Ecobank Group made N461.2 billion revenue in nine months for the period ended 30th September 2020, representing nine per cent increase against the corresponding period of last year. In its audited report submitted to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday, the pan African bank also recorded superlative performance in other key financial indices despite the harsh operating environment.
Summary of the report showed that gross earnings increased by 0.4 per cent to N 613.1 billion; total assets nudged up by nine per cent to N 9.430 trillion during the period under review as against the period of last year. Also, deposits from customers increased to N 6.686 trillion representing 13 per cent and total equity went up by three per cent at N 708.6 billion.
However, despite the bank’s good showing in deposits from customers, revenue and gross earnings, profits was impacted by the provisioning of about N60.5 billion for goodwill for the acquisition of Oceanic Bank in 2011. The bank said it is optimistic that with the clean book aftermath of the full provisioning for Oceanic Bank, it will improve on its profitability for the year end. Profit before tax and goodwill impairment close at N 95.1 billion.
In a reaction to the recent announcement by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) that beneficiaries of remittances can now receive their transfers in Dollars or opt to have funds paid directly into their domiciliary accounts, Ecobank Nigeria has assured its customers that it will put the necessary processes in place to make this happen seamlessly.
Patrick Akinwuntan, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, in a chat with the Media in Lagos said Ecobank is taking steps to see the immediate implementation of this policy. He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora and their loved ones here in Nigeria to take advantage of the policy by opening the Ecobank domiciliary account or reactivating their inactive domiciliary account with the bank.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that our customers instantly receive their transfers as cash (USD) or transfers into their domiciliary accounts. Our customers have the flexibility to choose the mode of receipt that suits them. It is strictly on their terms.” he said.
He went on to say “Our proprietary money transfer platform, Rapidtransfer, available on the App Store and Play Store, makes it possible for Nigerians abroad to remit home instantly at very affordable charges. We have also just launched a new version, Rapidtransfer International, specifically for Nigerians living in Europe. The functionality of both apps is being enhanced to meet this new requirement.”
Ecobank also stated that it is collaborating with other remittance partners (Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, Small World etc.) on this new development in a bid to deliver maximum value to its customers.
In the same vein, Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi,Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, said the Nigerian diaspora community makes significant contribution to the economy and Ecobank is committed to supporting them by providing advisory services, remittance solutions, investment options and financial planning.
To lend credence to this, Ecobank recently held a Diaspora Summit with major stakeholders in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.
Ecobank Nigeria has emerged the winner of “Agric Lender of the Year” award at the prestigious Business Day’s Bank and other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI). The bank was winner among other strong contenders to clinch the coveted award over the weekend. According to Publisher of Business Day Newspapers, organisers of the event, Frank Aigbogun, Ecobank emerged winner from more than six strong nominees that were vetted, from which three were selected for the judges’ final choice. He stated that Business Day analysts spent over four weeks assessing the performance of Ecobank and its peers to arrive at its decision. He lauded Ecobank’s support for financing rural farmers for food sufficiency, providing employment, creating awareness to showcase the potentials in the sector and partnering government agencies, local and international development partners to develop the agric sector.
Receiving the award, Segment Head, Public Sector/AgriBusiness, Mojisola Oguntoyinbo said the award was well deserved, stating that Ecobank has been at the forefront of financing the entire value chain of agriculture thereby supporting the emergence of new entrepreneurs in the sector. According to her, “As a bank, we are glad that our efforts at developing the agriculture sector of our country are being recognised. This is an encouragement that we should step up our support for the national economy.”
According to her, “Earlier in the year, we announced Agriculture Businesses Finance Scheme which will see us commence the disbursement of agriculture loans to practitioners in different value chains in the sector within the next two years. We have Agric Schemes to support over 70,000 farmers with special loans to increase their capacity and yields in support of the CBN 2020 wet season programme with the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN). We are also in partnership with the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and other developmental partners to double the amount of credit provided to the agricultural sector over the next two or three years.”
