Kuda Microfinance Bank (Kuda MFB) has received a license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate as a National Microfinance Bank, which means that it can now have a physical presence across Nigeria.
With the Unit Microfinance Bank licence it held until December 2025, Kuda MFB’s physical operations were limited to a specific location.
The national licence removes those geographic restrictions, allowing the bank to open customer experience centres in multiple parts of the country. It also regularises Kuda MFB’s licensing status in line with the Central Bank’s framework for microfinance banks.
According to the bank, the national licence is about regulatory alignment and operational flexibility rather than a shift away from its digital-first model, so it will continue to lead with digital banking services, offering Nigerians the convenience of making transfers and payments, saving, and accessing instant credit through the Kuda app.
Musty Mustapha, MD/CEO of Kuda MFB, said,
“Securing a national microfinance banking licence is an important step for us as a regulated institution. It strengthens our relationship with the Central Bank and affirms our commitment to operating at the highest standards of compliance as we scale. While we remain digital at our core, this licence gives us the flexibility to create more physical touchpoints where customers want in-person support or engagement, allowing us to serve Nigerians across the country in whichever ways are most convenient for them.”
Subject to regulatory approval, Kuda MFB plans to open more experience centres designed for customer support and community engagement, in the style of its existing experience centre in Yaba, Lagos, where customers and the general public can speak directly with the Kuda team to get help and learn about the microfinance bank’s products and services.
Kuda MFB’s national licence does not change its existing product offerings or transaction capabilities, but it provides the regulatory backing for a nationwide presence.
