Fidelity Bank Clinches DBN Award For Expanding First-Time Credit Access To MSMEs
Rashidat O. Okunlade Writes
Fidelity Bank Plc has once again solidified its position as a leading player in Nigeria’s small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) banking space, winning 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. It reflects Fidelity Bank’s sustained commitment to deepening financial inclusion, improving access to credit, and supporting enterprise growth, particularly for businesses that had never accessed formal credit facilities.
Speaking on the recognition, Ugochi Osinigwe, Divisional Head of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking at Fidelity Bank Plc, expressed appreciation to DBN and reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to SME growth.
“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,” Osinigwe said.
“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 added.
She noted that the award would further encourage the bank to deepen its interventions in the SME sector and continue providing practical solutions to 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 for its outstanding contribution to developing innovative financial products tailored to MSMEs. The bank had also received the 2020 DBN Service Award for the Highest Disbursement to DBN-focused locations, highlighting its role in facilitating affordable funding for small businesses across targeted markets.
Beyond loans, Fidelity Bank has implemented several initiatives to support SMEs holistically. These include the establishment of the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos—a dedicated facility offering entrepreneurs access to training halls, meeting rooms, networking spaces, business advisory support, and creative studios for content production.
The bank also recently launched the Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, a strategic engagement platform connecting 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.
In addition, the bank’s SME Masterclass Series delivers practical capacity building in areas such as pricing, product quality, online sales, business visibility, and preparation for international expansion. These initiatives form part of a broader commitment to equipping SMEs with immediately applicable tools to improve competitiveness and profitability.
Fidelity Bank has also played a key role in disbursing 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, the bank continues to provide structured support to entrepreneurs across urban and rural communities.
The bank’s broader SME support architecture 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 skills and networks to compete globally.
Additionally, the bank’s partnership with the National Credit Guarantee Company strengthens MSME support by reducing lending risks and expanding access to finance. The collaboration also includes financial literacy and business management training to help beneficiaries manage loans effectively and build sustainable enterprises.
With these multi-dimensional interventions, Fidelity Bank continues to combine finance, advisory services, capacity building, digital enablement, market access, and strategic partnerships to support businesses at every stage of growth.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
Recent accolades include the 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME support; Best Retail and SME Bank at the Independent Newspapers Awards; Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay BAFI Awards; Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards; the inaugural Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year by Nairametrics; SME Bank of the Year by NewsDirect; the STP Excellence Award by Citi Group; and recognition by Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.
