According to a press briefing by the bank’s leadership, the integration of cross-border functionality into LEO was achieved through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), developed in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank). This new feature allows individuals, traders, and corporates to send and receive funds in local currencies between African countries where PAPSS operations have been approved by the respective Central Banks.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA, Oliver Alawuba, emphasized the strategic importance of the milestone, “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.”

The service is designed to simplify intra-African financial transactions by offering near-instant transfers via self-service platforms such as LEO, while significantly reducing transaction fees. According to UBA, no charges will be applied to recipients of the payments, and the service is designed for 24/7 availability.

Providing more insight into the operational benefits, Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fasola, highlighted:

“This is a transformative step in Africa’s financial services landscape. 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.”

The development aligns with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to deepen regional trade and economic integration. By supporting quick, secure, and local-currency transactions, UBA’s chatbot innovation is expected to formalize informal trade flows and empower a wider segment of African entrepreneurs and businesses.

LEO, UBA’s chatbot originally launched as a virtual assistant on messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, has evolved into one of the most powerful AI banking platforms in Africa. With the cross-border payment functionality, it now expands its capabilities beyond traditional digital banking to become a vital tool for economic empowerment and regional financial integration.

United Bank for Africa, one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, operates in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the UAE, serving over 45 million customers and employing more than 25,000 people group-wide.

By introducing this innovation through its digital ecosystem, UBA has once again reinforced its leadership in banking technology, financial inclusion, and customer-first service delivery on the African continent.