In a continent where millions remain excluded from the formal financial system, Rukayat Bello, the founder and CEO of Regxta, is on a mission to rewrite the narrative. Through her innovative fintech startup, she is driving access to digital financial services for underserved and rural populations across Nigeria — one community at a time.
Rukayat, who holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Kwara State University, built Regxta out of a deeply personal experience. She told Just4WomenAfrica that the inspiration came from her mother’s struggle as a small business owner.
“My mother was geographically disadvantaged, had no credit history, and didn’t possess a valid ID card. Because of that, her business failed. For the first time, I saw my mother cry — and it broke me,” she shared.
That painful moment became the seed for Regxta, which she founded in 2021. “If my mom couldn’t get a loan, how about the over 600 million people in Africa who also lack access to financial services?” she said.
A Mission to Empower the Unbanked
Regxta is an inclusive digital platform that provides quick and simple access to financial services — from account opening to loans and savings — for both the banked and unbanked, particularly small businesses in remote African communities.
Rukayat explained that financial inclusion, in her view, goes beyond simply owning a bank account.
“For us at Regxta, financial inclusion means giving people access — not just to open accounts, but to actually use and benefit from financial services. Until I started Regxta, I had no idea so many people in Nigeria didn’t even have a bank account.”
Since its launch, Regxta has grown to serve over 23,000 customers, with an ambitious goal of reaching 2 million users by 2030. The company’s focus is to narrow the gap between formal banking systems and those excluded due to geography, poverty, or lack of documentation.
Building Trust, One Community at a Time
When asked about the challenges she faced in reaching underserved populations, Rukayat admitted that trust was a major hurdle.
“When we started, people at the bottom of the pyramid didn’t trust us. It was hard to enter new communities,” she recalled.
Her solution? To begin where she was known.
“I started from my own community — where I grew up. Once people saw the impact, they began referring us to other communities across Nigeria.”
This grassroots approach not only built credibility but also helped Regxta grow organically through word-of-mouth referrals.
How Regxta Works
Regxta operates a community-based agency banking platform, where local agents act as financial ambassadors in their own communities. Each agent must have a smartphone and register with Regxta before being authorized to onboard customers.
Once verified, agents can help people open accounts in less than one minute, process deposits and withdrawals, and even assist with loan applications.
“One key feature of Regxta is that agents can only register customers within their own communities,” Rukayat explained. “This helps build trust and accountability, as people know who they are dealing with.”
Training and Empowering Local Agents
To ensure consistency and quality service, Regxta invests heavily in training its local agents.
“We train every Monday and Thursday,” Rukayat said. “New agents go through two weeks of intensive training before they start registering customers or giving out loans. We also have branch managers and supervisors who oversee operations.”
This structure has enabled Regxta to maintain high service standards while scaling across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Standing Out in a Crowded Fintech Space
Unlike traditional banks, which Rukayat described as slow and bureaucratic, Regxta’s strength lies in its speed, accessibility, and human-centered design.
“We focus on grassroots people — those the banks ignore. Regxta is faster, simpler, and designed for communities that have long been left behind by the formal financial system.”
The Power of Partnerships
Partnerships have played a crucial role in Regxta’s growth story. Rukayat highlighted collaborations such as the one with the Business growth Initiative for Startups, which has been instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion and innovation.
“Collaborations like that are very important. They give us the technical and financial backing to reach more people and improve our services,” she noted.
A Journey of Persistence and Purpose
With over 23,000 merchants and counting, Rukayat says the journey has been challenging but rewarding.
“It hasn’t been easy — it’s taken time, effort, and a lot of faith. But we keep going because we know what we’re doing matters,” she said.
For Rukayat Bello, Regxta is more than just a fintech company — it’s a movement for financial freedom. By bridging the gap between the excluded and the empowered, she’s helping millions of Africans unlock new possibilities for growth, stability, and dignity.
Just4WomenAfrica celebrates Rukayat Bello — a visionary woman using technology and empathy to reshape financial access for Africa’s most underserved communities.
