UBA Wins 2026 Banker Technology Award for AI Innovation, Launches Upgraded Mobile App

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has been named the winner of the African category at the 2026 Banker Technology Awards for its innovations in digital payments, e-business, and the use of artificial intelligence to drive seamless cross-border banking across more than 20 African markets.

The Banker Technology Awards received close to 200 submissions across 17 regional and product categories this year, with the winners reflecting a broad shift in how financial institutions are deploying technology as an embedded infrastructure across payments, compliance, lending, and customer engagement.

In its assessment of UBA’s winning entry, The Banker noted that “the bank has cemented its status as a leading digital operator by placing technology at the centre of its growth strategy across more than 20 countries, with this approach most visible in its work on cross-border transfers, spanning digital payments, AI-driven engagement, and e-business”

UBA’s recognition centres on integrating Leo, its AI-powered chatbot, with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), enabling customers to send funds across borders in local currencies via a conversational interface.

UBA’s Executive Director Designate, Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, who received the award on behalf of the bank, emphasised the bank’s aim to fully digitise banking across the entire continent. “Africa’s financial future will not be built on branches or borders. It will be built on intelligence, interoperability, and trust at scale,” Lamptey said.

He added that the bank’s investment in Leo was a direct response to the cost and friction that has long defined 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,” Lamptey said.

Alongside the award, UBA also relaunched its RedApp mobile banking platform following a comprehensive upgrade. Speaking on the relaunch, UBA’s Group Head, Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, said the upgraded RedApp marks a new chapter in how the bank serves its customers digitally.

“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. Whether you are managing your finances, making transfers, or accessing new features, the experience is now sharper than ever. We invite all our customers to download the upgraded app today on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iPhone,” Ladipo said.