding scheme, we have rewarded over 26,000 customers to the tune of over N6.38 billion and today we are here to launch the 15th season and the bank will be rewarding over 800 lucky customers with a total sum N135m.”
She added that this year’s promo would see winners emerge from different categories of rewards namely, Loyalty rewards, Regional Draws, Regional Onsite Draws, Free Digital Marketing Training and Digital Cluster Draws.
Also, she reiterated that just as the previous years in order to ensure transparency and accountability of the reward scheme, regulators from National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission are in place who monitor all the draws to ensure transparency.
Furthermore, on his part, the Regional Sales Director, Lagos Directorate Retail Bank South, Bolarinwa Animashaun echoed the process of transparency and due diligence of the draw over the years.
He said: “The process has always been transparent and that’s why through the 15 seasons, we have been working with the National Lottery Commission and the federal consumer protection agency, so it’s quite transparent. So, everyone that benefits from it, they have also revived the process.”
Also speaking at the launch, the Head of Federal Competition And Consumer Protection Commision in Lagos, Suzy Onwuka said: “I want to commend Access Bank because this is a flagship product for them and we have been monitoring it over the years. It has been transparent and over the past seasons we have not had any complaints from anyone who has won something. The commission ensures that this program is registered and also ensures that terms and conditions are favorable to the consumers as well as ensure it is adhered to.
She added: “At a time like this, we must also commend them for putting a smile on consumers’ faces.”
To join the winning train and stand a chance to win in the DiamondXra season 15, simply walk into any access Bank branch close to you or dial *901*5# , follow the prompt and deposit a minimum of N5,000. Remember, the more multiples of N5000 you save, the more you stand a high chance of winning millions in the draws.
To refresh our minds about the DiamodXtra account, it is an interest yielding hybrid account which is opened with a minimum of N5,000 and allows deposit of both cash and third-party cheques not more than N2m. Hybrid means a combination of both savings and current account features.
The DiamondXtra Season 15 campaign will also be launched officially in Abeokuta, Portharcourt, Kano, and Enugu States.
Sterling Bank, on Wednesday, announced the removal of account maintenance fees on all personal accounts, describing the decision as a “gift” to Nigerians in celebration of the country’s 65th Independence Day.
The decision, which follows the abolition of transfer fees on local online transactions in April 2025, was outlined in a statement shared by the bank. The bank said the policy would allow customers to keep more of their earnings, framing it as a step toward financial freedom.
“Every fee we remove is one less barrier between our customers and true financial freedom. This was the rationale behind eliminating transfer fees in April, and it is the same principle we uphold as we eliminate account maintenance fees,” Sterling Bank’s Managing Director, Abubakar Suleiman, said.
The statement highlighted that in 2024 alone, tier-1 banks in Nigeria earned over ₦650 billion from account maintenance and e-banking charges. “This decision cuts at the heart of a revenue model that has long cost Nigerian customers dearly,” the bank noted.
Obinna Ukachukwu, Sterling’s Growth Executive for Consumer and Business Banking, said the initiative was intended to strengthen long-term relationships with customers. “This initiative is about building lasting relationships that fuel sustainable growth. We put transparency and customer value first, and in doing so, we are building a foundation that serves both our customers and Sterling’s future,” he said.
Sterling Bank also framed the removal of fees as part of a broader strategy to make banking more inclusive and customer-focused. The April 2025 transfer fee abolition had already eliminated charges on all local online transactions, easing costs for individuals and small businesses. At the time, Ukachukwu described the move as a values-driven decision aimed at ensuring fair access to money.
“Access to your own money shouldn’t come with a penalty. This is more than a financial decision—it’s about redefining banking to put customers first,” Ukachukwu said.
The latest move aligns with Sterling’s positioning as a bank committed to transparency, customer value, and digital innovation, and it signals a continued effort to reshape banking practices in Nigeria.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc has reported a profit before tax of N600.9 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2025.
The figure is contained in the company’s audited consolidated and separate financial statements, which were released to the Nigerian Exchange Group and the London Stock Exchange.
