The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) has taken a major step forward by integrating with United Bank for Africa’s AI chatbot, LEO, to facilitate instant cross-border payments in local currencies.

This marks the first time PAPSS has been integrated with a conversational AI platform in Africa, enabling UBA customers to send and receive funds across African borders in seconds via digital self-service—without beneficiary-end charges.

Launched by Afreximbank, PAPSS aims to streamline intra-African transactions, improve financial inclusion, and support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by clearing and settling payments in real-time.

“This is not just a banking upgrade; it is a bold leap into the future of African finance,” said UBA Group CEO Oliver Alawuba.

UBA’s Head of Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fasola, said the partnership simplifies cross-border remittances and “breaks down longstanding barriers to financial inclusion.”

Available across LEO’s digital channels, the AI-powered functionality also improves security, supports business and informal trade, and reduces transaction costs. With African central banks already linked to PAPSS, the collaboration signals a growing push for a unified, continent-wide payment ecosystem.