Banking
Wema Bank Grows Gross Earnings By 16.36% In Q3 2016
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Despite the harsh operating environment and economic situation in Nigeria, Wema Bank has continued to record a quantum growth. This has made it one of the most trusted financial institutions in the country.
Some have attributed this to the leadership style of its Managing Director, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, who since assuming office, has repositioned the bank into a dependable brand. No wonder the Bank of Uganda was in Nigeria to learn from Wema Bank few weeks ago.
In its unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Wema Bank’s gross earnings grew by 16.36 percent to N37.89 billion from N32.57 billion it recorded in the same period last year.
In the results obtained by Business Post, the bank showed a modest improvement in operating indices.
This is despite the domestic environment remaining largely strained.
Nigeria’s August 2016 manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI data showed underperformance(s) at 42.1 index points and 43.7 index points respectively.
Also, inflation maintained an upward trend from 17.6% (August 2016) to 17.9% (September 2016), though at a slower pace (May – September 2016), as rising interest rate and foreign exchange illiquidity continue to impact prices.
But in all these, Wema Bank maintained its commitment to innovation, introducing *945# and other digital initiatives.
These efforts continue to engender confidence with the bank’s customers, leading to a growth in savings deposits by 18.10% from N35.58 billion as at December 2015 to N42.02 billion as at the end of the period.
The bank optimized its balance sheet, as loans to customers rose by 20.78% to N177.01 billion with interest income expanding by 20.12 percent to N31.93 billion compared to last year while fees and commission increased by 16.79 percent to N4.41 billion.
Explaining how the bank was able to record successes despite the odds, MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, explained that, “the streamlining of our processes and the leverage on technology led to improving efficiencies and cost optimisation, with operating expense declining by 1.77% Y-o-Y from N17.49 billion in September 2015 to N17.18 billion in September 2016 compared to a general inflation level of 17.9%.”
Mr Oloketuyi noted that, “We will continue to seek opportunities to improve our cost-to-serve through alternative channels and continued strategic improvements of our business model without compromising our service quality.”
“Our prudent risk management model continues to enable us deal with the industry-wide spikes in loan defaults and attendant rise in Non-Performing Loans (NPL).
“The NPL ratio for the Bank stood at 2.99% as at Q3’16 which is below the regulatory threshold of 5%. The coverage ratio for the Bank remained adequate at 124.82%,” he added.
“Going into the final quarter of the year, we do not envisage any material improvement in the operating environment,” he submitted, noting that, “Rather, we expect the gains of the fiscal and monetary policies to impact between Q1 & Q2’ 2017.”
“However, we believe we would close the year with improved performance,” he expressed optimism.
Mr Oloketuyi also declared that, “We are pleased to announce that we just concluded a Tier II capital raise of N20 billion.”
“This will boost our Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), currently at 13.36% (pre-capital raise) and supporting our medium term growth plan. More information will be provided once we obtain final regulatory approval,” he explained.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of activities to mark 2023 Global Financial Literacy Day, Wema Bank Plc this week organised a financial literacy programme for students across all states it operates.
The innovative financial institution said the financial literacy sessions for secondary school students aligned with its commitment to championing financial literacy for the next generation.
The Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr Wole Akinleye, who led the financial literacy session at Yola Model School, Adamawa State, encouraged the students on the importance of developing financial literacy as a life skill.
Speaking on the significance of Financial Literacy Week, Mr Akinleye emphasized Wema Bank’s commitment to empowering young minds with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed financial decisions.
“Our hope is that through these initiatives, we can empower more individuals to take control of their finances and achieve financial stability,” he noted.
It was gathered that students were trained on personal finance topics such as budgeting, emergency funds, saving for goal actualization, investment, and donating for positive societal impact, amongst others.
The idea, according to a statement from the lender, is to instil an early understanding of the significance of building a solid financial foundation and achieving financial stability and success from a young age.
The 2023 Global Financial Literacy Day was themed Plan your Money, Plant your Future.
Financial literacy is vital for the achievement of financial stability, and it is essential to ensure that everyone has the necessary tools to manage their finances effectively and achieve their financial goals.
Wema Bank Plc reaffirmed its commitment to providing educational resources and opportunities for children through the Royal Kiddies Account and a range of other savings products, supporting financial empowerment for the next generation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Banking regulators have approved the merger between Access Bank Zambia Limited and African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited.
Access Bank Plc announced on October 25, 2021, that it had executed a binding agreement with Altas Maras Limited on a proposed merger between African Banking Corporation Limited (Atlas Mara Zambia) and the bank’s subsidiary in Zambia, Access Bank Zambia.
This was contained in a notice filed by the company by Mr Oyelola Oyeleye, the group’s company secretariat and Mr Sunday Ekwoche, its company secretary, on the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, where it trades its securities on Friday.
“We are pleased to announce that Access Zambia has received final regulatory approval from the Central Bark of Zambia for the acquisition and merger of Atas Mara Zambia into its existing operations (the Transaction),” the statement read.
It was disclosed that The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition Commission had earlier granted their “no objection” to the transaction in 2022.
Following this new development, Access Zambia said it would move towards integrating and merging Atlas Mara Zambia into its operations, which is expected to create one of the top five banks in Zambia.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to direct commercial banks to urgently overhaul their online and electronic banking platforms.
At Thursday’s plenary, the green chamber said this would ease the electronic banking operations that the banks were implementing in line with the cashless/Naira redesign policy of the apex bank and reduce the pains of Nigerians.
The resolution came off a motion on notice moved by a lawmaker from Edo State, Mr Sergius Ose-Ogun, in the lower house.
“The House notes that Section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly (like the Central Bank of Nigeria);
“Aware that the Central Bank of Nigeria is established under Section 1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, Cap. C4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to issue legal tender currencies in Nigeria;
“Also aware that Section 2 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act saddles the Central Bank of Nigeria with the duty of promoting a sound financial system in Nigeria;
“Acknowledges that in the wake of the recent naira redesign and cash withdrawal limit policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the use of online and electronic banking services to carry out monetary transactions across the country;
“Also acknowledges that the use of online or internet banking services by Nigerians in the past three months or thereabout has been characterized by varying degrees of hitches ranging from unsuccessful electronic bank transfers, point of sale (POS) service failure and a host of others;
“Disturbed that the ineffectiveness or difficulty in using internet banking services across the online banking platforms of most commercial banks in Nigeria has brought untold hardship, suffering and difficulties on Nigerians in the past three months.
“Worried that if nothing is done by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commercial banks to address these difficulties or ineffectiveness, Nigerians will continue to suffer untold hardships and loss of monies to unsuccessful electronic bank transactions.
“Resolves to urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to direct all commercial banks in the country to immediately overhaul their existing online/electronic banking platforms for efficiency and ease of conducting electronic banking operations,” the motion read.
The House Committee on Banking and Currency was mandated to monitor and ensure compliance with the resolution within four weeks.
