Today, it’s easy to transfer money while stuck in Lagos traffic, buy airtime from your phone in Kano, or withdraw cash from a nearby agent in a small community somewhere in Cross River.
Banking now feels almost… ordinary.
There was a time in Nigeria when access to banking depended heavily on where you lived. If your town had no bank branch, simple things like cash withdrawals, deposits, or money transfers could mean travelling long distances just to reach the nearest commercial centre.
That reality began changing decades ago, and one of the institutions at the centre of that transformation was FirstBank.
Long before digital banking solutions became mainstream, FirstBank was already building physical banking access across Nigeria, helping to connect people, businesses, traders, and communities to financial services.
A Timeline of Banking Access
1894: The Journey Begins
FirstBank was founded as the Bank of British West Africa, becoming Nigeria’s oldest bank and one of the earliest financial institutions in West Africa.
1920s–1950s: Expanding Across Nigeria
As commerce grew beyond coastal cities, FirstBank steadily expanded inland, bringing formal banking services closer to businesses and communities across the country.
1960s: Supporting a Growing Nation
Following Nigeria’s independence, FirstBank expanded its branch network further, supporting trade, salary payments, infrastructure development, and economic growth nationwide.
1980s–1990s: Banking Gets Closer to the People
Branch expansion accelerated, giving more Nigerians access to savings, loans, and everyday banking services. ATMs also began reshaping customer convenience.
2000s: The Digital Era Begins
FirstBank embraced technology through online banking, electronic transfers, payment cards, and mobile banking, helping drive Nigeria’s shift toward cashless transactions.
2010s: The Rise of Financial Inclusion
Through the rapid expansion of FirstMonie Agent Banking, FirstBank extended financial services into underserved communities, improving financial inclusion and reducing the need for long-distance travel to bank branches.
2020s: Banking Everywhere
By 2025/2026, FirstBank’s network had grown to:
• Over 820 business locations
• More than 180,000 FirstMonie agents
• Presence across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria
• Millions of users on FirstMobile and *894# USSD banking
Today, the Bank operates one of Africa’s largest agent banking networks, helping deliver financial services even in remote communities.
What makes this story important is that banking access changes lives in ways people don’t always notice immediately. When small business owners can receive payments easily, businesses grow. When rural traders can save securely, communities become economically stronger. When students receive money instantly from their parents, life becomes easier. When salaries, pensions, and transfers move efficiently, economic activity accelerates.
In addition, over a century plus, FirstBank has consistently positioned itself not just as a bank in Nigeria, but as a bank across Nigeria. From major cities to market towns. From roadside kiosks to smartphones. From traditional branches to agents in communities where even stable network signals sometimes struggle.
That journey helped shape the banking map Nigerians know today.
Honestly? That’s a pretty big “Did You Know?” moment.
And now that you know, ask yourself, why don’t you have a FirstBank account yet? Click here to open your personalized FirstBank account right now!
References:
Ladybird limited
Firstbanknigeria.com
