FirstBank Receives Euromoney Awards For Best Bank For Large Corporates And Customer Experience

By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West, Nigeria

West Africa’s premier financial institution and leading provider of financial inclusion services, FirstBank has been recognised as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Large Corporates and Nigeria’s Best Bank for Customer Experience at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, held recently in London.

The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely regarded as among the most coveted honours in the global banking industry. Winners emerge through a highly competitive selection process involving rigorous analysis of financial performance, innovation, customer impact, service delivery, and strategic execution.

FirstBank’s recognition as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Large Corporates marks the third consecutive year it has received the award, underscoring its leadership in delivering world-class banking solutions to large businesses and institutions across Nigeria. The Bank recorded a remarkable 55 per cent increase in customer banking revenue, growing from N443.8 billion to N687.7 billion within the review period.

Its AI-enabled internet banking platform, FirstDirect, processed transactions valued at over N15.4 trillion and facilitated more than five million successful transactions in 2025. The platform also recorded a 101 per cent increase in corporate customer onboarding, expanding its reach to over 5,969 corporate customers within the year.

Commenting on the award, Group Executive, Corporate Banking Directorate, FirstBank, Olaitan Martins said: “We are honoured to receive this prestigious raward for the third consecutive year. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative banking solutions, exceptional service, and strategic support to our corporate customers. It is also a testament to the confidence and trust our customers continue to place in FirstBank as their preferred financial partner. We remain committed to enabling the growth and success of businesses through tailored solutions that create sustainable value.”

In recognition of its Customer Experience Transformation Journey, anchored on its customer-focused “You First” philosophy, the Bank also received the award for Nigeria’s Best Bank for Customer Experience. FirstBank deployed its Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution, which led to 57 per cent of customer enquiries being resolved without human intervention by end of 2025. Enhancements to its digital banking channels, including its online banking platform and LIT app, contributed to a 90 per cent customer satisfaction score.

Chief Customer Experience Officer, FirstBank, Chikaodili Adun expressed appreciation on the recognition: “The Euromoney Award for Nigeria’s Best Bank for Customer Experience is a powerful validation of our commitment to putting customers at the heart of everything we do. Through our You First initiative, we have continued to transform the way we serve customers by leveraging technology, innovation, and employee engagement to deliver seamless and memorable experiences. This recognition encourages us to continue raising the bar and setting new standards for customer excellence in the banking industry.”

The latest recognitions add to FirstBank’s growing portfolio of domestic and international awards and further reinforce its position Africa’s most trusted and innovative financial institutions, committed to delivering exceptional value through cutting-edge solutions, operational excellence, and superior customer experience.

The Bank has continued to redefine corporate banking service standards through innovative relationship management and onboarding solutions, including automated transaction workflows and priority processing for account opening and maintenance requests, resulting in enhanced customer experience and operational efficiency.