Kuda - a bank of the free
Kuda is one of the digital banking startups that transformed the banking industry.
Kuda rebranded in June of last year (2019) and received a banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to launch a full service digital bank. That regulatory approval made Kuda Nigeria’s first and only full-stack and mobile-first bank, and the startup raised a US$1.6 million funding round in September to complete its launch. The bank provides full banking services through its apps, allowing Nigerians to run a current account, save money, and earn annual interest. Kuda launched a COVID-19 fund to provide for the less privileged in Lagos. The tech startup, established in 2016, has taken it upon itself to acquire and dole out food items, as well as other essentials, to the poor and vulnerable who have been the most affected amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The fintech company committed N1.5 million and partnered with non-governmental organization, Lagos Food Bank, as a way of providing succor, and reducing the economic impact of the virus on the poor communities in Lagos.