csrreporters United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, in partnership with Mastercard, has introduced a new prepaid card designed to bring millions of underserved Africans into the digital financial space.
Unlike traditional bank cards, the Mastercard prepaid card does not require a bank account, making it accessible to young adults, gig workers, freelancers, and low-income earners who have long been excluded from formal banking. With it, users can easily top up funds, pay securely both locally and internationally, and better manage their daily expenses.
In Nigeria alone, more than 28.9 million adults remain unbanked. The prepaid card is a direct response to this gap, providing a secure, flexible, and globally accepted tool for people who need simple financial solutions.
Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking at UBA, Shamsideen Fashola, said the innovation reflects the bank’s customer-first focus. “This card is about making payments simpler, safer, and accessible to everyone because financial services should not be a privilege,” he explained.
Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, added that the collaboration aims to “unlock endless possibilities for Nigerians of all income levels, empowering them to participate in the global economy with confidence.”
From enabling gig workers to track earnings, to giving parents a safer way to provide allowances, or simply offering the unbanked a chance to join the digital economy the prepaid card is more than a financial product; it’s a bridge to opportunity, dignity, and inclusion.
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