Banking

How Distressed Oil Sector Loans Damaged Diamond Bank

Published

6 years ago

20/05/2019

More facts have emerged on the reasons why the defunct Diamond Bank surrendered itself for a business combination deal with Access Bank Plc. The deal was consummated on April 1.

According to a report obtained by THISDAY yesterday, between December 2014 and June 2018, the immediate past management of Diamond Bank under the leadership of Mr Uzoma Dozie as Chief Executive Officer, inherited a distressed oil and gas portfolio of $1.8 billion (N302.6 billion).

Of this amount, the sum under Watch list and non-performing loans (NPLs) stood at $406 million (N68.9 billion) and $73 million (or N12.3 billion), respectively.

In addition, the bank had foreign currency balance sheet mismatch in excess of $883 million as at October 31, 2015, resulting from maturing trade obligations and customer transactional instructions.

Similarly, Diamond Bank had unpaid billions of naira to the federal government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), resulting to regulatory sanctions and negative public perception and waning customer confidence.

The immediate past management of the defunct bank preserved Diamond Bank’s licence by paying down the inherited forex liquidity mismatch, it stated.

Furthermore, it showed that the inability of Diamond Bank to repay the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited’s funds to the TSA, “due to the application of those funds in the creation of long-term oil and gas and power loans was a major threat to the bank’s corporate existence.”

Without external management, the then management of the bank employed every legitimate means, including strong negotiation and relationship management skills to have the issue resolved.

According to the report, as at the end of September 2018, this obligation had been fully extinguished.

While resolving this, the Uzoma Dozie-led management built an enviable retail franchise that, stand-alone, can generate sustainable profitability and low-cost deposits.

However, the value of the retail deposit was hidden in bad corporate loans inherited by the then management.

In addition, the management then developed long-term sustainable relationship with global institutions, which has helped to build thrust in its brand.

These included Women’s World Banking, Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation, Afreximbank, International Finance Corporation, Ecowas International and Development Bank, among others.

Commenting on the merger with Diamond Bank, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, had said: “Together, we would have 27 million customers, which is the largest customer base of any bank on the continent. We would have 33,000 point of sale (PoS) terminals, 3,300 automated teller machines (ATMs) and all of that.

“Access Bank has grown over time and has built a very strong wholesale banking capability. We have also shown significant expertise as far as treasury is concerned, risk management as well as our capital management plan.

“We created and pushed a very strong value chain strategy which was our own way of building our retail business.

“This was because we realised that the creation of a large diversified bank is critical, not just for Nigeria, but in Africa and the world. If you go to any part of the world, what you tend to see is that the top three or top five banks technically control market share.”

Speaking further, Wigwe said the combination of Access Bank and Diamond Bank would ensure that “we are able to take and solve customers’ issues right from the wholesale end, down to the man in the village, just because of the use of technology.”

Banking

Access Bank Begins N194bn Commercial Paper Sales

Published

1 day ago

21/03/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

One of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Access Bank Plc, has commenced the sale of commercial paper worth N194 billion under its N400 billion commercial paper programme.

Access Bank, one of the subsidiaries of a financial services provider, Access Holdings Plc, currently trades its equities at the NASD OTC Securities Exchange, with its share price closing flat at N19.30 per unit on Thursday.

Subscription for the debt instrument began on Wednesday, March 20, 2025, and will close on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

The lender is offering the commercial paper for sale in two tenors; 180 days and 270 days, according to details of the exercise obtained by Business Post.

It is selling the six-month maturity at a discounted rate of 19.44 per cent and the nine-month tenor at 20.92 per cent. The minimum subscription is N5 million and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter.

Access Bank combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management and capital management capabilities.

The lender was the first deposit money bank (DMB) in the country to meet the N500 billion minimum capital requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks with international operations, with its share capital exceeding N600 billion.

The bank has been acquiring different financial institutions outside the country, including in South Africa, as part of its expansion drive.

It operates commercial banking services through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning three continents, 24 countries and over 60 million customers spread across Africa, Europe and Asia.

Banking

Fidelity Bank GAIM 6 Promo Produces 20 Additional Millionaires

Published

3 days ago

19/03/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

No fewer than 20 fresh millionaires have emerged in the Fidelity Bank Plc Get Alert in Millions (GAIM) Season 6 promo.

They winners were picked at the second and third monthly draws of the financial institution held at its corporate headquarters in Lagos recently.

The events were monitored by the representatives of relevant regulatory bodies, including the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), Mrs Aboluwade Margaret; and the Principal Legal Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Oyinkan Kusamotu.

A statement from the lender disclosed that the 20 lucky winners were randomly selected through an electronic draw across Lagos, North, Abuja, South-West, South-South, and South-East zones and would be rewarded with N1 million each.

The Fidelity Bank GAIM campaign was launched in November 2024 and about N19.75 million has been won by 869 customers across different categories.

The GAIM 6 campaign, which will run until August 2025, is set to reward lucky customers with a total of N159 million.

Speaking at the draws, the promo Chairperson and Executive Director for Lagos and South-West, Fidelity Bank, Dr Ken Opara, noted that the GAIM 6 promo was designed to reward customers’ loyalty, encourage a savings culture, and promote financial inclusion across the country.

Dr Opara, represented by the Regional Bank Head for Ikoyi, Chetachi Okechukwu, said, “Fidelity Bank is dedicated to the financial well-being of our customers and this commitment inspired the launch of the GAIM Promo, designed to cultivate a strong culture of savings.

“Through this promo, customers have the chance to win substantial cash prizes up to N10 million by saving and transacting with their Fidelity Bank Savings accounts.

“In addition to the monetary rewards, winners will receive complimentary financial advisory services to secure and grow their wealth for the future.”

Fidelity Bank, ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

Banking

Rand Merchant Bank Adopts Kachasi to Strengthen Trade Finance Operations

Published

5 days ago

17/03/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

As part of its commitment to deliver quality service to customers, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has finally embraced the trade finance software of Union Systems Limited (USL), Kachasi.

The lender said its migration from Finastra’s Trade Innovation (TI) to USL’s Kachasi is a testament to the strength, reliability and competitiveness of this homegrown solution.

Kachasi is Nigeria’s leading indigenous trade finance software built to empower banks with seamless automation, regulatory compliance, and enhanced operational efficiency.

The platform has consistently proven to be a game-changer in the trade finance sector, offering key features such as full compliance with statutory and local regulatory requirements, end-to-end automation of trade finance processes, compliance with international trade regulations, advanced risk management and reporting tools, as well as seamless integration with core banking, local portals and third-party systems.

RMB said its decision to integrate Kachasi into its operations reinforces the platform’s reputation as a trusted trade finance solution.

As international trade becomes more complex, financial institutions require cutting-edge technology to navigate regulatory requirements, mitigate risks, and ensure operational excellence.

“This win affirms our commitment to revolutionizing trade finance automation across Africa. As more financial institutions embrace Kachasi, we remain dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and elevate the banking sector,” the financial institution stated.

Also, the chief executive of USL, Mr Chuks Onyebuchi, said, “This partnership with Rand Merchant Bank marks a defining moment, not just for Union Systems Limited but for African-built fintech solutions on the global stage.

“The successful transition from Finastra’s Trade Innovation (TI) to Kachasi proves that our homegrown technology is not only competitive but also better suited to the evolving needs of banks and trade finance institutions.

“Kachasi’s seamless automation, deep integration capabilities, and understanding of the local and international trade landscape make it the ideal choice for financial institutions looking to drive efficiency and innovation. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to building world-class technology, and we are excited to support RMB in revolutionizing their trade finance operations.”