Polaris Bank, recently distinguished as the “Digital Bank of the Year” for the fifth consecutive time at the 2025 BusinessDay BAFI Awards, has announced its strategic roadmap for 2026. The primary focus for every national financial institution in 2026 is the new ₦200 billion capital threshold. For Polaris Bank, 2026 represents the culmination of a multi-year restructuring journey under its new leadership and the ownership of Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL).
By the end of the third quarter of 2025, Polaris Bank maintained its momentum from 2024; a great year for the bank which saw pre-tax profit margins jump to 10.62% and a return on equity rise to 21.44%. This record, and a sustained profitability signals to investors and depositors alike that the bank is a stable actor in the Nigerian financial sector.
Speaking on the new threshold, Managing Director/CEO Kayode Lawal expressed absolute confidence in the bank’s trajectory. He stated that “Our performance in 2025, which saw a nearly 30% surge in pre-tax profit, is a testament to our resilience,” He also added that, “As we approach the 2026 deadline, our focus remains on ‘Mission: Possible’; leveraging our core banking upgrade to deliver a seamless, integrated experience that creates sustainable value for our stakeholders.
It is widely recognized that the transition into a new year demands more than just stability; it requires a leap in agility and predictive capability. To achieve this, Polaris bank has fully integrated VULTe 3.0 as the central nervous system of its 2026 operations. Unlike traditional banking upgrades, VULTe 3.0 leverages advanced AI and predictive analytics to deliver a “segment-of-one” experience. Every transaction is not only seamless but tailored to the user’s specific financial behavior.
Acknowledging this note of success, the MD/CEO Kayode Lawal emphasized that the bank’s focus remains firmly on the empowerment of its users. He stated that “ it is our belief that true innovation begins and ends with the customer. Our mission for 2026 is to use technology as a catalyst for growth and inclusion; to make banking not only easier but truly transformative for every Nigerian.”
Polaris Bank’s commitment to the Nigerian economy is most visible in its dominance of the MSME sector. Having clinched the “Best MSME Bank” award for the fourth consecutive year, the bank has set a gold standard for enterprise support. In 2025 alone, Polaris facilitated over N60 billion in disbursements to small and medium enterprises, with a deliberate focus on women-led businesses and the creative industries through strategic partnerships with Woodhall Capital and international agencies.
For 2026, the bank is scaling its “VULTe for Business” suite, offering MSMEs simplified access to working capital and digital trade tools. This focus ensures that the entrepreneurs who form the backbone of the nation’s economy have a reliable financial solution which matches global trade standards. Events like the Global Trade Forum recently held in Ibadan serve as a testament to the bank’s hands-on approach to relationship management and grassroots economic development.
Polaris Bank understands that modern customers seek a seamless digital lifestyle that extends beyond mere balance inquiries. The VULTe 3.0 ecosystem has been expanded to include a comprehensive lifestyle marketplace. Users can now book flights and hotels, manage gift cards from over 700 global brands, and access “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) options directly within the app.
This focus on digital efficiency ensures that customers can manage their lives and finances in one place, avoiding the stress of different services. For the “digital-first” generation, Polaris has introduced self-service USSD management and direct debit authorizations, ensuring that control remains entirely in the hands of the user.
As digital footprints expand, so do cyber threats. Polaris Bank has countered this by deploying robust endpoint protection and AI-driven fraud detection systems that monitor patterns in real-time to prevent unauthorized activity. This technical fortress is complemented by a human-centric support system. The Bank’s customer service teams are specially trained to resolve cross-border transaction queries and provide attentive care for elderly customers transitioning to digital tools.
Conclusively, Polaris Bank has demonstrated that it is uniquely prepared for the challenges and opportunities of 2026. By balancing rigorous capital management with digital transformation and a peculiar focus on MSME growth and trade expansion, the bank has raised a high bar for its competitors.
Samuel Agboola is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper.