Ecobank has been actively leveraging entrepreneurship as a strategy to tackle poverty and growing unemployment in Nigeria through the creation of relevant platforms. One of such platforms is the Ecobank Xpress Point, the bank’s Agency Banking proposition which enables Agents carry out financial transactions on behalf of Ecobank and earn commission on transactions processed. Ecobank popularly referred to as the digital bank is also using its various platforms including PoS, Omnilite, Omni, ATM, Mobile banking, Ecobank Mobile app, EcobankPay and Ecobank Online, among others to facilitate ease of transactions for customers.
The BAFI Awards is adjudged the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent awards programme in the Nigerian financial industry. Since its inception, Business Day has implemented an audit based approach in the evaluation process, meticulously reviewing shortlisted company’s financial reports, commissioned customer perception surveys, and analysts’ opinions to determine winners in the different award categories.
… Wins Best Bank of the Year, International Bank of the Year
l-r: Head of Media and Media Relations, UBA Plc, Ramon Nasir; Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Liadi Ayoku, President, Nigerian Institute of Taxation, Dame Gladys Olajumoke Simplice; and Managing Director, BusinessDay Newspapers. Mr Ogho Okiti at the BusinessDay Bank and other Financial Institutions Award (BAFI) where UBA won Bank of the Year and International Bank of the Year Awards, held in Lagos at the weekend.
Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, carted two highly coveted laurels at the BusinessDay’s Bank and other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) winning the Bank of the Year and the International Bank of the Year at the glamorous event held over the weekend.
The bank beat other strong contenders – Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank and First Bank – to clinch the two top categories in a well-attended ceremony comprising of Bank CEO’s, Captains of Industries and Senior financial executives.
UBA won the ‘Bank of the Year’ in recognition of UBA’s consistent effort in outperforming its peers using a composite of financial metrics, strategic foresight, execution discipline, world-class governance and global vision.
The Bank also won the award for ‘International Bank of the Year’, a keenly contested category, that pitches Nigerian financial institutions that have expanded on the continent against their international peers operating across Africa.
UBA’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Liadi Ayoku, who received the awards on behalf of the bank, expressed his delight on the recognition from BusinessDay.
He said, “These awards mark another milestone for UBA Group and is a testament of the diligent execution of the bank’s strategic initiatives on customer service. Being recognized as Nigeria’s best bank complements positive feedback from customers and is a recognition of our improving efficiencies, service quality and innovation. I therefore dedicate it to our growing loyal corporate and retail customers, who are our essence. Given our heritage commitment to Africa’s development, we continue to impact lives through our service as well as funding to individuals, businesses and government,” he noted.
Ayoku pointed out that the bank remains focused on its goal of democratizing banking in Africa, leveraging on new technologies and emphasised its determination to change the narrative of financial services in Africa.
Publisher of BusinessDay Newspapers, organisers of the event, Frank Aigbogun, noted that UBA has excelled in the key areas of prioritising customers, which according earned the bank the double honours.
While explaining the rationale behind UBA winning the two prestigious categories in its December issue, Aigbogun noted that the bank stood out in prioritising customers as has been evident in the significant rise in Customer Deposits which leaped by 35.7 % to N5.2trillion up from N3.8 trillion at the end of the last financial year.
He noted that even though Africa’s economic landscape has been unpredictable in recent times which resulted in recession in Nigeria and some of Africa’s best performing economies, the bank still found its rhythm and excelled.
Deputy Managing Director, Ayo Liadi with the Bank of the Year Award won by UBA at the BusinessDay Bank and other Financial Institutions Award (BAFI), held in Lagos at the weekend.
He said, “In these conditions only the most diversified and innovative of regional banks can prosper. And this is precisely why UBA has scooped the BAFI 2020, Best Bank of the year and International Bank of the year, a testament to hard work, resilience. For one, the lender registered impressive top- and bottom-line growth over the review period.”
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-one million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries. With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.
Ecobank Nigeria has launched Smart Small And Medium Enterprise (SME) Agency Banking campaign targeted at empowering 100,000 entrepreneurs under the Ecobank SME and Agency Banking proposition. Emeka Agada, Head of SME, Ecobank Nigeria, said the initiative was introduced in line with the bank’s commitment to support the Federal Government and Central Bank Of Nigeria vision for financial inclusion across the country. Aside improving financial inclusion, this campaign also aims to create self-employment for new entrepreneurs and help diversify income streams of existing small businesses across Nigeria. He reiterated that Ecobank has made it easy for entrepreneurs and small businesses to become the Bank’s Agents under this initiative.
