United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has reinforced its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions. It was named African Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a global finance publication of the Financial Times. This marks the third time in five years that the bank has won the coveted continental award.
In addition to the regional recognition, UBA also clinched Best Bank of the Year awards in nine African countries. This brought its total wins this year to ten. The honored subsidiaries include Benin, Chad, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. This highlights UBA’s broad footprint and strong performance across West, Central, and Southern Africa.
The awards were presented at The Banker’s annual Bank of the Year ceremony held on Wednesday at The Peninsula Hotel in London. UBA UK CEO, Deji Adeyelure, received the honors on behalf of Group Managing Director/CEO Oliver Alawuba. He was accompanied by senior executives Mark Ifashe and Shilpam Jha.
Recognition for Innovation, Performance, and Pan-African Strength
The Banker described UBA as a consistently high-performing institution that “punches above its weight.” UBA continues to outpace larger rivals across the continent. The publication praised UBA for securing the highest number of country awards among pan-African banks in 2025. It also highlighted UBA’s strong geographic spread, with wins recorded across ECOWAS, CEMAC, and SADC regions.
The award committee also highlighted UBA’s robust financial performance. In 2024, the Group posted a 46.8% growth in assets and a 6.1% increase in pre-tax profit in local currency terms. West Africa remained its strongest market. Operating revenue grew 87% and profit rose 89% in the first half of 2025.
Digital Leadership and Innovation Spotlighted
Leadership Reacts
Reacting to the win, UBA Group CEO Oliver Alawuba said the recognition underscores the bank’s disciplined execution and customer-first strategy.
“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 not by chance—it is a testament to innovation and a deep understanding of the markets we serve,” he said.
He added that the nine-country awards show UBA’s growth is both sustainable and impactful.
“We remain committed to driving financial inclusion, supporting economic development, and deploying technology that makes banking simpler and more accessible to Africans everywhere.”
A Leading Pan-African Financial Powerhouse
UBA one of Africa’s largest employers with a workforce of over 25,000—serves more than 45 million customers across 20 African countries. The bank also maintains significant operations in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, providing retail, commercial, and institutional banking services while championing financial inclusion and technological advancement across the continent.
