By Dipo Olowookere
Moves and strategies put in place by the new management team at Keystone Bank Limited has begun yielding fruits after many years in the doldrums and following its most recent acquisition by Sigma Golf-Riverbank consortium.
Keystone Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, recently posted its first quarter financial results which indicate tangible profits in just eight months of taking over the helm of affairs after many years of struggling to stay afloat.
The lender, for the quarter ended March 2018, recorded a profit before tax of N3.72 billon, compared with a loss of N2.79 billon over the same period in 2017.
Also, deposit grew 42 percent or N84 billon to N283 billion at the end of the quarter March 2018.
Recall that following the successful completion of AMCON’s divestment from the bank, a five-man transitional board was set up to oversee its re-positioning for growth and competitiveness. The transitional arrangement was successfully concluded on August 15, 2017 with the assumption of office of the substantive MD/CEO.
In less than one year, the bank has experienced tremendous transformation in all ramifications. Aside revamping all its branches across the country and bolstering its workforce, it has invested substantially in technology and developed fully integrated service models that enable customers access banking services through a wide range of channels.
The Keystone mobile banking application boasts of several unique features such as the ability to bank with zero data, the Oxygen Chat Banking and several others that have re positioned the bank to compete effectively in the sector.
Speaking on the development, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr Obeahon Ohiwerei, said, “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and resilience of the management and staff of the bank. From inception it has been our vision to restore the confidence of all our stakeholders with tangible results and we are indeed pleased with this start.”
Mr Ohiwerei stressed that this was only the beginning of greater things to come, noting that the team was set to double its efforts in meeting and surpassing the expectations of its customers.
“It was not an easy journey,” he said, “and we do have a tough road ahead. However, we are confident that we will take Keystone Bank to enviable heights within the banking industry.”
Many industry experts who have followed activities in the banking sector have hailed the positive development in the financial institution. They also salute the determination of the bank’s team which has paid off with good financial results, describing it as a positive development for the banking sector and the economy as a whole.
Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering tailor-made convenient and reliable solutions to every customer’s needs.
