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Life’s a Lot More Easier with FirstBank Cards

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By Eric Elezuo

Like the dynamite, few things in life come in small in packages, but have far reaching benefits and rewards. One of such is the FirstBank range of cards.

The world as we know it today, is a global village, and its connectivity is a at tip of an individual’s finger. That aside, it also revolves round the use of ‘ordinary’ but highly customised cards which FirstBank is first in providing.

For 125 years and counting, FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier bank, with accolades and awards trailing its existence, has continued to blaze the trail in certainly every financial innovation. And as the name signifies, has continued to be the first in virtually everything banking and finance. There is hardly any banking innovation, which is not traced to the company that has overtime woven itself into the very fabric of the society.

FirstBank cards come in a wide range of categories, each fulfilling tasks that are better imagined, but nevertheless are flexible and offers comfort, stressless banking and wholesome peace of mind. It is not therefore, a coincidence that FirstBank is and remains Nigeria’s highest card transacting bank; it is a product of carefully thought out process, hard work and the need to keep its customers first in all things.

The range of cards available to FirstBank include Naira Master Card, Visa Gold and not forgetting Visa Multi-Currency Card.

Otherwise known as NMC, FirstBank’s NAIRA MASTER CARD (NMC) is a class on its own. it comes with automatic increased limits for international transactions in a such a way that customers are at liberty to spend up to $5000 monthly across all channels with a daily ATM cash withdrawal limit of $300. It’s surely a great deal! One wonderful thing about the NMC is there is absolutely no need for BTA/PTA, Business Travelling Allowance and Personal Travelling Allowance respectively.

To enjoy absolute seamless transactions with NMC, customers should endeavour to:

  • Change their PIN before travelling out of the country to avoid transaction failures/invalid card.
  • Not to swipe their cards on any terminal, rather, should insert card and use their PIN
  • Tap with their Naira MasterCard contactless cards to make payments for their transport fares if in the UK.

Other mouth watering offers the NMC provides involves access to seamless airline bookings, especially with Emirates Airlines. The service quick, secure and convenient.

It also offers the Protect Card Transactions feature, which can be activated or deactivated for all types of transaction. This is done by using the Card-in-Control Service on Firstmobile or the USSD option. To achieve this, the customer can only take these few and quick steps below:

Firstmobile: Go to Self Service – Card service and choose card type (debit, credit, or prepaid) to be activated or deactivated.

USSD: Dial *894# – Quick banking – Card management. Customer selects card and appropriate channels to activate or deactivate.

Generally, FirstBank Naira MasterCard is a chip and PIN Debit Card which can be used anywhere in the world. It offers a convenient alternative to the use of cash, and cheques. It can be used to make purchases online, pay bills and access cash at ATMs worldwide. It is a naira denominated card and linked to both current or savings account.

Another card innovation service exclusive to FirstBank is the VISA GOLD CARD, which offers higher daily spending capacity and limit on ATM, POS and WEB. With the VISA GOLD CARD, the customer is assured of $1000 daily ATM withdrawal, $10, 000 POS transaction and $5, 000 on the WEB at only location around the world.

More so, it guarantees access to international emergency services such as Emergency Card Replacement & Emergency Cash Advance in situations where the card gets lost or damaged.

Like the NMC, Visa Gold Card also requires a customer to change PIN before travelling out of the country and avoid swiping cards on any terminal. It also come in handy when making airline bookings with its smooth seamless purchase options.

FirstBank visa gold card is an international premium credit card issued in partnership with visa international. it is a US Dollars denominated credit card and secured by PIN and chip technology

The third among the FirstBank’s super cards is VISA DEBIT MULTI-CURRENCY CARD. It is by all intent and purpose the first of its kind to be offered by any financial institution in Nigeria. Here, customers within and outside the country can enjoy the luxury of having their local and foreign denominated accounts linked to a single Debit card. It is an enhancement to the existing Visa Debit Dual Currency card and can be linked to either or all your NAIRA, USD, EURO and GBP accounts. It is an international card with Chip and PIN technology which can be used to make payment anywhere in the world and across all channels – ATMs, POS & Web. This is unbeatable, and better explains why FirstBank is truly the first.

Among the qualities that make the card thick are:

  • Can be used to make purchases online, pay bills and access cash at ATMs worldwide.
  • Secured by Chip & PIN technology with a lifespan of 3 years.
  • Requires no Cash collateral before issuance.
  • Global acceptance on ATM, POS and WEB.
  • Additional protection for web-based transactions with “Verified by Visa” (VbV).

With the Visa Debit Multi-Currency card, holders can make daily withdrawals to the tune of N150, 000 (local) and $1, 000 (international) from the ATM.

Also, savings account holders can undertake up to N500, 000 transaction on POS while current has more extensive offer of daily POS transaction of N2, 500, 000. However, this offer comes with $2, 500 for international transactions on same channel.

However, on the WEB, a total of N1, 000, 000 is permitted locally while $6, 250 is allowed on the international corridor daily.

For a brand that has consistently remained on top of its game, FirstBank Cards have received global recognition, as well as being honoured for its down to earth and trusted services.

Among its awards and recognitions are:

  • Digital Bank of Distinction, Nigeria” award in the Global Finance Best Digital Banks Awards for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017.
  • Cashless Champion Award of MasterCard International on POS International transactions acquiring. (Q1 2017)
  • Interswitch awards (2017) in the following categories:
      • Fastest Mobile Penetration in Africa
      • Highest Card Transacting Bank in Nigeria
      • Highest Verve Issuing Bank
  • FY 2016, the Bank won awards in the eBusiness category. They are:
    • Asian Banker award for Best Mobile Payment Product for West Africa
    • Asian Banker award for Credit Card of the Year for West Africa
    • Global Finance Award for ‘Digital Bank of Distinction – Emerging Markets, Africa Category’.
  • Q4 2015, the Bank won two awards in the eBusiness category. They are:
    • MasterCard Cardless Champion award for International acceptance across all POS channels
  • MasterCard Cardless Champion award for Mobile POS (MPOS) merchant acquisition.

 

In December 2015 and May 2016, FirstBank was named the first financial institution in the country to achieve sustained alternative channels transaction volumes of 100 million transactions.

FirstBank’s accolades transcend the ordinary!

What are you waiting for? Visit a FirstBank branch today and complete a debit card application form of your choice.

 

 

 

 

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Business

Sterling Bank Abolishes Account Maintenance Fees

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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.

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GTCO Announces Pre-Tax Profit of N600.9bn for H1 2025

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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

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FirstBank Partners Organisers to Host E1 Lagos GP

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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.

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