Access Bank has reinforced its commitment to customer rewards, disbursing a substantial N6.6 billion through its long-running DiamondXtra ‘Salary for Life’ initiative since its launch in 2008. The programme, originally introduced by the former Diamond Bank before its merger with Access Bank, has grown into one of Nigeria’s most successful financial inclusion schemes, impacting over 33,000 families nationwide.

Speaking at the reintroduction of the DiamondXtra Season 17 promo in Lagos over the weekend, Olukemi Olayinka, Regional Sales Director at Access Bank, highlighted the scale of the initiative.

According to her, 165 customers have received various rewards this season alone, including five individuals who walked away with N100,000 each.

She emphasised that the initiative is about more than just financial benefits, noting that it has significantly improved the lives of thousands of families.

Olayinka also disclosed that 131 customers are currently benefiting from the flagship ‘Salary for Life’ scheme, which guarantees N200,000 in monthly payments for 15 years.

This season, three more lucky winners will be added to this exclusive group. Beyond this, the ongoing season will reward 12 customers with N1 million each and two others with brand-new sport utility vehicles (SUVs), further broadening the scope of the programme.

However, the DiamondXtra initiative extends beyond mere cash prizes as Access Bank also supports small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) through business training and collateral-free loans.

“We do not stop at rewarding savings. We help our customers grow. We train them, guide them through business challenges, and provide loans based on turnover, some as high as N10 million,” Olayinka explained.

This approach aims to strengthen the economic backbone of the communities the bank serves, promoting financial independence and business growth.

Unit Head, Consumer Banking, Adaeze Ume, stated that the decision to reintroduce the ‘Salary for Life’ scheme this year was largely driven by customer demand.

According to her, the bank collects customer feedback annually to shape its offerings, and 40 per cent of respondents this year expressed a preference for the ‘Salary for Life’ option, compared to previous years when other rewards like cars were more popular.

To enhance customer participation, the bank has also introduced digital cluster draws as part of the current season.

Under this initiative, customers generate referral codes via the Access More app, and groups of 50 referred individuals stand a chance to win N100,000.

The bank has set aside 150 slots for this purpose, with 30 specifically reserved for women as part of its ‘W’ initiative aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs.

With over five million DiamondXtra account holders and a target to add at least one million more before the year ends, Access Bank remains committed to driving mass-market participation and social impact through innovative financial products.

The programme continues to expand its reach across Nigeria, including key regions like Lagos, Abuja, the South-West, and North-Central, underscoring the bank’s mission to deepen financial inclusion and foster economic growth.