Abubakar Usman Bello is the Executive Director, Northern Directorate at Keystone Bank Limited. With over twenty years of service in the financial services industry, Mr. Bello has acquired considerable experience in banking and management which spans various areas of banking, managing commercial, retail, corporate and public sector clients; and has served in strategic leadership and management roles.

Before joining Keystone Bank, Abubakar was the Divisional Head, North and Public Sector at Polaris Bank Limited. In this capacity, he led the Public Sector Group nationwide, managed key business functions, and actively participated in various management committees, including the Executive Committee (EXCO), Management Credit Committee (MCC), Assets & Liabilities Committee (ALCO), IT Steering Committee (ITSC), Management Risk Committee (MRC) and Criticised Assets Committee (CAC).

From 2020 to 2023, he served in the private sector where he spearheaded business effort and strategic initiatives, solidifying his reputation as an industry leader in managing agricultural value chains.

Earlier in his career, Abubakar had held significant roles at United Bank for Africa Plc, including Regional Director, Strategic Business Group Head, PSG North, and Regional Head. At UBA, he successfully drove business growth across multiple regions, with a strong focus on both private and public sector banking, while securing critical mandates. He also held leadership positions at Access Bank Plc as Zonal Head of Commercial Banking, and at Zenith Bank Plc as Group Head of Private Sector. Abubakar commenced his banking career with the defunct FSB International Bank Plc after a stint in consulting at Afri-Projects Consortium.

Abubakar holds a Bachelor of Agriculture degree from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria, a Masters in Business and Commercial Law (MBCL); and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.

He is an Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN) and a Pioneer Member of the Institute of Planning, Nigeria (IPN).

He is also the Chairman, CIBN Kano Branch.