Back-to-school relief for tight budgets
With uniform prices up and transport fares still high, many Brazzaville parents feared the 2025 rentrée would weigh heavily on their wallets. United Bank for Africa Congo now offers a new breathing space through an AliExpress cashback powered by its Mastercard network.
The bank promises an instant reduction of up to twenty United States dollars on schoolbags, notebooks or electronic accessories, provided each cart reaches a minimum of forty dollars at checkout. The promotion started on fifteen September and is scheduled to run until twenty-six October.
In crowded stationery shops of Marché Total, the announcement has travelled fast. “I compared prices online and the saving almost covers my child’s maths set,” smiles Mireille Mavouenza, a mother of two who already owns a UBA debit card.
How the AliExpress discount works
Clients do not need to type a code. When a valid UBA Mastercard is selected at payment, the AliExpress gateway automatically verifies eligibility and displays the line Spend 40 USD or more with UBA Mastercard to enjoy up to 20 USD off.
UBA explains that the reduction applies three times per customer each month during the campaign, a feature designed to spread purchases rather than encourage one-off splurges. Only physical deliveries to Congo and the seven other participating countries are accepted.
If the technical quota is reached for a day, the message disappears until the next replenishment window. The bank therefore urges parents to finalise carts early in the morning to maximise chances.
Eligibility rules at a glance
The scheme is open to holders of consumer or business Mastercards issued by UBA in Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Benin. Pre-paid, debit and credit versions are all covered.
Transactions routed through digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not included, because the payment identifier no longer matches the underlying card. Canceled or returned orders automatically forfeit the discount, according to the terms published on the lender’s website.
The promotion follows a first-come, first-served principle, meaning that once the daily pool of subsidies is exhausted, subsequent transactions revert to normal pricing. UBA reserves the right to extend or shorten the window, but any change must appear on the campaign page.
Parents welcome a timely cushion
Average household expenditure on primary school materials in Brazzaville reached fifty-two thousand CFA francs last year, according to the National Statistics Centre. Although inflation slowed in recent months, many families still juggle rent, electricity and food bills.
“Even ten dollars saved is equivalent to a week of bread for us,” notes education activist Désiré Mabiala. He praises private initiatives that complement government efforts, such as the exemption of textbook import duties announced in July.
Teachers also see indirect benefits. “When children arrive with complete kits from day one, lessons start smoothly,” observes Julienne Kouangani, headmistress of École Mfilou-Sud.
Digital payments gain ground in Congo
Beyond the short-term bargain, UBA positions the offer as an invitation to embrace cashless habits. The bank states that every Mastercard comes with fraud insurance, two-factor authentication and the possibility to block or unblock the card from a mobile app.
Central Bank data show that card payments in retail doubled between 2021 and 2024, yet they still represent less than fifteen percent of total consumer transactions. E-commerce platforms such as AliExpress widen choice for parents living far from big shopping centres.
Fin-tech analyst Bernice Ngolo says regional banks compete to familiarise users with online spending. “Subsidising a first purchase is often cheaper than running billboard adverts,” she explains, adding that loyalty tends to follow convenience.
Steps to make the most of the deal
Customers are advised to update the AliExpress app, link their UBA Mastercard only once and verify that the delivery address matches a participating country. Splitting a large shopping list into several forty-dollar orders can unlock the rebate up to three times.
UBA’s customer-care line remains open twenty-four hours for card activation or lost-card reports, while the AliExpress help centre handles shipment questions. The two companies recommend planning purchases at least two weeks before schools reopen to avoid customs delays.
A final word from UBA Congo Retail Manager, Jean-Patrick Ossenga: “Our mission is to bring global buying power to every Congolese household. This back-to-school campaign is just the start; expect more cost-of-living solutions on your card soon.”
Key dates to remember
Fifteen September: campaign opens at midnight GMT plus one. Twenty-six October: scheduled closure at twenty-three fifty-nine. Daily budget resets at midnight, so early birds often clinch the deal first.
Parents who register for UBA’s SMS alerts can receive a reminder seventy-two hours before the end of the offer. The feature serves both to nudge late shoppers and to showcase the bank’s digital ecosystem.
Whether orders include superhero backpacks, exercise books or protective laptop sleeves, the savings tally quickly. In a season where every franc counts, UBA’s Mastercard discount turns a simple payment choice into a tangible classroom advantage.
