Banking
GCR Affirms BBB+(NG) Rating on Union Bank’s N13.5bn Bonds
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The BBB+(NG) rating assigned to the N13.5 billion Series 1 and Series 2 bonds of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has been affirmed by Global Credit Ratings (GCR).
The local credit agency said the mid-tier lender has been meeting its obligations under the issuances on a timely basis, up to the most recent coupon payment date March 3, 2020.
In September 2018, the commercial bank issued the series 1 and series 2 bonds under its N100 billion debt issuance programme.
For the series 1 notes, which have a three-year tenor at a fixed annual interest rate of 15.5 per cent, the bank raised N7.2 billion and for the series 2, with a 7-year maturity at a fixed rate of 15.75 per cent, the lender raised N6.3 billion.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, GCR said while affirming the rating on the Union Bank’s papers, it accorded them with a negative outlook.
The firm said its rating was based on the improvement in asset quality and capitalisation metrics of the lender at FY19.
It said in the 2019 fiscal year, Union Bank’s profitability improved, largely supported by non-interest income (particularly recoveries).
In the year under review, while the net interest income grew marginally 1.8 per cent to N52.5 billion, non-interest income increased by 24.8 per cent to N42.8 billion (of which N12 billion relates to recoveries).
Profitability was further enhanced by the absence of impairment and a relatively flat operating expense, while cost ratio though moderated to 74.5 per cent from 83.1 per cent the prior year, measured above the industry average of 67 per cent.
Furthermore, the pre-tax profits rose by 37.5 per cent to N24.8 billion, well ahead of budget. Thus, ROaE and ROaA improved to 10.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively from 6.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent in FY18.
“Also, performance as at 1Q FY20 reflects a significant improvement relative to the corresponding period in FY19,” GCR said in the statement.
Concerning the negative outlook on the rating, GCR said it was because of the current macro-economic challenges, exacerbated by the sustained weighting of the bank’s loan book to the challenged oil and gas sector, which it said remains a major constrain.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Access Bank Plc has assured customers that their funds are safe with the company, stressing that there’s nothing to worry about.
The lender gave this assurance in reaction to a video making the rounds on social media that about N500 million belonging to a customer was missing.
The financial institution described this allegation as “baseless,” denying any involvement in “any unethical behaviour.”
“Our attention has been drawn to a video on social media wherein allegations of missing funds and unethical behaviour have been made against Access Bank PLC.
“First and foremost, we wish to emphasise that the safety and security of our customers’ funds are core priorities which we take seriously. Second, Access Bank Plc does not engage in or condone any unethical behaviour.
“In the instant case, the allegations of missing funds in the Bank are most untrue and baseless.
“There is no N500 million or any other fund or amount missing from the subject customer’s account or any other customer’s account with us.
“We and other independent stakeholders in the banking industry have thoroughly investigated these allegations and independently arrived at the same conclusions.
“Access Bank PLC operates with the highest ethical standards, and we protect our customers’ interests whilst also respecting privacy laws.
“Consequently, whilst we have engaged and will continue to engage with our customers, we must advise the public not to rely on or believe sensational and unverified claims that are designed to titillate and mislead the public,” a statement from the firm stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Ajose Adeogun Street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State has been decorated by Zenith Bank Plc in line with its yearly tradition.
The area was lightened up by the financial institution ahead of the yuletide season and at the unveiling on Saturday, November 23, 2024, the lender said it was happy to do it again for the 18th year.
“Over the years, Zenith Bank has hosted this spectacular event, transforming the entire Ajose Adeogun Street into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland.
“Our beautiful and elaborate Christmas decorations have become a centre of attraction and shared on social media platforms globally.
“As we light up the street tonight, we celebrate the essence of Christmas and Zenith Bank’s unparalleled Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“Our customers will always be at the centre of all that we do in Zenith Bank,” the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji said.
She urged everyone to imbibe the message and spirit of Christmas which is about love, kindness, generosity and respect for humanity, and thanked the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling environment for the initiative.
She also praised the efforts of Quantum Markets, who have been responsible for the annual decorations, for their expertise and creativity in putting together the lovely decorations.
“I want to thank the management of Quantum Markets for all the beautiful, creative and innovative ideas they keep coming up with. Quantum Markets always make it bigger and better every year, and we are always looking forward to it,” she stated.
The beautiful Christmas decoration, which transforms the entire stretch of Ajose Adeogun Street (home to Zenith Bank’s corporate headquarters) and roundabout into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland, has come to be recognized as an iconic tourist attraction, bringing visitors from far and wide who visit with their families and friends to take pictures and enjoy the ambience of the street.
The company’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, has launched a digital wallet known as EazyByZenith.
This was unveiled at the 2024 Zenith Tech Fair held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The lender said this wallet will help to support its retail and financial inclusion strategy, as the company further pushes to expand its share of the retail banking space in Nigeria.
The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, said the bank cannot sit back as the world moves into the digital age.
“It is paramount that we adapt and adopt technology to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen various cases of companies that failed because of their lack of innovation.
“It is quite obvious that when companies fail to innovate; they can easily be displaced, so this is not the time to be orthodox, innovation should be a top priority for us,” she stated.
Explaining why Zenith Bank came up with the fair themed Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity and Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI, she said it was to “empower and nurture young fertile minds,” with the mindset to “produce the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk” in the nearest future.
“According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population are youths which is an economic asset when properly harnessed.
This is part of the reason why Zenith Bank is hosting this event to support the development of technology startups.
“Their success not only fosters innovation and growth in Nigeria, but it also plays a vital role in creating employment opportunities for our youth,” Ms Umeoji also said, stressing the importance of innovation and embedded finance in ensuring strong and enduring institutions.
Business Post reports that the fair also included presentations on the leading technological innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Compliance, Financial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Communication Technologies, with the keynote address, Banking Transformation in a Digital World, delivered by Robin Speculand, a renowned Strategy and Digital Implementation Specialist.
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