Nigeria’s digital banking landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, and few platforms have played a bigger role in that shift than ALAT. As the digital banking platform marks nine years since launch, Wema Bank is using the milestone to reinforce its long-term focus on customer engagement, digital innovation, and financial inclusion across the Nigerian market.
Originally launched in 2017 as Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT by Wema was designed to remove many of the friction points associated with traditional banking, allowing customers to open accounts, complete transactions, and manage finances entirely through digital channels. Since then, the platform has evolved into a broader digital banking ecosystem serving both retail and business users with products spanning payments, savings, lifestyle services, and financial management tools.
To commemorate the anniversary, Wema Bank has introduced the “ALAT at 9” campaign, a month-long customer engagement initiative focused on rewards, interactive participation, and personalised digital experiences. The campaign includes features such as “ALAT Wrapped,” which gives customers a summary of their activity on the platform, alongside a “9 Features in 9 Days” challenge aimed at encouraging deeper platform usage.
The bank is also introducing time-based rewards during the campaign period, with customers completing their ninth transaction at exactly 9:00 a.m. or 9:00 p.m. eligible for instant rewards. Additional engagement initiatives include a jingle challenge designed to drive user participation and community interaction.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said the anniversary reflects the bank’s broader digital transformation journey and its continued investment in customer-focused innovation.
According to him, the campaign is intended not only to celebrate the platform’s growth but also to strengthen customer relationships through more engaging and rewarding experiences.
Chief Digital Officer Olusegun Adeniyi added that the initiative blends everyday banking with interactive digital experiences through personalised insights and incentives.
What this means for the industry
- Digital banking platforms are increasingly competing on engagement and ecosystem experience, not just core banking functionality.
- Banks across Africa are using gamification, personalised insights, and rewards to drive higher digital adoption and customer retention.
- The continued growth of platforms like ALAT highlights how mobile-first banking models are reshaping financial access and inclusion in emerging markets.
- Customer experience is becoming a major differentiator for digital banking platforms as competition intensifies across Nigeria’s fintech and banking sectors.
