United Bank for Africa (UBA) has won the African category of the 2026 Banker Technology Awards in recognition of its use of artificial intelligence and digital payment solutions to improve cross-border banking services across the continent.
Gatekeepers News reports that the award recognised the bank’s integration of its AI-powered chatbot, Leo, with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, allowing customers to transfer money across African countries in local currencies through a conversational digital platform.
The innovation is aimed at reducing the delays and costs traditionally associated with cross-border transactions in Africa.
According to The Banker, UBA’s success reflects its strategy of placing technology at the centre of its operations across more than 20 African countries, particularly in digital payments, AI-driven customer engagement and cross-border financial services. The awards attracted nearly 200 entries across 17 regional and product categories this year.
Speaking after receiving the award, Emmanuel Lamptey said the future of Africa’s financial system lies in technology-driven solutions that promote seamless transactions across borders.
“Africa’s financial future will not be built on branches or borders. It will be built on intelligence, interoperability, and trust at scale,” he said.
Lamptey added that UBA’s investment in Leo was designed to address longstanding challenges surrounding cross-border payments on the continent.
“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,” he said.
The bank also announced the relaunch of its RedApp mobile banking platform following an upgrade aimed at improving user experience and expanding access to digital banking services across its markets.
Commenting on the development, Alero Ladipo said the upgraded application represents a significant step in the bank’s digital transformation journey.
“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,” she said.
