The United Bank for Africa (UBA), with operations in 20 countries across Africa, has released an upgraded version of its mobile banking app.

Onyebuchi Akosa, UBA’s Group Chief Information Officer, said the app promises to deliver increased personalised banking through “a watertight and highly-effective security system.” “It is also important to mention that the bank took into consideration the virtually impaired, and thus has used voice recognition as a channel for transaction which suits both convenience and the visually impaired customers.”

With new features incorporated in the upgraded app, Kayode Ishola, UBA’s Group Head for Digital Banking, said customers can be able to: decide where they want their cards to operate and block, view, or request new cards straight from the app to suit their specific needs.

Ishola explained that they use the omni-channel, open digital platform to draw insight into customer behavior and meet requirements.

“With this app, we are reimagining banking as our engagement has moved from being channel-based to being platform-based. The speed of the platform has been made to match the speed of light as we have cut down significantly on the number of processes expected to carry out your transactions,” said Ishola.

The new app is designed to be country specific in terms of culture, language and regulation as per the countries where UBA has operations.

Besides being able to work based on frequent transactions, the app with a new user interface can be used across different mobile devices. It also incorporates budgeting and loan application tools, amongst others.

This is the latest digital drive by UBA and follows its engagement with Clickatell in 2018 to roll out the Leo chat banking solution.