DILI, 05 December 2025 (TATOLI) – The Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening digital banking services and expanding financial inclusion in Timor-Leste through sustained investments in technology and youth-oriented products.
BNU General Manager Paulo Lopes said the bank has focused in recent years on modernising the national payment system and widening access to online financial services.
“We were the first bank to introduce internet banking, the first to launch a mobile app, and we remain the only bank offering international Visa cards. Our machines also accept Mastercard payments,” Paulo Lopes said after attending the BCTL CEO Forum 2025 at the Palm Spring Hotel on Friday.
He said that these initiatives support BNU’s broader goal of building a secure, fast, and accessible financial ecosystem for the public.
To advance this goal, BNU invests around US$1 million annually in information technology upgrades and new digital platforms. “Our US$1 million annual IT investment reflects our long-term commitment, and we intend to continue,” he said.
The bank currently serves more than 50,000 clients and aims to expand further through strengthened digital services and targeted engagement with Timor-Leste’s growing youth population.
One major initiative is the BNU Youth Account, a free product available to individuals up to 24 or 25 years old, designed to encourage early participation in the formal financial system. “Our priority is to attract young Timorese. Through the BNU Youth Account, we aim to promote financial inclusion and invest in Timor’s future,” he said.
Lopes highlighted that about 65 percent of Timor-Leste’s population is under 30, making early engagement with young people a strategic long-term investment for the national financial system. “When we invest in young people, we invest in Timor’s future,” he added.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