“This laudable initiative is to empower small businesses and create new entrepreneurs. It is open to every honest and enterprising adult capable of using smart phones and/ or Point of Sale (PoS) Machines as well as every small and medium enterprise subject to their meeting the terms and conditions as set out for Agents. Why not join the Ecobank Smart SME Agent network today and become a mobile financial services provider? “. He stated.
Mr Agada explained further that an Xpresspoint agent could perform basic banking services such as account opening, deposit collection for Ecobank, interbank transfers to other banks, card and card-less withdrawals, bill payment, airtime top-up, remittance services amongst others. He said Agents will earn money through-fees and commission on all successful transactions done through the agency. Ecobank will also train the agents and provide branding materials for free.
In her comment, Mrs. Nike Kolawole, Head Ecobank Agency Network lauded the Initiative and added that the Ecobank Agency proposition remains the best in the industry today. She encouraged small businesses to partner with the bank to drive financial inclusion and employment.
On a general note, Mrs. Kolawole emphasized that “banking has greatly evolved and has become closer to the people. With the introduction of Agency banking, no one needs to visit a bank branch to carry out a transaction. With your phone, you can perform your own transaction or perform transactions for other people on behalf of the bank and earn commissions. I encourage the youth and owners of small businesses (men and women) to use this initiative to expand their revenue streams while offering this value-added service to customers”.
– SPEARHEADS INNOVATION IN ELECTRONIC BANKING IN NIGERIA
In the light of COVID-19, FirstBank has launched the FastTrack ATM, a Next Generation ATM and first of its kind in Africa, designed to promote financial activities on the ATM devoid of any form of physical interaction with the machine. The introduction of the FastTrack ATM which is done in partnership with Inlaks enables customers carry out cash withdrawals without having to touch the interface of the ATM.
With the FastTrack ATM, widely referred to as Touchless Solution, the customer carries out the transaction by using his or her mobile phone to perform the needed steps designed originally for implementation on the ATM. By using one’s phone, the transaction is carried out – in advance – through the Bank’s USSD or mobile banking option. Upon the schedule, the customer visits the FastTrack ATM to complete the transaction by tapping a contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) card on the ATM to withdraw his or her cash.
FirstBank customers can now leverage the real-time mobile banking capabilities of their cellphone to activate cash withdrawals at the FastTrack ATM. The ATM solution is the Bank’s response to control the spread of COVID-19, whilst promoting the safety of customers that carry out transactions at the ATM.
Speaking on the launch of the FastTrack ATM, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said ‘at FirstBank, we are driven to provide seamless financial solutions to ensure our customers are able to timely carry out their transactions in safe, secured and efficient ways, thereby putting them ahead in digital banking, not just in Nigeria but Africa. We are delighted to set the pace regarding the use of the Next Generation ATM in Africa which enables customers to use their mobile phones to remotely initiate ATM-based cash withdrawals via our *894# USSD banking or FirstMobile application. At the core of our strategy lies innovation which is critical to adapting to the new normal’.
According to Olufemi Adeoti, Managing Director, Inlaks, “given that consumers are more adaptable to mobile technology Inlaks – the Africa’s leading Information Technology Solutions provider together with Hyosung ATM OEM are partnering with FirstBank to introduce the first fully compliant COVID-19 FinTech ATM. This is in alignment with the ‘new normal’ desired customer experience which includes digitalization and delivering a secure contactless cash access to the bank’s FirstMobile customers for better user experience, simplicity, speed and convenience”
In recognition of its giant strides at promoting electronic banking in the country, FirstBank’s mobile banking application – FirstMobile – was recently awarded the Best Mobile Banking App award 2020 in the Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2020 as well as 2019 Best Mobile Banking App by Global Business Outlook.
