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NIB poised to meet competition in banking industry
Tema, Sept 11, Ghanadot/GNA - The National Investment Bank
(NIB) on Thursday said, it was poised to increase its
operational performance to meet the competition posed by the
new banks in the industry.
Consequently, the Bank has moved from transactions banking
to what it called relationship banking, as it also
introduced new products “to meet the tastes of it clients”.
Additionally, the bank is to be hooked on to the Ghana
Community Network (GCNet), or its parallel, called the
Bandswitch for easy access to its data.
Mr Clifford Mettle, Head of Marketing and Corporate Banking
of the NIB, announced at a forum in Tema that the reform
formed part of measures to satisfy the directives from the
Central bank, the Bank of Ghana, for all banks to increase
their capital base.
The forum was organised by the Tema Regional Branch of the
Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry to introduce members
to the new products of the bank.
Mr Mettle admitted that competition was rife in the banking
industry, and it was necessary that banks changed their
attitudes to their customers in order to survive the fierce
competition.
He said the Bank was making the customer its prime focus, to
achieve what he called “customer led banking.”
Mr Mettle said the bank was offering two types of banking
services-development banking and commercial banking and
announced some of the new services as construction,
warehousing, trade finance, equipment loans as well as
documentary collection facilities and guarantee loans for
businesses with large corporate organizations.
Also, the Bank was engaged in the sale of passport forms and
providing insurance policies.
“In fact, we want to create a bank, which would serve as a
financial supermarket of banking services”, Mr Mettle said,
adding “our focus would be on what would trickle in by way
of re-payment.”
The NIB Corporate Banking Head, who is also the newly
elected Greater Accra Regional Vice President of the
Chamber, advised the business community to desist from
opening several accounts with many banks and rather deal
with one or two banks to increase their financial strength
to enhance their access to credit facilities.
Mrs Victoria Hajar, Tema Regional President of the Chamber
advised members to enquire and acquire knowledge of the
various products of the banks to make it easy for them to
access their services.
Established in 1963, the National Investment Bank now has 27
branches countrywide with a capitalisation of GH¢ 43.5
million.
GNA
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