Fidelity Bank Bags DBN Award for Driving First-Time MSME Credit Access
Fidelity Bank Plc has been recognised by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) for its outstanding contribution to expanding access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), emerging as the winner of the DBN Service Ambassadors Award for the Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time.
The prestigious award honours the Deposit Money Bank that has successfully brought previously unbanked and credit-excluded MSMEs into Nigeria’s formal financial system, underscoring Fidelity Bank’s unwavering commitment to financial inclusion, enterprise development and economic growth.
Reacting to the recognition, the Divisional Head of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking at Fidelity Bank, Ugochi Osinigwe, expressed appreciation to DBN for the honour, describing it as a validation of the bank’s sustained efforts to empower entrepreneurs.
“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,” she said.
Osinigwe noted that the award would further motivate the bank to strengthen its interventions in the SME sector by providing practical solutions that help entrepreneurs overcome business challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
The latest recognition adds to Fidelity Bank’s growing list of achievements in SME development. In 2025, the bank received the DBN Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank category for developing innovative financial products and services tailored to MSMEs. It had earlier won the 2020 DBN Service Award for recording the highest disbursement to DBN-focused locations across Nigeria.
Beyond providing access to credit, Fidelity Bank has continued to champion initiatives that build the capacity of entrepreneurs. Among them is the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos, a dedicated business support centre offering training facilities, meeting rooms, networking spaces, advisory services and creative studios for content production.
The bank also recently launched the Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, a platform designed to connect entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry experts for practical discussions on business growth, trade, innovation and sustainability. The inaugural edition, held in Port Harcourt, focused on scaling trade and distribution businesses while equipping participants with valuable business insights and networking opportunities.
In addition, Fidelity Bank’s SME Masterclass Series continues to provide entrepreneurs with practical training in pricing strategies, product quality improvement, digital marketing, online sales, business visibility and international expansion.
The bank has also played a significant role in disbursing the Federal Government’s MSME Intervention Funds administered by the Bank of Industry, with particular emphasis on supporting qualified businesses and women-owned enterprises nationwide.
To further enhance opportunities for Nigerian businesses, Fidelity Bank has strengthened export development through its Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect initiative, linking local entrepreneurs with international markets, including the United Kingdom and the United States. It also collaborates with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Lagos Business School on the Export Management Programme, equipping exporters with the skills and networks needed to compete globally.
Its partnership with the National Credit Guarantee Company has equally enhanced lending to MSMEs by reducing credit risks while promoting financial literacy and business management among beneficiaries.
Through these strategic initiatives, Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate a holistic approach to SME development by combining access to finance, business advisory services, capacity building, digital innovation, market access and strategic partnerships to support enterprises at every stage of growth.
Ranked among Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, Fidelity Bank serves over 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices across Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received numerous local and international awards, including the 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support, the BusinessDay BAFI Awards for Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year, the Euromoney Award for Nigeria’s Best Private Bank, the Nairametrics Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year Award, the NewsDirect SME Bank of the Year Award, Citi Group’s Straight-Through Processing Excellence Award, and Global Brands Magazine’s Award for Excellence in Community Empowerment.
Photo Caption: L-R: Nneoma Onuoha, Acting Team Lead, Development Finance & Intervention Funds, Fidelity Bank Plc; Anthony Asonye, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Impact Credit Guarantee Limited (ICGL); Ugochi Osinigwe, Divisional Head, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc; Imaobong Nkanta, Product Manager, SME Banking; and Chiwuike Okere, Team Lead, SME Banking, during the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award ceremony held recently in Lagos.