United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, a global bank with strong African roots, has been awarded the African category at the 2026 Banker Technology Awards. The recognition highlights the bank's innovations in digital payments, e-business, and the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate seamless cross-border banking across more than 20 African markets.
Award Recognition and Industry Shift
The Banker Technology Awards received nearly 200 submissions across 17 regional and product categories this year. The winning entries reflect a broad transformation in how financial institutions deploy technology as infrastructure embedded in payments, compliance, lending, and customer engagement. In its evaluation of UBA's submission, The Banker noted that the bank has solidified its status as a leading digital operator by integrating technology at the core of its growth strategy across over 20 countries. This approach is particularly evident in its work on cross-border transfers, which encompasses digital payments, AI-driven engagement, and e-business.
Integration of Leo AI Chatbot with PAPSS
The recognition centers on UBA's integration of Leo, its AI-powered chatbot, with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). This integration allows customers to send funds across borders in local currencies through a conversational interface, reducing friction and enhancing efficiency.
UBA's Executive Director Designate for Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, received the award on behalf of the bank. He emphasized the bank's commitment to fully digitize banking across the continent. "Africa's financial future will not be built on branches or borders. It will be built on intelligence, interoperability, and trust at scale," Lamptey stated. He added that the investment in Leo was a direct response to the cost and friction that have historically characterized cross-border payments in Africa.
"Across a continent where cross-border transfers have historically been slow and costly, Leo reduces friction at the point of transaction, removing reliance on traditional banking channels without requiring customers to change how they communicate," Lamptey explained.
Relaunch of RedApp Mobile Banking Platform
Alongside the award, UBA has relaunched its RedApp mobile banking platform following a comprehensive upgrade. The revamped application is designed to deliver a faster and more intuitive digital banking experience for customers across the bank's markets. Customers can download the upgraded app from the Google Play Store for Android devices and the Apple App Store for iPhones.
Speaking on the relaunch, UBA's Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, said the upgraded RedApp marks a new chapter in how the bank serves its customers digitally. "At UBA, we are constantly raising the bar on what digital banking should feel like. The new RedApp is faster, cleaner, and built around how our customers actually live and bank. Whether you are managing your finances, making transfers, or accessing new features, the experience is now sharper than ever. We invite all our customers to download the upgraded app today," Ladipo said.
About UBA
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial, and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
