After sparking a national movement with its Zero Transfer Fees campaign, Sterling Bank has introduced free bus rides for Nigerians.
Last week, regular Lagosians stepping out after long workdays were met with an unexpected gift: Sterling OneBank-branded buses waiting to take them home, free of charge.
Starting as a push against bank transfer fees, the initiative has now taken to the streets, as the bank began offering free bus rides to customers across major Lagos corridors, a gesture that will continue through May 2025 to ease the return of workers after the May Day holidays.
Masterbrand marketing lead at Sterling Bank, Chidimma Okoli said “for customers who have to choose between transport fare and groceries, this is more than a ride, it is hope.”
She emphasised that this initiative was never about fanfare, but about putting philosophy into action, saying that “financial systems have for too long extracted from Nigerians. At Sterling, we are making a different choice. We are giving back, not just in naira and kobo, but in opportunities, in relief and in real dignity. This initiative builds on Sterling’s history of standing with Nigerians during critical moments.”
She added, “during the pandemic, Sterling Bank was one of the first banks to support remote work transitions and provide digital lifelines to struggling SMEs. Through programs like AltSchool Africa and entrepreneur bootcamps, Sterling has opened new doors to skills development and affordable financing.
“After fuel subsidies were removed, the bank financed transport cooperatives to keep mobility alive for thousands who would otherwise have been stranded.”
Okoli emphasised that “beneath the buses and smiling faces lies a deeper story of infrastructure strength. Sterling’s robust digital banking backbone, capable of handling over 180 million transactions and scaling rapidly, allows it to absorb costs that many banks would have pushed onto customers. It is this invisible engine that has further helped make visible change possible.
“As the month of May approaches, the momentum will continue. Workers returning from the holidays can expect to find the free rides still running across locations, a daily reminder that real banking does not just live in apps but also on the streets, in the choices that make hard lives a little easier.
“Sterling is encouraging all riders to share their experiences online, turning thousands of quiet journeys into a loud statement that Nigeria deserves a financial system that carries its people forward, not holds them back. Because true banking is not about hoarding profit; it is about moving lives and moving freely.”
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