London, 11th December 2025- Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has reaffirmed its position as one of the continent’s most resilient and innovative financial institutions after being named African Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a leading global finance publication owned by the Financial Times of London.
This marks the third time in five years that UBA has won the coveted continental award. In addition, the bank secured Best Bank of the Year titles in nine of its 20 African subsidiaries, including Sierra Leone, Benin, Chad, Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, and Zambia. The recognition underscores UBA’s strength across West, Central, and Southern Africa and highlights the depth of its pan‑African franchise.
The awards ceremony was held at The Peninsula in London. Deji Adeyelure, CEO of UBA UK, received the honours on behalf of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, accompanied by senior executives including Head of Business Development, Mark Ifashe, and Head of Financial Institutions, Shilpam Jha.
The Banker described UBA’s achievement as remarkable, noting: “For the third time in five years, UBA Group has won the coveted Bank of the Year award for Africa. UBA Group time after time punches above its weight against its larger African rivals. The bank this year also takes home nine separate country awards, equivalent to around a quarter of the awards for the continent, and more than any of its continent‑wide rivals.”
The publication further highlighted the geographic spread of UBA’s wins, spanning the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It singled out Benin and Mozambique as particularly competitive categories where UBA’s performance stood out.
UBA’s strong financial results were also noted. In 2024, the Group recorded a 46.8% increase in assets and a 6.1% rise in pre‑tax profits in local currency terms, while continuing to invest heavily in technology and talent. In the first half of 2025, operating revenue and profit in West Africa surged by 87% and 89% respectively.
Reacting to the achievement, Group CEO Oliver Alawuba said the recognition validates UBA’s long‑term strategy and customer‑first philosophy. “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 disciplined execution, innovation, and a deep understanding of the markets we serve,” he said.
UBA is one of the largest employers in Africa’s financial sector, with 25,000 employees and over 45 million customers worldwide. Operating in 20 African countries as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, the bank provides retail, commercial, and institutional banking services while leading financial inclusion and deploying cutting‑edge technology across its markets.
