United Bank for Africa (UBA) has won the African category of the 2026 Banker Technology Awards for its use of technology, digital payments, and artificial intelligence to improve banking services across Africa.
The award recognises UBA’s efforts in making cross-border transactions easier through its AI-powered chatbot, Leo, which is integrated with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). This allows customers to send money across African countries in local currencies through a simple chat interface.
Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, UBA’s Executive Director Designate for Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, said the future of banking in Africa will be driven by technology, connectivity, and trust rather than physical branches.
According to him, Leo helps reduce the delays and high costs often associated with cross-border transfers, making transactions faster and more convenient for customers.
In addition to the award, UBA has launched an upgraded version of its RedApp mobile banking platform. The improved app is designed to provide customers with a faster and more user-friendly digital banking experience across the bank’s operations in Africa.
