Union Bank of Nigeria has strengthened its commitment to protecting customers’ payment information after securing certification under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 4.0.1.
The certification, which took effect on August 11, 2026, confirms that the bank’s systems and processes meet an internationally recognised standard for protecting payment card information.
PCI DSS is designed to help organisations keep cardholder data secure whenever it is stored, processed or transmitted. The standard sets out technical and operational measures that businesses handling payment card information are expected to follow.
For Union Bank, the assessment covered several important areas of its operations. These included network infrastructure, card issuance, ATM and point-of-sale transactions, payment processing, reconciliation and settlement.
The review also examined the bank’s procedures for handling chargebacks, resolving payment disputes and managing retail banking activities.
Union Bank was assessed and certified under the Service Provider category, highlighting the scope of its payment-related operations and security controls.
Achieving the certification was not a short process. The bank underwent a year-long assessment that included quarterly reviews of its systems and processes. Departmental, business and functional leaders across the organisation were involved throughout the exercise.
The assessment was conducted in partnership with cybersecurity firm Digital Encode, while the final independent audit was performed by CyberCube, an accredited Qualified Security Assessor.
The certification is particularly significant as financial institutions face increasing risks from cyber threats and fraud. As more Nigerians depend on cards, ATMs, POS terminals and digital payment channels, banks are under growing pressure to ensure that customers’ financial information remains protected.
Commenting on the achievement, Union Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yetunde Oni, said protecting customers’ information remains central to the bank’s operations.
She noted that the certification demonstrates that the bank’s payment systems and procedures have met a strict global security benchmark. She also credited the bank’s employees for maintaining the processes required to protect customer information.
The latest certification also supports the bank’s regulatory obligations. Union Bank said the renewal ensures that it maintains continuous PCI DSS compliance, without any gap, in line with requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
For customers, the development offers additional reassurance as they continue to use Union Bank’s payment channels for everyday transactions.
Beyond meeting a regulatory requirement, the certification could also strengthen confidence in the bank’s digital and card-payment infrastructure at a time when cybersecurity has become an increasingly important issue for Nigeria’s financial sector.
Union Bank’s achievement therefore highlights the growing importance of strong data protection systems as Nigeria’s banking industry becomes increasingly digital.
