United Bank for Africa (UBA) has made a significant technological breakthrough by enhancing its AI-powered chatbot, LEO, to become the first chatbot in Africa capable of facilitating cross-border payments through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). This innovative integration marks a major milestone in African banking, allowing customers to initiate and complete real-time, seamless, and secure transactions across multiple African countries directly through a chatbot.
LEO, which is accessible via platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple Messages, has already gained popularity for its customer-friendly interface and ability to perform banking functions like fund transfers, airtime purchases, and bill payments. With this latest development, UBA takes digital banking to a new level by incorporating PAPSS, a system launched by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Union to simplify cross-border trade payments and reduce dependency on foreign currencies.
The inclusion of PAPSS into LEO’s capabilities addresses the long-standing challenges of intra-African trade payments, such as high transaction costs, currency conversion delays, and reliance on third-party banks outside the continent. Through this integration, UBA customers in different African countries can now send and receive payments in their local currencies quickly and efficiently.
UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, highlighted that this development aligns with UBA’s vision of promoting financial inclusion and supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by eliminating barriers to regional trade. He emphasized that UBA is committed to driving innovation that empowers customers and supports economic growth across Africa.
This milestone positions UBA as a pioneer in digital financial services on the continent and demonstrates the bank’s ongoing efforts to leverage technology in improving customer experience. By merging AI capabilities with cross-border payment infrastructure, UBA is creating a more inclusive and connected African financial ecosystem.
The move also signals broader implications for the future of banking in Africa, where digital tools like chatbots are becoming central to customer engagement, service delivery, and now, international transactions within the continent.
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