The group stated that the performance was driven by growth in core earnings lines, including interest income and fee income, which rose year-on-year by 31.5% and 33.0%, respectively.
It explained that the growth helped to cushion the absence of N493.01 billion in fair value gains recorded in 2024, resulting in a 40 per cent decline.
GTCO stated that its total assets stood at N16.7 trillion, while shareholders’ funds totaled N3.0 trillion during the review period.
It added that its balance sheet remained strong, diversified, and de-risked across operating jurisdictions, as well as its payments, pension, and funds management businesses.
The group disclosed that its Capital Adequacy Ratio closed at 36.2 per cent, while asset quality improved with IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans declining to 3.2 per cent.
At the group level, Stage 3 loans stood at 4.5 per cent, compared with 5.2 per cent in December 2024.
Similarly, the cost of risk improved to 1.7 per cent from 4.9 per cent recorded in December 2024.
The company stated that its net loan book increased by 20.5 per cent, from N2.79 trillion in December 2024 to N3.36 trillion in June 2025.
Deposit liabilities also increased by 16.6 per cent from N10.40 trillion to N12.13 trillion during the same period.
The board of GTCO approved an interim dividend of N1.00 per share for the half year ended June 30, 2025.
Commenting on the results, Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer, said the half-year performance reflected business strength and progress towards building a diversified financial services ecosystem.
He said beyond last year’s extraordinary one-off gains, the group was now driving sustainable growth with recurring earnings that demonstrated the resilience and scalability of its model.
Mr Agbaje noted that continued investment in technology, particularly in core banking upgrades, was delivering stronger uptime, efficiency, and greater capacity to scale with a growing customer base.
He added that across banking, funds management, pension, and payments, GTCO was leveraging a de-risked balance sheet to reinforce its market position while maintaining strategic flexibility. According to him, this foundation positions the group to seize emerging opportunities and deliver lasting value for all stakeholders.
Mr Agbaje stressed that GTCO had continued to post some of the best metrics in Nigeria’s financial services industry in terms of key financial ratios. He said the group recorded Pre-Tax Return on Equity of 60.4 per cent, Pre-Tax Return on Assets of 10.6 per cent, Capital Adequacy Ratio of 36.2 per cent, and Cost-to-Income ratio of 30.1 per cent.
NAN
In line with its commitments of promoting sports and developmental initiatives at all levels, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is partnering the organizers of the first of its kind E1 Lagos GP an all-electric powerboat racing championship, set to hold between the 3rd and 5th of October 2025.
Disclosing this at the E1 Lagos GP Stakeholder Immersion session in Lagos recently, Olayinka Ijabiyi, the Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication of FirstBank, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives that engender human development across the country while cementing legacies.
“Our involvement in the E1 Lagos GP is about driving legacy and enabling the passions and aspirations that unite Nigerians. We are a bank that has been in business for over 131 years and we recognize that sports drives us as a country, which is why through our First@Sports initiative, we continue to invest in platforms that inspire and elevate our people. We have been supporting legacy sport tournaments like the Georgian Polo Cup which we have hosted for 105 years, and the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship for 64 years now,” Ijabiyi said.
With the event slated for the start of the fourth quarter, FirstBank is aligning its partnership with the annual DecemberIssaVybe initiative, a campaign that celebrates the vibrant spirit of Nigerians during the festive season by curating unforgettable experiences that blend culture, entertainment and lifestyle. “FirstBank is deeply woven into the fabric of society and the lives of our customers. As presenting partner, we are creating meaningful touchpoints with customers and prospects, offering them a world-class experience of relaxation and celebration that captures the true essence of Lagos during the festive season,” he added.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who was also at the event, described the initiative as an event that will grow not just the sports but also showcase Lagos’s vibrant culture, dynamic people, and global relevance, while commending FirstBank for their support.
The teams owned by notable stars like Tom Brady, LeBron James, Didier Drogba, Will Smith, Marc Anthony, Steve Aoki, Rafael Nadal will compete in the Lagos leg before the 2025 season of the competition terminates in Miami in the United States.
