Fidelity Bank Plc has emerged as the winner of the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank (DMB) category, in recognition of its outstanding efforts in delivering innovative financial solutions tailored to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
The award was presented at the 2025 Service Ambassadors’ Awards ceremony held in Lagos, themed
“Enhancing Partnership for MSME Resilience and Growth.” It underscores Fidelity Bank’s strategic focus on empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs and advancing the MSME sector, a critical engine for national economic development.
In her remarks, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth.
“At Fidelity Bank, innovation is at the heart of our strategy to support MSMEs. This recognition underscores our commitment to developing scalable, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that create positive outcomes for our nation’s entrepreneurs. We are honored to receive the DBN award and dedicate it to our loyal customers for their continued support,” she said.
The Managing Director of DBN, Tony Okpanachi, lauded financial institutions for playing a pivotal role in transforming unbankable ideas into thriving enterprises, noting that the awards aim to recognize partners who create meaningful impact and drive growth through strategic support and financial inclusion.
“You, our partners, are acknowledged and celebrated for your outreach to entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to scale. We appreciate you for your role in converting unbankable ideas into bankable businesses,” he said.
Fidelity Bank’s recognition by DBN adds to its growing list of initiatives designed to bolster Nigeria’s MSME sector. Earlier in May, the bank signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to facilitate the expansion of MSMEs across Africa.
The bank also launched the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos—an all-inclusive facility featuring training halls, meeting rooms, and creative studios to support capacity building, collaboration, and innovation within the SME ecosystem.
Fidelity Bank Plc currently serves over 9.1 million customers through a combination of robust digital platforms and 255 business offices across Nigeria, alongside its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has continued to garner local and international accolades for its leadership in digital transformation and SME banking.
Notably, it received the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award from BusinessDay, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award by Global Business Outlook, and the Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award from Global Brands Magazine. It was also named Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and *Export Financing Bank of the Year by BusinessDay.
With this latest award, Fidelity Bank Plc reaffirms its position as a forward-thinking financial institution championing the growth and resilience of Nigeria’s MSMEs.