Africa’s leading financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA), has emerged winner of the African category at the 2026 Banker Technology Awards, in recognition of its breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, digital payments, and cross-border banking innovation.
The Banker Technology Awards received nearly 200 entries across 17 regional and product categories this year, with winners reflecting how financial institutions are increasingly embedding technology across payments, compliance, lending, and customer engagement systems.
In its evaluation, The Banker praised UBA for strengthening its position as a leading digital operator by embedding technology into its expansion strategy across more than 20 African countries. The recognition particularly highlighted the bank’s advancements in cross-border payments, digital services, and AI-powered customer engagement.
UBA’s award-winning innovation centres on the integration of its AI chatbot, Leo, with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), allowing customers to send money across African borders in local currencies through a simple chat-based interface.
Speaking on the achievement, UBA’s Executive Director Designate, Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, said the recognition reflects the bank’s commitment to building a fully digital financial ecosystem across Africa.
He noted that the future of African banking would be driven by intelligence, interoperability, and trust, rather than physical branches or geographical barriers.
Lamptey also explained that the deployment of Leo was designed to reduce the high cost and delays associated with cross-border transactions, making payments faster and more accessible without requiring customers to change how they interact with their bank.
Alongside the award, UBA has also upgraded and relaunched its RedApp mobile banking platform to improve speed, usability, and overall customer experience across its markets.
The bank said the revamped app offers a smoother interface and enhanced functionality, allowing customers to carry out everyday banking activities such as transfers, account management, and service access more efficiently.
UBA’s Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, said the new RedApp reflects the bank’s continued effort to raise digital banking standards and improve how customers interact with financial services.
She added that the upgraded platform is designed to match customers’ lifestyles by offering a faster, cleaner, and more intuitive banking experience.
Customers can download the upgraded RedApp here: UBA RedApp
United Bank for Africa operates across more than 20 African countries as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, serving over 45 million customers and employing about 25,000 staff worldwide.
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