The Economy 
One of the latest online banks in Nigeria, Bankit Africa has introduced series of games in its banking app to give financial rewards to customers, while also keeping them engaged during boring moments.
The bank’s chief executive, Yen Choi, announced on Monday that customers of the fintech company can now earn money while playing games on their phones.
According to him, Bankit Africa has adopted a deliberate corporation strategy to reshape financial management in Nigeria and Africa through gamification, by turning banking into an engaging, fun-filled experience.
Choi stressed that integrating game dynamics into banking allows the company to go beyond traditional financial services like deposits, savings, and transfers.
“Instead, Bankit Africa is creating a financial playground that motivates users to develop better money habits,” Choi said.
Explaining how the company leverages gamification to improve financial literacy, Choi stated: “One of my favorite games, Royal Match, does this exceptionally well. It provides rewards at just the right moments, encouraging players to return daily and stay engaged. This psychological hook, known as game dynamics, isn’t limited to video games—it can be applied to almost any activity, including banking.
“We realized that by implementing similar mechanics in finance, we could encourage people to interact with their money in a more meaningful way and develop strong financial habits.”
He further explained game dynamics and their role in banking: “Game dynamics are the engagement mechanisms that make games addictive. They are the ‘rules of engagement’—how a game pulls you in, keeps you playing, and makes it fun. In the context of Bankit Africa, we’re applying elements like leaderboards, high scores, time-based challenges, feature unlocks, and usage streaks to banking. Instead of viewing financial management as a dull necessity, users experience it as an interactive, rewarding journey.”
Choi highlighted how Bankit Africa’s features encourage financial responsibility: “One of our features, ‘Goal Unlock Savings,’ rewards users by unlocking exclusive savings tools only after they’ve consistently engaged with the app’s basic functions. For example, users who regularly deposit money, pay bills on time, and complete financial literacy challenges can unlock an automated savings feature.”
“This feature automatically allocates a percentage of every deposit or withdrawal toward a specific goal—such as rent, a new phone, or a car. Because users ‘earn’ access to this tool through their efforts, they feel more invested in using it, reinforcing positive financial behaviors.”
