A young Nigerian man experienced a heartwarming and completely unexpected birthday surprise during a routine visit to his bank. The incident, which has since captured the attention of social media users, occurred when the man visited a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA) to withdraw money on his special day.
The Viral Birthday Moment at UBA
The man, who goes by the TikTok handle @that_boy_called_eric, documented the surprising event. Instead of a standard transaction, he was met with a cheerful celebration from the bank staff. In the now-viral clip, the bankers can be seen and heard clapping enthusiastically and singing happy birthday songs to their customer, creating a joyful atmosphere within the banking hall.
The customer captioned the video, expressing his shock: "POV: I went to withdraw from the bank and was surprised by uba. Happy birthday to me. The thing shock me. Thank you UBA." In the comments section, he elaborated on his feelings, stating, "I was in shock to be honest. I don't get surprises."
Social Media Reactions to the Bank's Gesture
The video quickly attracted numerous comments from amused and touched viewers. While many extended birthday wishes, the interaction took a humorous turn when followers inquired about his account balance. To one such query, the birthday boy humorously revealed there was N2,500 in the account at the time.
Comments ranged from the affectionate, like "Awwwn this is cute. Happy Birthday" from user CHINATU, to the playful, such as adanne's query, "how much is in the account? Happy birthday." Another user, QueenRay23, shared a similar experience, commenting, "They once did it for me. I was so happy," suggesting this might be a occasional practice by the bank to enhance customer relations.
UBA's History of Notable Customer Interactions
This incident is not the first time UBA or its leadership has made headlines for positive customer and public engagements. In a related notable event, the Chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu, made a life-changing gesture at an event hosted by Heirs Insurance. He surprised a young man with a gift of N1 million following an unexpected and impressive performance by the individual, who was reportedly experiencing homelessness at the time.
That young man received not only the cash gift from Elumelu but also additional prizes from other influential personalities present, marking a significant turnaround in his circumstances. These stories collectively highlight a focus on human connection and surprise generosity associated with the brand.
Meanwhile, the viral birthday clip continues to circulate, serving as a pleasant reminder of the positive impact simple, kind gestures can have, even in formal settings like a bank. It underscores the value of customer service that goes beyond transactions to acknowledge and celebrate the individual.
