UBA’s LEO chatbot sets new record as Africa’s first to enable cross-border payments

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has launched a major upgrade to its AI-powered chatbot, LEO, making it the first in Africa to handle cross-border payments.

With this new feature, UBA customers can now send and receive money instantly across African countries, using LEO on their mobile devices. This service runs on the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), designed together with African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), so users can transfer money in their local currencies between countries where the system is approved by central banks.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, described the move as a giant step for digital banking in the region. “The introduction of cross-border payments on LEO, in partnership with PAPSS, reflects our commitment to digital innovation, Pan-African integration, and customer-centric banking. This is not just a banking upgrade; it is a bold leap into the future of African finance,” he said.

Group Head of Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fasola, also shared why it matters: “With LEO now fully integrated with the PAPSS infrastructure, UBA customers can send and receive money across African borders in their local currencies within seconds. We’re not just simplifying transactions – we’re fostering intra-African trade and breaking down longstanding barriers to financial inclusion,” Fasola said.

This upgrade isn’t just about making payments easier. UBA says it will help formalize informal trade, boost business for traders and corporate clients, and support the bigger goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Currently, UBA serves more than 45 million customers and operates in 20 African countries, with offices in the UK, US, France, and the UAE. The bank employs 25,000 people and leads the push for better digital banking and financial access in Africa.

UBA’s chatbot payment feature is expected to encourage faster, safer, and more reliable cross-border transactions, giving businesses and individuals more confidence in digital finance. It puts the bank a step ahead as digital payments become central to Africa’s economy.