FBNBank Ghana Limited has officially opened its new Head Office and branch at a colourful ceremony in Accra to drive home the bank’s resolve of improving its brand visibility and deepening financial inclusion in the country.
Seeing to the commissioning, were high profile personalities including; Mr. Ademola Onafowokan, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana; Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, MD, FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd & Subsidiaries; Mr. Edmund Salami Nelson, Chief Manager, Banking Supervision Department, Bank of Ghana; Mr. Alex Amankwa Poku, Head of Budget Coordination, Ministry of Finance; Hon. Joseph Yiley Chireh, Board Chair, FBNBank Ghana; and Mr. Gbenga Odeyemi, MD of FBNBank Ghana.
Managing Director of FBNBank Ghana, Mr. Gbenga Odeyemi, said since 2015, the bank had been coordinating its head office operations from separate locations. He noted however that, as the bank began to grow and expand, it was imperative that it invested in one head office edifice to bring all essential head office functions under one umbrella and importantly, demonstrate the commitment to doing business in Ghana.
“The new head office building, beyond projecting a modern corporate image for the FBNBank Ghana brand is a symbol of the golden standard we are offering to our customers and everyone. This only points to one thing; FBNBank Ghana is here to stay, to meet the holistic needs of our stakeholders through innovative banking and with a long term vision to be the clear leader and Ghana’s bank of first choice,” he said.
Customer Experience:
Commenting on a recent global banking survey conducted by Ernst & Young, which showed customers selecting “the way I am treated” as a key reason for trusting their bank, Mr. Gbenga Odeyemi said it was important for banks to continually strive for innovation in their financial offerings to ensure customer satisfaction and superior customer experience.
According to him, FBNBank Ghana has positioned itself well to lead the way in customer service delivery, a distinguishing factor in modern banking. “For us at FBNBank Ghana, the way our customers are treated is more than a warm, smiling, friendly face in our branches, or more than a queue less banking hall. It’s about exceeding customer expectations. It’s about creative ideas powered by technology to meet the customer’s complex needs in an efficient manner. This is what we mean by putting you, our customer, first,” he said.
Savings promo:
Mr. Gbenga Odeyemi also used the occasion to announce the bank’s ongoing savings promotion. Dubbed the “FBNBank Ghana Save and Win promo,” the promotion (which runs from September to December 2017) is to inculcate the culture of saving among Ghanaians, as well as reward both existing and potential customers with amazing and delightful prizes.
Keynote address:
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Manager, Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Edmund Salami Nelson, congratulated FBNBank Ghana on the huge investment made into a new head office, which he said, creates a more conducive environment for bringing enhanced services to the doorstep of its esteemed customers.
Mr. Salami Nelson noted that Ghana's economy is rebounding; hence the banking sector should be well positioned to support the growth potential of the economy. He said as the sole regulator, it was the responsibility of the Bank of Ghana, to ensure a resilient, safe, and sound banking and financial system.
Minimum Capital Requirement:
According to Mr. Salami Nelson, the importance of a well-capitalized banking sector cannot be overemphasized. Hence, the regulator's intermittent review of the of minimum capital requirements of banks to protect depositor's funds.
He explained that under the Banks and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930), the discretionary powers of the Bank of Ghana to grant single obligor waiver to enable banks undertake big-ticket transactions in excess of their single obligor limit has been extinguished. It is in light of this and other factors, he said, that the Bank of Ghana has increased the minimum capital of banks to GH₵400 million.
He said banks have up to December 2018 to comply with the new capital requirement as well as expected to submit a capitalization plan to the Bank of Ghana. "We encourage banks to explore merger arrangements as early as possible so as to meet the deadline where there are challenges of raising the capital single-handedly," he said.
Remarks by Parent Bank:
Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, MD, FirstBank of Nigeria, in his remarks, said “the opening of the new head office and branch is a clear testament of our long term commitment and pledge to deliver innovative banking powered by superior customer experiences, first to our customers and the banking sector as a whole.”
Dr. Adesola Adeduntan applauded the Central Bank's resolve to raising the bar in minimum capital requirement of banks in Ghana, particularly in the wake of the recent collapse of UT bank and Capital bank. He gave the assurance that FBNBank Ghana is in the best of position to meet the target, saying: "When your parent bank is the largest bank in Africa's second largest economy, you have no fears!"
Ministry of Finance:
Delivering a short message on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, the Head of Budget Coordination, Mr. Alex Amankwa Poku, lauded FBNBank Ghana on acquiring the new head office, saying it was a great feat worth celebrating. He urged the management and staff of the bank to leverage new possibilities the facility would present, while calling on them to 'rethink, reform and reinvent' their operations to align with their vision. "To continue to achieve success as a bank, it is important to reorganize, reengineer and restructure the way you go about doing your business," he said.
Tour of facility:
Prior to the tour, was a ribbon-cutting to symbolically open the head office to the general public and to allow dignitaries and guests to acquaint themselves with the products and services of FBNBank Ghana.
About FBNBank Ghana:
FBNBank Ghana emerges from an enviably rich heritage and banking tradition, which has positively shaped its business in just four years of operating in Ghana.
The parent bank, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, boasts of an enduring business tradition that spans more than 120 years, enriched by the time-tested values of trust and excellence, backed by the latest technology and a diversity of well trained staff.
The bank’s footprints are visible across the world in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, DR Congo, Guinea, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
Comments