By Amin Kef (Ranger)
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group has once again consolidated its position as one of the continent’s most outstanding financial institutions after being crowned Africa’s Bank of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Banker Awards, hosted by The Banker magazine of the Financial Times in London.
This marks the third time in five years that UBA Group has secured the distinguished continental accolade; an achievement that underscores its innovation, resilience and unmatched leadership in Africa’s banking landscape.
UBA Sierra Leone joined the celebration with pride, earning the title: Best Bank in Sierra Leone 2025, one of nine UBA subsidiaries recognized across Africa for excellence in service, operational strength and technological advancement.
UBA subsidiaries in Benin, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Zambia each emerged as Best Bank in their respective countries; bringing UBA’s total awards this year to 10, more than any of its continent-wide competitors.
In its citation, The Banker highlighted UBA’s “consistent ability to punch above its weight,” noting that the group continues to outperform many larger African banking rivals through strategic innovation, strong financial performance and a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.
The Banker praised UBA for its digital leadership, particularly advancements in Leo, the Group’s artificial intelligence chatbot, which in 2025 became the first African banking chatbot to enable cross-border payments via the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Leo recorded 29% year-on-year growth in transaction volume in the first half of 2025.
UBA was also commended for its introduction of the Advance Top-Up, a buy-now-pay-later feature on the *919# USSD platform, expanding financial accessibility for millions.
Financially, UBA delivered robust results across all markets, with the Group posting a 46.8% growth in assets and a 6.1% rise in pre-tax profits in 2024. West Africa, UBA’s strongest region, recorded operating revenue and profit increases of 87% and 89%, respectively, in the first half of 2025.
Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, described the recognition as validation of UBA’s long-term strategy, innovation drive and passion for customer-centric service.
“This honour reflects the strength of our Pan-African network, the trust of our customers and the dedication of our people. Winning Africa’s Bank of the Year for the third time in five years is a testament to disciplined execution and a deep understanding of the markets we serve.”
Managing Director/CEO of UBA Sierra Leone, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, expressed pride in the local team’s contribution to the Group’s continental achievements.
“This award is a proud moment for UBA Sierra Leone. It reflects the trust our customers place in us and the hard work of our committed team. We remain dedicated to delivering world-class banking and driving financial inclusion across Sierra Leone.”
The awards were received in London by Deji Adeyelure, CEO of UBA UK, who represented the Group CEO, accompanied by senior executives Mark Ifashe and Shilpam Jha.
The Banker Awards remain one of the banking industry’s most respected recognitions, assessing institutions based on performance, strategy, innovation and the ability to deliver sustainable value across markets.
With 25,000 employees and over 45 million customers globally, UBA continues to expand its footprint across Africa and globally, operating in 20 African countries, the United Kingdom, United States, France and the United Arab Emirates.
As UBA Sierra Leone joins the Group in celebrating this milestone, the message remains clear:
UBA Sierra Leone ; This win is ours. Leading with impact.
