The first three months of 2026 at Onboard have not just been about building software; they have been about building a movement fueled by our users.

We have always said that Onboard is "Built With You, Not For You," and this quarter served as the ultimate proof of that philosophy in action. From winning major industry awards to launching new product features, here is the story of how the first quarter of the year was spent redefining financial freedom.

Why Onboard is Leading the New Era of Fintech

We started 2026 with a bang.

Our commitment to sleek, easy-to-use interfaces and experiences through 2025 earned us two notable nominations:

• Best Designed Product at the NCTS Awards
• Product of the Year at the Web3 Nigeria Awards.

Thanks to our users and the broader community backing Onboard, we were officially crowned Product of the Year at the Web3 Nigeria Awards. These wins aren’t just trophies on a shelf; they are a testament to the fact that we are building the most user-centric financial tool in the market.

Main Feature Upgrades

Through the first 3 months of the year, we released new product features requested by our users to improve the experience while using Onboard. Some of these are

• 3rd Party Transfers (DeFi): Direct transfers to the bank account of anyone through DeFi Wallet just as we’d had for our Cash Account, Cards, and Trading Wallet.
• Faster USD Account Approvals: The approval process for USD account creation was optimized to take less than 45 minutes.
• Dynamic Accounts: One-time account details generated in the user's name whenever card funding through Naira is initiated to prevent confusion from seeing a stranger's account details and also reduce delays.
• NGN Narration: A new feature for Nigerian Naira (NGN) transfers that allows users to add custom notes or "narrations" to their transactions.
• Dark Mode: A highly requested aesthetic and functional update was implemented to improve the app's visual experience in low-light settings.
• New Referral Program: A revamped incentive system where both the existing user and their referred friend earn $5 each.

Virtual USD Card Upgrade

We launched the Flex card in November, 2025 and it became the go-to card for users due to its better features and lower fees. In Q1, 2026, our users were transitioned from "Classic" cards to the new "Flex" card system to allow everyone get access to the upgraded card.

Key advantages of Flex include better reliability, lower fees, higher acceptance rates, and the ability to use "Tap to Pay" for offline transactions using Apple or Google Pay.

Whether it is paying for online subscriptions, paying for flights, or topping up an international SIM card with ease, Onboard users are already seeing the impact of these upgrades for seamless mobile payments with their Flex cards.

Support & Education for our users

Amani (AI Support Assistant): We launched Amani, our 24/7 Support Assistant, to ensure that no matter whenever a user has a question, they have an answer.

Walkthrough Videos: We began releasing weekly videos to help our users navigate features and understand the app's functionality more easily.

Money Tip Monday: Also launched a weekly series of articles providing guidance on budgeting, investing, and growing wealth.

Money Move of the Day: Highlighting real-life use cases of Onboard shared across our communities was another way to help our users.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next in Q2?

If you thought our Q1 was busy, wait until you see what we have planned for the next three months. We are doubling down on global accessibility and business-level features:

• Global Banking: Launching GBP & EUR global accounts in your own name for receiving payments and converting to local currency with ease.
• Institutional Grade: Onboard for Business, offering tailored financial management for growing enterprises and businesses to manage their finances
• Worldwide Reach: Expanding to USD SWIFT payments, alongside ACH and Wire transfers, allowing for more international transfers from US banks and applications.
• Direct P2P Transfers: Send money to any Onboard user instantly using just their email or Board Pass within the app.

The first quarter of 2026 was just the foundation. To see other campaigns and initiatives we launched in the first quarter and what more to expect in Q2, check out the slides in Onboard Q1 Product Report

As we move into this second quarter, our mission remains the same: to provide you with the fastest, most reliable, and most beautiful way to move your money across borders.

If you’re a current user and you’ve read this far, what do you want to see next on Onboard? We’re always listening. Fill this quick form to tell us.

And if you’re not onboard this sailing ship yet, do not miss out.

Download Onboard Now.