Fidelity Bank Wins DBN Award for Expanding First-time Credit Access to MSMEs

Fidelity Bank Plc has again reinforced its leadership in small and medium-scale business banking as it emerged the winner of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award for the Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time.

The award recognises the Deposit Money Bank that has successfully onboarded previously unbanked or credit excluded Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across Nigeria, reflecting Fidelity Bank’s sustained commitment to deepening financial inclusion, improving access to credit and supporting enterprise growth.

Speaking on the recognition, Divisional Head, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ugochi Osinigwe, expressed appreciation to DBN and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to the growth of small and medium-scale businesses across the country.

“We sincerely thank the Development Bank of Nigeria for this recognition, which affirms the impact of our work in expanding access to finance for MSMEs, especially businesses accessing formal credit for the first time. At Fidelity Bank, we remain devoted to supporting SMEs with the right mix of funding, advisory services, capacity building, market access and digital solutions that enable them to grow, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” Osinigwe said.

She added that the award would further encourage the bank to deepen its interventions in the SME sector and continue to provide practical solutions that help entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growth.

The latest recognition builds on Fidelity Bank’s long-standing partnership with DBN and its consistent support for Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem. In 2025, the bank received the DBN Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank category, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the development and delivery of innovative financial products and services tailored to MSMEs. The bank had also received the 2020 DBN Service Award for the Highest Disbursement to DBN-focused locations, a recognition that highlighted its role in facilitating access to affordable funding for small and medium-scale businesses across targeted markets.

Over the years, Fidelity Bank has implemented several initiatives that support small and medium-scale businesses beyond access to loans. For instance, the bank established the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos, as a dedicated facility for entrepreneurs, offering access to training halls, meeting rooms, networking spaces, business advisory support and creative studios for content production.

The bank also recently launched its Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, a strategic engagement platform designed to connect SME founders, business leaders, policymakers and industry experts for practical discussions on business growth, trade, innovation and sustainability. The maiden edition, held in Port Harcourt, focused on scaling trade and distribution businesses for sustainable growth, while providing entrepreneurs with relevant insights, networking opportunities and advisory support.

In addition, Fidelity Bank has continued to support entrepreneurs through its SME Masterclass Series, which deliver practical capacity building in areas such as pricing, product quality, online sales, business visibility and preparation for international expansion. The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader commitment to equipping SMEs with tools they can apply immediately to improve competitiveness and profitability.

The bank has also played a key role in the disbursement of the Federal Government of Nigeria MSME Intervention Funds, administered by the Bank of Industry, with a strategic focus on supporting qualified businesses and empowering women owned enterprises. Through its nationwide branch network, digital banking platforms and experienced relationship managers, Fidelity Bank continues to provide structured support to entrepreneurs across urban and rural communities.

Fidelity Bank’s broader SME support architecture also includes export development and market access programmes. Through the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect, the bank connects Nigerian businesses to international markets, including the United Kingdom and the United States. It also partners with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Lagos Business School on the Export Management Programme, which equips entrepreneurs and aspiring exporters with the skills, knowledge and networks required to compete in regional and global markets.

The bank’s partnership with the National Credit Guarantee Company further strengthens its support for MSMEs by helping to reduce lending risks and expand access to finance. The collaboration also includes financial literacy and business management training to help MSME beneficiaries manage their loans effectively and build sustainable enterprises.

With these interventions, Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate a multi-dimensional approach to SME development, combining finance, advisory services, capacity building, digital enablement, market access and strategic partnerships to support businesses at different stages of growth.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving more than 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international awards, including the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award for MSME support; Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers; Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; and Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards. The Bank also received the inaugural Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award by Nairametrics, the SME Bank of the Year award by NewsDirect, and the Straight-Through Processing (STP) Excellence Award by Citi Group, in addition to recognition by Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.