Mrs. Bukola Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from University of Lagos, and also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She started her banking career with FSB International Bank (now part of Fidelity Bank) and her experience cuts across Customer Service, Funds Transfer, International Trade, Institutional Banking, Private Banking, Treasury, Investment & Financial Markets, Project & Structured Finance, Audit and Sales. She became a Chartered Accountant in 1998 and is currently a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN). She is an Associate Member of the Certified Institute of Pensions, Nigeria and also a Committee member of CIBN Annual Conference (Honorary Member of CIBN). In addition, she is a Mentor with Wiscar (Women in Success Careers).

She rose to the position of Divisional Head, Treasury and Institutional Banking in Fidelity Bank Ltd before joining First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB) in the year 2006 where she has occupied several positions as the Group Head, Treasury and Financial Institutions, Divisional Head, Investment Banking and Financial Markets, Director Project and Structured Finance, and Divisional Head, Group Internal Audit. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, she was the Regional Head, Lagos Region of the Bank.