FirstBank has been at the forefront of promoting electronic banking solution in Nigeria. In 2017, the Bank was recognized as the first financial institution in Nigeria and the West-Africa sub-region to issue 10 million ATM cards to customers across the country. The bank was the second in Africa to achieve the milestone.
These feats are achieved through the trusts in its industry leading innovative banking solutions by over 10 million customers on its USSD *894# banking platform and over 4.1 million customers on its FirstMobile banking application, endearing the Bank to process about 30% of card transactions in the entire banking industry in the country.
L-R: Tunde Lawanson, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBN Holdings Plc, Ugochi Onuekwusi, Human Resources Officer, Rev. Oluwayomi Uteh, General Manager, Operations TREM, Oyinade Kuku, Head, Human Resources, FBN Holdings Plc and Douglas Elisha, Technical Assistant to the GMD, FBN Holdings Plc at The Great Place To Work Awards held at Marina, Lagos on Friday which had FBNHoldings winning the Best Place to Work for Millennials and Women, Best in Leadership Practice, and 2nd Best Place to Work. The financial holdings group also received Platinum certification as a Great Place to Work.
FBNHoldings Group has won big at the 2020 Great Place To Work Award ceremony held last week Friday in Lagos. The Holdings Company along with its subsidiary companies; First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, FBNQuest Merchant Bank and FBNQuest Capital won various awards at the prestigious event.
FBN Holdings Plc received a Platinum Certification as a Great Workplace further attesting to the quality of its people practices. It also received the award for the Best Workplace for Millennials; this has become evident with a high percentage of its workforce in this age category and the targeted HR initiatives to drive engagement and retention. FBNHoldings also topped the following two categories and received the awards as the Best in Leadership Practice and Best Workplace for Women. Overall, FBNHoldings was ranked as the 2nd Best Workplace.
In the other categories, First Bank of Nigeria Limited received a gold certification as a Great Workplace and also won the Best Workplace in Learning and Development, affirming its peak performance in this space. The Bank was ranked as the 5th Best Workplace in the Large Corporates Category.
FBNQuest also had a glorious evening at the event, based on research feedback and metric score from the Great Place To Work team. In the other Categories- (Medium-sized Corporates), FBNQuest Merchant Bank and FBNQuest Trustees were adjudged as the 4th and 5th best workplace ranking respectively. They also received Gold Certification as a Great Workplace, while FBNQuest Capital received a Silver Certification.
Speaking on the awards received by the Group, UK Eke, MFR, the Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc said ‘this is a reflection of the commitment and efforts of the FBN Holdings Group management in providing and building quality life for all our employees’ adding further ‘the awards also demonstrates our recognition of the critical importance of all our employees as we seek to remain the ‘hub for the best industry talent’ towards the delivery of our overall strategic objectives.
There’s a saying that what men can do, women can do as well, though men are seen as stronger but so many women have come to show strong character and ability to thrive in male dominated industries. One of such amazing women who has been doing a exceptionally well in male dominated carpentry works and interior decoration is Mrs Juliet Chigozie Anorah, she’s the CEO, Julian Interiors and furniture.
She’s a wife, a mother and an entrepreneur whose Nigeria of her dreams is to see government give the youth an enabling environment to maximize their potential. Not minding how strange it sounded this incredibly hardworking woman has proven she’s a good capenter with a touch of luxury if we are putting into consideration the furniture works on display in her showroom located at Fola Oshibo, Lekki phase 1,Lagos.
In this exclusive interview with Adeniyi Ifetayo, she talked about her unique designs, surprises for her clients and palliative to be given to the less privilege during her birthday which has been scheduled for 2nd December, 2020. Excerpts…
Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and how your growing up is like?
My names are Juliet Chigozie Arinze, growing up was fun because as a child you have nothing to worry about lol . I was born in the north but we later moved to east where I did my primary and secondary education. So growing up was memorable in a family of 6 siblings. So I had a great childhood experience.
What did you study and how did you come about Julian Interior and Furniture?
I studied Business Administration at the Lagos State University, Julian Interior came from the passion I have in making every little space in my house beautiful and I realized I can provide good services for people because that’s one thing I’m very passionate about and from there we started growing the company gradually.
