UBA target youths with “SmartMoney”

 A new world of online shopping, travel and dining is awaiting African youths that subscribe to United Bank for Africa’s (UBA) new “Smartmoney,” a specially designed prepaid card targeted at youths on the continent. 

UBA, which launched the SmartMoney prepaid card this week, says it will initially be issued in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Burkina Faso and later by December 2014 in all the 19 countries across Africa where it has operations. 

“Smartmoney comes as a prepaid card that is easy to use, convenient and safe, with chip and pin technology, you can load up and explore every corner of the globe and web the easy, convenient way” says Yinka Adedeji, Divisional Head, e-banking of the UBA Group.

SmartMoney card is widely accepted card in more than 1.6 million Visa ATMs worldwide, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. The Smartmoney prepaid card can also be linked to UBA’s popular mobile banking platform “U-Mobile” enabling holders of the card to access banking services on their phones no matter where they are globally.

“No matter where you are, if you have your mobile phone, you can manage your SmartMoney card by visiting www.smartmoneycard.me. SmartMoney also gives you an all time online access to the Visa Travel Planner, with which you can create your very own travel guidebook using Lonely Planet content, Visa offers and ATM locations”

A major attraction of SmartMoney prepaid cards is that users can load the exact amount they want to spend on the card. This ensures that they are able to effectively manage their spending plans while travelling or when they go shopping.

“Smartmoney is the perfect prepaid card for students and young adults. It is a trendy card that is designed not only to stand out but also help youths keep a tap on their spending patterns. It is gives a sense of freedom and security since it is not tied to the cardholder’s bank account. So, there is no fear that a cardholder’s bank account will be compromised with SmartMoney”

UBA’s issuance of the SmartMoney prepaid card is expected to boost the financial inclusion agenda of many African governments especially among the youths. UBA is recognized as one of the biggest card payment card issuers on the continent.

Recently, the UBA also announced the introduction of Value Added Services (VAS) on all its POS machines across Africa. With the new VAS on the POS machines UBA cardholders will be able to make payment for other services on the POS including Airtime purchase, Cable subscription, Electricity, Water and other bill payments on UBA POS machines.

United Bank for Africa Plc is one of Africa's leading financial institutions offering banking services to more than 10 million customers across over 700 business offices in 19 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments, and trade finance.