UBA’s LEO Becomes First AI Chatbot to Enable PAPSS Cross-Border Payments
This development marks the first time a conversational AI platform in Africa has been integrated with PAPSS to facilitate instant payments in local currencies across African borders.
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS ), an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank ), has reached a new milestone in its mission to transform Africa’s payment infrastructure. Through a new partnership with United Bank for Africa (UBA ), PAPSS is now operational on UBA’s AI-powered chatbot, LEO, enabling seamless cross-border payments across the continent via digital self-service.
This development marks the first time a conversational AI platform in Africa has been integrated with PAPSS to facilitate instant payments in local currencies across African borders. LEO users within the UBA ecosystem can now send and receive funds in a matter of seconds, through secure and automated channels, without incurring charges on the beneficiary end. The feature is available across LEO’s digital touchpoints, supporting both individual and business users.
PAPSS, launched to address the inefficiencies and costs associated with cross-border transactions in Africa, is designed to clear and settle intra-African payments in real-time and in local currencies. Its integration with UBA’s digital channels aligns with ongoing efforts to remove trade bottlenecks, strengthen financial inclusion, and accelerate the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking on the development, UBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said the collaboration reflects the bank’s strategy of driving digital innovation and enabling Pan-African integration.
“The introduction of cross-border payments on LEO, in partnership with PAPSS, reflects our commitment to digital innovation, Pan-African integration, and customer-centric banking. This is not just a banking upgrade; it is a bold leap into the future of African finance”
– Oliver Alawuba, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, UBA Group.
Also commenting on the rollout, UBA Group Head of Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fasola, highlighted the broader impact of this integration.
“This is a transformative step in Africa’s financial services landscape. With LEO now fully integrated with the PAPSS infrastructure, UBA customers can send and receive money across African borders in their local currencies within seconds. We’re not just simplifying transactions—we’re fostering intra-African trade and breaking down longstanding barriers to financial inclusion.”
-Shamsideen Fasola, Head of Retail and Digital Banking, UBA Group.
Beyond convenience, this AI-powered capability enhances security, ensures confidentiality, and significantly reduces transaction costs. It supports businesses, informal traders, and individuals, offering a reliable means to transact across African markets without the traditional friction associated with cross-border remittance.
With central banks across the continent already onboarded onto PAPSS, the growing list of partner institutions is expected to catalyse a continent-wide transformation in financial interoperability. This latest collaboration with UBA marks a pivotal step in building a unified African payment ecosystem that is fast, accessible, and reflective of Africa’s digital future.
