Nigeria’s PalmPay is expanding its network of physical offices as it seeks to broaden financial inclusion, a move that underscores the limits of purely digital banking in the country. The fintech, which now operates 28 offices nationwide, says the expansion is aimed at bringing financial services closer to communities often overlooked by traditional banks.
Speaking at the opening of a new office in Lagos, Managing Director Chika Nwosu argued that effective financial inclusion requires more than an app. “A strong operational presence complements digital innovation,” he said in an email to The PUNCH, noting that the network helps improve customer engagement, operational efficiency, and local partnerships with merchants and businesses.
Financial inclusion must be built on infrastructure, he stated, adding that PalmPay’s strategy goes beyond mobile applications to ensure financial services remain accessible at the community level.
Unlike many fintech platforms that operate primarily online, PalmPay has invested in physical offices located in major commercial centres, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin City and Enugu. The company said the offices serve as hubs for customer support, agent operations, and ecosystem collaboration.
In 2025, PalmPay opened two additional offices in Lagos, situated in Ikeja and Yaba, further expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The company said its expansion is also contributing to job creation and economic development in host communities. Each new office generates employment opportunities while supporting local capacity-building initiatives.
Through programmes such as the Purple Woman initiative, PalmPay said it is increasing workforce participation by recruiting and training more women across its operational network.
The fintech firm added that its outreach programmes are aimed at improving financial literacy and empowering small business owners. In 2025, PalmPay conducted capacity-building programmes in Kano and Kaduna, reaching about 3,000 women with financial education and tools to strengthen their businesses.
As Nigeria’s fintech sector continues to grow rapidly, industry players are increasingly recognising the importance of combining digital platforms with physical infrastructure to expand access to financial services.
PalmPay said its office expansion underscores a long-term commitment to building a financial ecosystem that is both technologically innovative and locally accessible.
The company added that the future of financial inclusion in Nigeria will depend not only on digital solutions but also on the infrastructure that connects financial services directly to communities across the country.
