United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced its entry into the French banking market, signing an agreement to commence full banking operations in France.

The milestone was achieved during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to France, where UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu, alongside the French Finance Minister Antoine Armand, formalized the partnership. The signing, witnessed by President Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron, highlights France's support for UBA’s expansion into Europe.

Speaking at the ceremony, Elumelu expressed the significance of the move:
“This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just in the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but across Africa as a whole, and for French and European clients engaging with the continent. Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris set to become our EU hub, joining London, New York, and Dubai as key pillars of our global network.”

With this development, UBA becomes one of Nigeria’s tier-1 banks with a banking presence in France, further solidifying its international footprint.

President Tinubu’s two-day state visit marks the first official trip by a Nigerian leader to France in over 20 years, aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic ties. Macron welcomed Tinubu warmly, even using Nigerian Pidgin English to express his excitement.

“Na big honour for France to welcome you for dis state visit,” Macron shared on social media, underlining the cultural connection between the two leaders.

As UBA expands its operations, the bank’s move into France underscores its vision of connecting Africa to the world through innovative financial solutions.