Group Head, Acceptance & Alternative Channels, UBA Group Summary Gbolabo Cole is a seasoned finance and strategy executive with deep expertise in digital banking, payments, and alternative channels. He is currently serving as Group Head, Acceptance & Alternative Channels at UBA Group, where he leads efforts to expand and manage non-traditional banking touchpoints and payment acceptance across the group’s network. He holds professional certification as a member of the FCCA (Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Cole holds a Master’s degree in Business Analytics & Consulting from Warwick Business School (University of Warwick), which complements his strong foundation in financial management and strategic operations. He is particularly recognized for driving innovation in financial inclusion, digital payments, and leveraging alternative channels (e.g. merchant acceptance, e-payments) to reach underserved markets. His leadership has been acknowledged within the UBA Group and broader banking community. Cole is also active in professional and industry circles — he currently serves as treasurer for CeBIH (Committee of e-Business Heads in Nigeria) and contributes to digital finance, fintech, and inclusion discourse.