Business
Fidelity Bank Empowers Small Business Owners for Growth
Fidelity Bank has again reiterated its unrelenting commitment to enrich the lives of its customers by rewarding winners in it’s Get Alert in Millions Season 5 (GAIM 5) campaign.
At prize presentation ceremonies at the bank’s head office in Lagos and several branches across the country, the bank formally rewarded the 10 lucky customers who emerged winners in the December 2021 monthly draw with the sum of N1 million each.
Presenting the cheques to the lucky customers at the head office, Ken Opara, the promo Chairman and Executive Director in charge of the Lagos and South West Directorate took his time to educate winners on the importance of sustaining wealth
He said, “A million Naira can be either big or small, depending on how well or poor it is put to use. As a proud SME bank, we are fortunate to be a part of the growth journeys of several businesses which started with a token and it’s a delight to see how prosperous they have become. We encourage all the lucky winners to be prudent with the spending, invest in their businesses and they will be on their way to financial prosperity”.
As a bank, we are unwavering in our commitment to enhancing the welfare of our customers. We support our customers in becoming and remaining millionaires. This is very important to us, and I might say that we have competent people here and at various locations to guide you,” he added.
Receiving his cheque with utmost delight, Chikwem Isaac, one of the lucky winners, expressed his delight and plans to expand his business. He said, “I am extremely grateful to Fidelity Bank for this pleasant surprise. Although I opened the account a while back, I recently became an active user and I am grateful for the reward that came with it. This fund came at the right time as there has been brewing plans to expand my wife and I’s business. I can be sure that this time next year, our business will become one of which will be from grass to grace. A big thanks again to Fidelity Bank and I encourage as many people to take advantage of this savings promo campaign.”
The GAIM 5 promo is a savings campaign run by Fidelity Bank as part of its efforts to drive financial inclusion in the country. Qualification requirements for participation in the campaign include opening or maintaining a savings account with at least N2,000 to qualify for the weekly consolation draw of N10,000. Maintaining a savings account with at least N4,000 and activating their debit card qualifies customers for the monthly draw for a chance to win N1,000,000 and for the grand draw, maintaining a savings account with a minimum of N20,000 and activating a debit card would qualify customers for the opportunity to win the star prize of N10,000,000 or N5,000,000 and N2,000,000 for the first and second runners up respectively.
Since the inception of the GAIM 5 campaign in November 2021, Fidelity Bank has rewarded over 200 customers with N10, 000 each in weekly draws with a total of N125million in cash prizes to be won by the end of the campaign in July 2022. Overall, it is on record that the bank has given out over N4.1 billion in rewards to more than 10,000 customers.
The prize presentation ceremony was loaded with exciting activities for customers and was attended by regulatory bodies including the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission.
Access Bank has been named Bank of the Year 2025 – Nigeria at the prestigious Banker Awards ceremony held in London on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Organised annually by The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times Group, the awards celebrate the best-performing financial institutions across more than 120 countries, recognising excellence in innovation, financial performance, operational resilience, and industry leadership.
The announcement was made during a high-profile gala at the Peninsula Hotel in London, where leading global banks gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in the international financial services sector. Access Bank emerged as the sole winner for Nigeria, reflecting the Bank’s exceptional performance, disciplined execution of strategy, and continued commitment to delivering world-class banking experiences.
Speaking on the recognition, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank, said: “This award reflects the remarkable dedication of our people and the trust of our customers. Being recognised as Bank of the Year 2025 – Nigeria is a strong validation of our strategy to build a globally connected, digitally powered, and sustainably driven banking institution.
We remain committed to delivering exceptional value across all our markets while contributing meaningfully to Africa’s economic advancement.”
Access Bank has continued to solidify its position as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking financial institutions, driven by innovation, customer-centricity, and strong corporate governance. The Bank’s strategic investments across digital transformation, trade finance, financial inclusion, and sustainable banking have positioned it as a leading force shaping Africa’s financial future.
These initiatives, coupled with its disciplined approach to growth and operational excellence, continue to set Access Bank apart within the continent’s rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Each year, The Banker undertakes a rigorous, five-month evaluation process involving more than 1,000 applications submitted by banks worldwide. Only one bank is selected per country, underscoring the exclusivity and prestige of the award. Access Bank’s victory therefore represents not only a recognition of its achievements over the past year but also a reaffirmation of its long-term commitment to driving innovation, supporting customers, and enabling a more connected African and global economy.
With operations spanning three continents and a customer base of more than 60 million, Access Bank continues to demonstrate its capability and ambition to shape the future of banking in Africa and contribute meaningfully to global financial progress.
About Access Bank
Access Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning 3 continents, 24 countries and over 60 million customers. The Bank employs over 28,000 people in its operations in Africa Asia and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the UAE.
Access Bank is a diversified financial institution which combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management, and capital management capabilities.
The Bank services its various markets through three key business segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Retail Banking. The Bank has enjoyed what is Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last 20 years, becoming one of the continent’s largest retail banks. As part of its continued growth strategy,
Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased cash withdrawal limits on all channels to N500,000 weekly for individuals and N5 million for corporates.
Announcing the policy revision in a circular on Tuesday, the regulator pegged automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawals at N100,000 daily, with a weekly cumulative withdrawal of N500,000.
Fidelity Bank Plc has received the Straight-Through Processing (STP) Excellence Award from Citigroup in recognition of its outstanding operational efficiency in foreign currency payments in 2024.
STP refers to transactions processed accurately and without human intervention, resulting in a cost-effective and timely process. Fidelity Bank, which has consistently earned this award over the years, achieved an impressive 97%+ STP rate in concluding USD payments in the awarding period.
Citigroup, a leading global bank headquartered in New York and present in more than 160 countries, annually honors select banks and financial institutions that demonstrate the highest levels of efficiency in foreign currency transactions.
Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, attributed the achievement to customer trust and the team’s dedication.
“This award reflects the quality of initiatives we have implemented to simplify cross-border payments for our customers. It affirms our commitment to delivering cutting-edge services in servicing our valued customers,” said Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe.
The recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for Fidelity Bank especially in deploying innovative services and products in meeting customer needs. These include an award from the Nigeria Customs Service for being the first bank to successfully process Customs Duty and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS). The bank also won Most Innovative Bank of the Year and Best Bank for Export and Trade Finance at the 2025 BusinessDay Bank and Other Financial Institutions’ (BAFI) Awards.
“We are delighted by this recognition and remain committed to providing seamless, value-adding services to our customers as we pursue our mandate to help individuals grow, support businesses to thrive and propel economies to prosper,” added Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe.
