UBA targets new generation of customers with Next-Gen account

United Bank of Africa (UBA) plc is set to build a new generation of loyal customers with its new suit of products tailored to meet the unique needs of teenagers and young adults.

The product, “Next-Gen” account, which was launched at Intercontinental Hotel recently, is basically a suit of personal current accounts designed to offer special privileges and opportunities to account holders.Though the product is designed as a current account, holders have the opportunity of automatically being enrolled for savings accounts as well.

Speaking at the launch of the product, Femi Olaloku, executive director, Treasury and International Banking, who represented the bank’s CEO, Phillips Oduoza, said: “Next-Gen is about capturing and engaging the next generation of educated and enlightened professionals, employees, entrepreneurs, self employed persons, from all walks of life, early in their financial life cycle.”

The UBA Next-Gen account is designed to appeal to the educated and enlightened teenager and young adult from ages of 13 to 34. The product comes with features that fit into the unique needs of customers based on their age.

“This is a product that grows with the customer from his or her teenage years to when he or she becomes a young adult. Next-Gen is unique in the banking industry because it is not really a product. It is a partnership where the bank is taking on a mentorship role to guide customers into a future life of prosperity,” Olaloku explained.

The Next-Gen account has been designed to take care of every young person’s unique needs from when he or she first breaks into his or her teenage years at 13, to when he or she is on the border of full adulthood at 34.

Breaking down the unique features of the account, Iyke Idukpaye, head, current accounts and credit products, UBA, explained that teenagers who open a Next-Gen account will become part of the UBA Teen Fan Club, which offers great opportunities and great networking.

“As teenagers with a Next-Gen account grow and gain admission into tertiary institutions, they will enjoy great mentorship, internships and career advisory reserved only for account holders.

The benefits of being a Next-Gen account holder extends further as account holders graduate and prepare for the world of work and business. At this stage, account holders will enjoy exclusive invitations to job and career fairs as well as entrepreneurship workshops,” he said.

Account holders will also have access to 24 hour online banking services on UBA’s highly acclaimed internet banking platform besides other privileges like specially branded MasterCard, interest bearing savings accounts, career advisory, scholarships, work place experience schemes with the UBA Group, entrepreneurial skills development workshops and social media engagements.

Students from different secondary and tertiary institutions attended the launch event. Aina Oyawande, a student of University of Lagos, commended UBA for introducing the product saying the incentives attached will make her open an account with the bank.

Falz, a musician, who addressed the students on the need to imbibe a savings culture, described Next Gen as a “great initiative” that will attract young entrepreneurs like him to open an account with UBA.

Also, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu of Big Brother fame called the product “innovative,” saying that it was great that UBA developed such an incentive packed product for the youths.

HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE AND IFEOMA OKEKE