Charles Oligbo, a Nigerian fintech entrepreneur based in the United States, rethinks how banks connect with their customers through digital innovation. He founded and leads Sawport Inc, a company that modernizes banking by creating virtual branches powered by artificial intelligence.

Since its launch in 2021, Sawport developed a platform that replicates physical bank interactions online. The “Virtual Branch” environment allows customers to communicate with advisors in real time via videoconference, eliminating the need for traditional phone calls or emails.

The platform integrates multiple features, including audio and video calls, instant messaging, appointment scheduling, automatic call-back, identity verification, facial recognition, electronic signatures, omnichannel management, real-time translation, and automated multilingual support.

In addition to running Sawport, Oligbo serves on the executive committee of the North American Fintech Coalition. This group supports credit unions and community banks across the US and Canada, advancing technology adoption.

Oligbo holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and electrical engineering from the University of Akron and a bachelor’s in computer and information sciences plus a master’s in management information systems from Park University.

He began his career in 2005 with an electrical engineering internship at FirstEnergy, a US utility company. He then worked as a support engineer at IT firm VeeMost Technologies in 2008. In 2013, he became digital project manager for Seattle’s public administration. In 2015, Oligbo took the role of technical director for projects at Wondr Health, supporting digital transformation in Dallas. From 2019, he led implementation at fintech Alkami Technology. Between 2023 and 2024, he managed innovation programs at BSN SPORTS, a US sports equipment supplier.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum