In a heartwarming development for millions of Nigerians living abroad, Sterling Bank has joined forces with global payment infrastructure leader Thunes to revolutionize how diaspora communities support their families back home. This partnership represents a significant leap forward in making cross-border payments faster, more transparent, and more accessible for everyone involved.

The collaboration integrates Sterling Bank into Thunes' Direct Global Network, creating seamless pathways for international money transfers from multiple European markets directly into Sterling Bank accounts. For countless families who depend on regular financial support from relatives abroad, this means less waiting, fewer complications, and more money reaching those who need it most.

The timing couldn't be better. Nigerian diaspora communities demonstrated remarkable dedication to their families in 2024, sending home over $20 billion in remittances—a 9% increase from the previous year. These aren't just statistics; they represent millions of acts of love, support, and commitment as family members abroad help with school fees, medical bills, household expenses, and building brighter futures.

"Together, we're enabling a new level of convenience, speed, and confidence for customers managing finances across borders," shared Daniel Parreira, Senior Vice President of Sales – Africa at Thunes, reflecting the human-centered vision behind this partnership. The company's commitment to making global money movement instant, transparent, and accessible aligns perfectly with the real needs of families navigating life across continents.

For Sterling Bank, this partnership showcases their dedication to innovation and customer service. The bank has already proven its technological capabilities—their homegrown core banking application, SEABaaS, impressively processed two billion transactions within a year without any downtime. Now, they're channeling that technical excellence into serving their diaspora customers even better.

Ayodeji Saba, Head of Switch & Remittances at Sterling Bank, emphasized the tangible benefits for customers: "With Thunes' trusted technology, we're giving our customers a faster, more reliable, and more affordable way to fund their Sterling Bank accounts from their foreign bank accounts. It's a major step forward in improving the experience for our diaspora community."

This partnership places Sterling Bank in an increasingly dynamic and customer-focused landscape. Following Thunes' 2023 collaboration with Access Bank and their recent partnership with MTN's MoMo Payment Service Bank, the momentum toward better financial connectivity is building beautifully. These developments signal an exciting era where banks, mobile platforms, and fintech companies are all working to create better experiences for people managing money across borders.

The real winners in this story are the families who will benefit from smoother, more affordable transfers. Whether it's a parent supporting their child's education, adult children caring for aging relatives, or siblings helping each other build businesses and homes, every transaction represents a connection of love and responsibility. Sterling Bank's initiative ensures these vital lifelines become stronger and more reliable, helping families thrive despite the distances between them.