Providing luxury furniture is not easy, What were the challenges when you started and how do you overcome them?
The challenges with providing luxury furnitures is always about finding the right customers and most importantly the huge capital involved in running the business, in today’s world social media has made it easier for us to find customers online and also with the help of our marketing team we are making progress.
Julian luxury interior and furniture design are so unique knowing you are operating in a supposed male dominated industry, what’s gives you an edge over others in this industry?
Our products are unique because we don’t compromise quality. Our products are made by the best craft men in the industry, and also gone are the days when the furniture business are dominated by the men as u know now there are so many female interior designers that have made name for themselves, so I would say women are taking over the business already.
Covid-19 pandemic affected a lot of industry, how did you scale through?
Most entrepreneurs felt the impact of covid 19 because nigeria is in recession already and that makes it hard for a lot of people to afford luxury goods, but like I said we have a wonderful marketing team and our products speaks for itself . So by Gods grace we are still making sales.
You are a wife, mother and entrepreneur, how do you combine these together?
Naturally women knows how to multi task, though it’s never easy but thank God I have grown up kids, so it is easy to find a way to make time for my family and business as well.
What will be your advice to the youth even as they strive to be successful?
My advise for the youth is to never give up on their dreams, anything is possible when u set your mind to a task. Focus on your dreams and find something you are passionate about, even when it doesn’t work at first, never give up and surely you will succeed.
What is Nigeria of your dream?
The Nigerian of my dream is where the one where government will create an enabling environment for youths to reach their full potentials, provide good road and electricity to enable small and medium scale industries to succeed in the country, providing basics amenities shouldn’t be a problem in our country but it’s unfortunate we are in a position like this at this time.
Your birthday is around the corner, what are your plans? And you distributing palliative?
My birthday is usually celebrated with a small circle of my family and friends, and definitely we will reach out to the less privileged with our palliatives (smiles) .
For people that want to patronize you this festive period, are you doing clearance sales or there’s special discounts for December?
I can’t wait to have a lot of people patronize us this period and trust me we have something special for them,
First we will give them the best price you can’t get anywhere else and then a nice gift to appreciate them for trusting us.
The Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited, at its meeting held on Thursday 26th November 2020, has elected Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu as Chairman of the Board of Directors to replace Mr. JIbril Aku.
The board has also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Datti Yola as a Non-Executive Director, Subject to the approval of the CBN.
Mr. Shittu was a Director at Central Bank of Nigeria. He retired in 2018 and is a holder of MBA degree, Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate (ACTI) Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria.
Mr. Datti is a retired General Manager at the National Pension Commission (PenCom). He earlier worked at Central Bank of Nigeria where he rose to the rank of a Senior Bank Examiner before joining other commercial banks. He is a holder of MBA degree and a Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
The Bank expresses it gratitude for having such gentlemen as members of its Board of Directors and assured its stakeholders that their wealth of experience will be brough to bear in the success of the bank.
To enhance effective growth in profitability and good returns on shareholders’ investment, the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited, has elected Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu as Chairman of the Board of Directors to replace Mr. JIbril Aku.
This decision was made at its meeting held on Thursday 26th November 2020. The board also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Datti Yola as a Non-Executive Director, Subject to the approval of the CBN.
While Mr. Shittu was a former Director at Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Datti is a retired General Manager at the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
SunTrustbank, it would be recalled was licensed on September 15, 2015 as the first new commercial bank license given by the Central Bank in 15 years and its journey as a bank began in 2009. It commenced business on August 1, 2016.
The new Chairman, Olanrewaju Shittu retired in 2018 and is a holder of MBA degree, Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate (ACTI) Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria.
Commenting on the bank’s operations so far, a senior executive in the bank said: “Over 90 per cent of banking transaction are being transacted electronically worldwide. Banking is no longer where you go to… the only financial institution that can stand in the future is no longer those with physical branches but only by banking services that will be driven by technology and therefore most customers of tomorrow will no longer be interested in going to the banking halls… We are a financial technology bank that will bring banking to your home rather than make you come to us…We will be everywhere but we will be nowhere…we will have the minimum branches required to operate as a bank but we will drive financial services through technology…”
