Access Bank Plc has disbursed a total of N6.6 billion to loyal customers through its flagship savings scheme, DiamondXtra, marking the 17th edition of the long-running customer reward initiative.
At the official launch of DiamondXtra Season 17, held at the Balogun Business Association (BBA) market in Lagos, Adeze Ume, unit head of Consumer Banking at Access Bank, highlighted several new and returning features of the initiative, including the much-anticipated comeback of the “Salary for Life” reward.
“This season, three lucky winners will receive N200,000 every month for the next 15 years, one winner per quarter. We are also introducing digital cluster draws, allowing customers to generate referral codes via the AccessMore app. When 50 eligible referrals are grouped together, they stand a chance to win N100,000,” Ume explained.
A total of 150 winning clusters have been provided for this season, with 30 clusters exclusively reserved for women in support of Access Bank’s W Community.
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Explaining why “Salary for Life” was reinstated, Ume noted, “Every year, we let customers vote for the rewards they want. The last time they chose Salary for Life was in 2019. Last year, they picked cars and we delivered. This year, 40 percent asked for Salary for Life, and we are honouring that.”
Since its inception, the Salary for Life scheme has had 131 beneficiaries, with three more set to join that group this year. Overall, DiamondXtra Season 17 will reward 12,000 customers, tripling the 4,000 beneficiaries recorded in the previous edition.
According to Ume, the broader goal is twofold: driving financial inclusion across the mass market while delivering measurable social impact. “Access Bank’s purpose is to create a positive impact across Africa, economically, socially, and environmentally. DiamondXtra is not just about savings; it’s about transforming lives.”
The DiamondXtra customer base has grown from one million at launch to over five million today. Since 2008, more than N6 billion has been given away in rewards. “I’ve been on this journey since day one,” Ume added. “And I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.”
Looking ahead, the bank targets onboarding at least one million new customers this year. “Our aim is to offer more than just attractive interest rates and seamless digital banking,” she said. “We want to continue delivering rewards that genuinely change lives. So far, we’ve impacted over 33,000 families across Nigeria, and we’re not stopping.”
Olukemi Olainka, regional sales director, Lagos Directorate, Retail Banking Division at Access Bank, echoed this commitment during the same event.
“We are here again to celebrate our customers and give back to society,” she said. “DiamondXtra remains the only savings product through which we directly reward customers. It began under Diamond Bank before the merger, and we’ve proudly sustained it.”
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Olainka noted that while the plan was to reward 160 customers at the event, the final number rose to 165, with the last five each receiving N100,000. She emphasised that DiamondXtra has positively impacted over 30,000 families since inception.
“In addition to the 131 customers currently enjoying Salary for Life, we’re scaling up the monthly amount to N200,000 for the next 15 years. We’re also rewarding 12 lucky customers with N1 million each, and one winner has already gone home with an SUV.”
She added that beyond rewards, Access Bank provides extensive support for SMEs. “We conduct webinars, training on business strategy, and even offer collateral-free loans based on turnover accessible through our mobile apps or QuickBooks, with limits up to N10 million.”
Olainka affirmed that the initiative is not limited to Lagos. “After this, we move on to other regions like Abuja, Sokoto, and beyond. What you see here is replicated nationwide. We’re bringing DiamondXtra to the grassroots, directly reaching the communities that support us.”
She said, “DiamondXtra is not just a product, it’s a movement. One that grows with our customers, empowers communities, and rewards loyalty in a tangible, impactful way.”
