Banking

Between Credit Risk Mitigation and Customer Satisfaction

Published

7 years ago

06/11/2017

In order to ensure that the bank is not exposed to undue risks, Stanbic IBTC has developed a framework for adhering to laid down guidelines before granting loans to its customers.

The significant rise in the level of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the banking industry clearly requires banks to put in place stringent risk management policies that would help them safeguard depositors’ funds.

This is also necessary to ensure that the financial system remains stable.

Indeed, following the drop of low oil prices, dwindling oil revenue, foreign exchange scarcity and a crippling recession, the last two years saw intense weakening of the macroeconomic environment, resulting in a deterioration of asset quality and rising NPLs in the banking industry, from about five per cent to 15 per cent presently. This has remained a source of concern to both the banks and the regulators.

Normally, risk is regarded as a threat to a bank’s steady flow of income. Risk management is, thus, the identification, assessment, and prioritisation of risks, followed by coordinated and effective application of resources to reduce, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of disastrous events.

It is also the process by which managers identify key risks, obtain consistent, understandable, mitigating measures, choosing which risks to avoid or reduce and by what means, and establishing procedures to monitor the resulting risk position. The essence of risk management, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is to detect prospective problems before they become actual problem, and the implementation of an enterprises wide strategy to manage those risks.

Thus, an ideal risk management programme assists an enterprise to steer clear of potential risks before they occur throughout the life of the product or project. Risk is the possibility; likelihood or chance that something unpleasant or unwelcomed will happen that is capable of damaging an asset, or all of the original investment or the possibility of financial loss.

More precisely, risk is the possibility of damage or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, which may be avoided through preemptive action. Risk is commonly associated with uncertainty, as the event may or may not happen.

Therefore, a risk management design includes tools or methods of analysis that allows an organisation to reduce, delay or avoid likely risks.

The rational approach to risk therefore, is at the very least, to restrict exposure to it, ideally to avoid it all together.

According to the CBN, the stability of the financial system is a major challenge to the regulatory authorities, given the implication of its disruption on account of the insolvency of any operator on the economy and beyond. The CBN, mindful of the challenges posed, has reorganised/streamlined its internal structure to boost service delivery and enhance its capacity to better supervise the industry.

Nonetheless, image management is indispensable for the financial service industry, since it defines how others relate to the bank, as well as how much faith and trust savers and other stakeholders will place on a bank.

Like attitude, the reputation of a bank – one of its priceless assets is most at risk if a bank suffers a material loss through bad risk management.

Banking

Banks, Fintech Firms Should Not Operate as Rivals—Ajalie

Published

2 days ago

03/01/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chief executive of TeamApt Limited, Mr Dennis Ajalie, has called for a robust collaboration in the digital payments ecosystem, saying banks and fintech companies should not see themselves as rivals.

Mr Ajalie said the industry’s regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has delineated what each entity should do and how they should function in creating a successful payment ecosystem that protects consumers and enables businesses, which he admitted to be complementary and not competitive.

Touching on the imperative of borderless transactions and the solutions for implementation concerning the framework, he said, “Borderless transactions have to happen because we’re becoming more interconnected by the day and by the minute.”

“We still have a lot of siloed implementations among key stakeholders and unless we recalibrate our systems, borderless remains beyond our reach and a mirage,” Mr Ajalie stated at the Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH) conference in Lagos themed Payment System Vision 2030: Navigating Contemporary Issues in Driving Future Growth.

“There’s the fierce urgency of now that demands that we find solid ways to interconnect, and once we’re able to interconnect within ourselves, reconcile properly, especially on the local front, then we can present a single, unified front that will enable us to push transactions and receive transactions from outside.

“We cannot go forward without fixing these internal challenges,” he added at the event, where he was one of the panellists.

TeamApt, a subsidiary of Moniepoint Incorporated, facilitates payment processing across many industries while enabling reliable payments for banks and their customers while reducing operating costs.

Wrapping up his thoughts, the TeamApt boss reiterated the need for industry-wide collaborations in fighting the menace of fraud.

“If we are able to all share information and collaborate seamlessly, we’ll find out that it becomes disinteresting for these bad faith individuals to use the collective technology commonwealth that we have all built to commit nefarious activities.

“So, it goes back to collaboration among fintechs, the banks, NFIU, infrastructure providers, the telcos, and switches. We’ve all got to come together to say, enough is enough and that this present situation threatens all of us rather than just one of us,” he added.

Banking

Bankit MFB Introduces Web Banking Platform for Convenience, Security

Published

5 days ago

31/12/2024

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

An innovative web banking platform to provide customers with an additional digital channel to manage and carry out uninterrupted daily transactions on their phones, laptops and other devices has been introduced by Bankit Microfinance Bank (MFB).

The emerging small financial institution said it came up with this platform to break barriers and empower individuals and businesses to manage their finances with confidence.

With this, Bankit MFB is redefining convenience and security in banking, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial services, time-saving functionalities, efficiency, real-time account updates, 24/7 availability, and faster transactions.

“In today’s fast-paced digital age, connectivity is everything in banking, and for us, it’s all about improving customer experience with simple banking options and empowering our teeming customers to live their best lives.

“We are revolutionizing the Fintech landscape in Nigeria, and we have developed this solution to empower our customers to bank securely, anytime, anywhere, conveniently.

“We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance the banking experience for all our customers,” the chief executive of Bankit Africa, Mr Yen Choi, stated.

“Bankit’s web banking platform reaffirms one of the bank’s core values – Innovation and sets a new standard for accessibility and security in the banking industry.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, Bankit Africa will continue to evolve its offerings to meet and exceed the needs of its rising customer base.

“Some key features of this web banking platform include: a simple way to send money, buy airtime, and pay bills with no extra fees or hidden charges,” he added.

Bankit MFB is a licensed financial institution dedicated to providing innovative, customer-centric financial solutions to individuals, businesses, and communities in Nigeria, with a focus on simplicity, convenience, and security.

Banking

GTBank, UBA, Others Announce Early Closure of Branches as 2024 Ends

Published

6 days ago

31/12/2024

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

Banking operations at the branches of most financial institutions in Nigeria will end earlier than expected today, Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

The majority of them have sent messages to their customers to inform them of this development.

Business Post sighted some of these notices sent by the banks to their customers via electronic mails (e-mails).

One of them from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Limited said transactions at its Lagos branches will close for the day and year by 3 pm while in other branches at 2 pm, encouraging customers to use its digital channels for their financial transactions.

“We would like to inform you that all our branches nationwide will close to customers early on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

“During this period, we encourage you to take advantage of our digital channels for banking needs,” the notice read in parts.

On its part, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc said its branches would close for the day at 2 pm across the nation.

“As we prepare for the New Year celebration, our branches will close by 2 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

“While our branches take a break, our digital channels, the UBA Mobile Banking, Leo, *919# or internet banking are available 24/7 for all your banking needs.

“Your security is our priority. We will never ask for your BVN, card number, PIN or personal details. Suspect anything fraudulent? Call our Fraud Help Desk,” the message from the lender read.

As for Fidelity Bank Plc, it plans to stop banking services at its branches nationwide today by 2 pm to resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

“Please be informed that our branches will close at 2 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, ahead of the New Year holiday.

“As always, our digital channels; Mobile Banking, USSD Bank (*770#), PoS, ATMs, Cards, and Ivy Chat, will be available 24/7 for all banking transactions.

“Please note that normal operations will resume at 8 am on Thursday, January 2, 2025,” the bank said in its message to customers.