Olushola Omogbehin
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has reiterated that its approach to adopting Artificial Intelligence is deliberate because it is currently redefining financial institutions and no longer a future concept.
This was disclosed by the Chief Technology Officer, Blessing Ehize, during the Business Day Fintech Summit 2026, themed: “The Next Financial Frontier: Intelligence, Infrastructure & Inclusion in Africa’s Digital Money Economy.”
Bringing together key players from across Nigeria’s financial services, technology landscape and ecosystem partners, the focus of the conversations was on advancing digital infrastructure, unlocking new opportunities through artificial intelligence, and driving broader financial inclusion across Africa’s evolving digital economy.
On a session entitled: “Intelligent Finance: How AI, Data and Automation are Rewriting Financial Services,” Ehize, dwelled on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in driving efficiency, personalisation, and smarter decision-making in banking.
“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept; it is actively redefining how financial institutions operate. From improving risk assessment and fraud detection to enabling hyper-personalised customer experience, AI allows us to anticipate customer needs and respond in real time. The real value lies in how effectively we harness data to deliver smarter, faster, and more inclusive financial services,” he said.
Reaffirming the commitment of the bank to responsible innovation, Ehize said:
“At FCMB, our approach to AI adoption is deliberate and responsible. We are integrating AI in ways that enhance efficiency without compromising trust, customer privacy, or regulatory compliance.
“This is why FCMB is ISO42001 certified. Technology must work for the customer, not against them, and must always align with ethical standards and human oversight.”
He further emphasised FCMB’s alignment with global best practices.
“The intersection between what we do at FCMB, and global financial best practices lies in our ability to balance innovation with resilience. Globally, AI is taking centre stage, whether you are a bank or not. It is coming to enable businesses and change lifestyles.
“We are building systems that are not only intelligent but, also, secure, scalable, and inclusive, ensuring that as we advance technologically, we bring more people into the financial ecosystem.”
