First Bank to Launch 24-Hour Digital Experience Centre at YABATECH: Revolutionising Campus Banking
As part of its ongoing drive to deepen digital financial inclusion, FirstBank has announced plans to deploy a state-of-the-art, 24-hour Digital Experience Centre (DXC) on the campus of YABATECH. The move reaffirms the bank’s commitment to serving Nigeria’s rising cohort of tech-savvy youths particularly students with seamless, self-service banking accessible around the clock.
Why YABATECH? A Strategic Partnership
During a courtesy visit to the college, FirstBank’s Group Head of Branch Operations Services for Lagos and West, Abimbola Kunle‑Ajayi, described YABATECH as a strategic partner. She emphasised the institution’s reputation as a leading tertiary institution in Nigeria and noted that the new centre is intended to meet the banking needs of young, technology-oriented customers.
For FirstBank, the initiative builds on earlier deployments of DXCs since 2021 and reflects a broader ambition to embed modern banking infrastructure across universities and major population hubs.
What the Centre Will Offer: Fully Automated & 24/7 Access
The forthcoming DXC at YABATECH will provide a comprehensive suite of self-service banking features:
- Cash deposits and withdrawals, fund transfers, and other core banking transactions.
- Instant (on-the-spot) ATM-card issuance, enabling students to get cards when they need them, without visiting a crowded branch.
- Other self-service transactions — all designed for convenience, speed, and minimal human intervention.
- 24/7 availability, giving students and staff the flexibility to manage finances outside traditional banking hours — especially useful for busy academic schedules or night-time needs.
This model continues the blueprint established by earlier FirstBank DXCs, which combine networked kiosks, fast-track ATMs, and in some centres even AI-powered humanoid robots to replicate traditional branch services without staff.
Beyond Banking: Internship and Student Engagement Opportunities
As part of the collaboration, FirstBank has pledged to offer internship opportunities to YABATECH students. This initiative aims not only to provide banking convenience but also to deepen institutional ties and create practical learning avenues for students who could benefit from exposure to modern financial operations.
YABATECH’s leadership has welcomed the partnership, describing it as a collaboration between two pioneering institutions one in education, the other in financial services. The college emphasised its readiness to host the project, acknowledging the value it would add to student life on campus.
What This Means for Nigerian Campus Banking
The inauguration of a 24-hour DXC on the grounds of a major tertiary institution signals a shift in how banking services are delivered to the young, digitally native generation. Some likely ripple effects:
- Increased financial inclusion — more students may open accounts, access services, and manage funds independently without the hassle of traditional branches.
- Convenience and flexibility — banking outside standard hours provides freedom for night-owls, working students, or those with tight academic schedules.
- Fostering digital-first banking culture — the self-service, automated model encourages a shift away from manual branch visits to digital self-reliance, reflecting global banking trends.
- Bridging banking and education — by offering internships and a presence on campus, FirstBank embeds itself in the lives of students not just as a service provider, but as a partner in growth and development.
Conclusion: A Milestone for Campus Banking & Digital Inclusion
FirstBank’s plan to establish a 24-hour Digital Experience Centre at YABATECH marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s banking and education sectors. It’s a move that promises convenience, autonomy, and modern banking infrastructure for college students all within an academic environment. As Nigeria’s youth embrace digital tools more than ever, this centre could well become a model for future campus-banking collaborations nationwide.
For YABATECH students and staff, the upcoming DXC offers more than just a banking hall: it represents easy access, flexibility, and a bridge between academic life and financial empowerment.
