Globally, service delivery is assuming a bigger impact on the well-being of organizations as a result of the changing demands of the business landscape. New dimensions are being introduced across different sectors of the world economy as businesses, small and big, local and transnational, have now embraced differentiation as a competitive strategy to optimize their Return-On-Investments (ROI) while also delivering top notch services to key customers and trade partners who crave for such valued deliverables.
Nigerian Banks too are dancing to the differentiation tune because of the changing taste, desire and improved economic statistics paraded by consumers in the country. According to the Nigerian government, owing to the recently rebased Nigerian economy, the revised GDP for 2013 is now N80.2 trillion (or US$509.9 billion). This is an increase of about 89% based on the old GDP estimates for 2013 which was N42.4 trillion (or US$269.5 billion). With this in mind, any financial services provider who knows its onions and is primed for performance optimization would want to plug into the emerging economic power in the sub-Saharan Africa from whatever angle the opening comes.
Here in Nigeria, Ecobank recently unveiled its dedicated premium banking product tagged Premier Banking Service which is targeted at high net worth customers of the bank. The Ecobank Premier Banking personalizes banking services that suits individual life styles of customers in a collaborative way that provides additional value beyond everyday banking.
The stylish launch that ushered the new Ecobank Premier Banking came with a loud statement; style, fun, networking and business came together at the epoch event. The bank, no doubt, has its hand on the huge Nigerian massive business pie with the presence of frontline investors, industrialists, politicians, diplomats, Senior Media Executives, Bankers and premium celebrities. Personalities like Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Former Minister of Health, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman of Vigeo Holdings, Victor Gbolade Osibodu and Executive Director, Business Day, Philip Isakpa were among the array of colourful personalities that graced the launch.
The new Premier Banking initiative which the Bank’s management said marks the beginning of a redefinition of banking in Nigeria is characterized with the appointment of dedicated Relationship Managers as primary points of contact providing a twenty four hour, seven days a week (24/7) financial advisory service to Premier Banking customers and their family. Whether at an Ecobank branch or at the customer’s home, personal Relationship Managers will be there to help customers make the right banking decisions, the management said.
Also, according to the bank, Premier Banking customers are offered a range of multi- currency savings and lending products with preferential rates as well as special Platinum cards with full insurance protection. If a customer loses the card, it is replaced free within 24 hours.
Speaking at the unveiling of this new service at the luxurious 4-Star Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria-Island, Lagos, Ecobank Nigeria Managing Director, Jibril Aku said the new Premier Banking initiative gives customers the privilege to have a variety of exclusive lifestyle benefits, including preferential airline and hotel rates and unparalleled rewards from luxury brand retailers across the world. He said they will also have the added assurance of purchase protection, safe custody and private services.
In his words, Aku said “Ecobank Premier Banking is a tailored service uniquely for the customer; just the way he or she wants it. At Ecobank we believe when something is exclusively designed for you, it feels like the perfect fit. The desire to provide our Premier Banking customers with the perfect fit for their busy lifestyle led to the birth of this service”.
With presence in about 33 African countries and ambitious projection for continued growth of the bank by reaching deep into key markets with ingenious innovation, Ecobank appears set on reasserting its huge influence on the High Networth Individuals market segment.
In his statement, Ecobank Group Executive, Domestic Bank, Patrick Akinwutan who stood in for the Group Chief Executive Officer, Albert Essien said Premier Banking by Ecobank is one of several activities lined up by the bank to affirm its commitment to Africa, and to strengthen its effectiveness in all its areas of operation. In his words “we are leveraging our best talents and experiences across the bank to achieve feats like this”.
Also speaking, Ecobank Head Personal Banking, Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi said the birth of Premier Banking by Ecobank redefines banking service delivery in the country. According to Olukorede, whose role is more of Chief Relationship Manager, Premier Banking by Ecobank is a testimony to the banks’ avowed commitment to its vision to continually provide its retail and wholesale customers with convenient, accessible and reliable banking and financial services.
To the Chairman of Ecobank, The Olor’ogun Sonny Kuku, the Bank’s offering is as unique as the people driving it. He assured that the newly launched Premier Banking product is to serve premium customers of the bank in a more personal way.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola’s perspective was very emphatic on the milestone achieved by Ecobank. ”I am delighted that Ecobank has done well for itself here. I am happy that Ecobank and other banks have continued to find our land and State a place where you can call home. I congratulate the board, management and staff of the bank for the change and milestones that represent a strategic direction in which the bank is heading”.
Given the enviable pedigree of Ecobank and its sustained push for greater heights in the areas of innovation and customer service, the new Premier Banking product could be rightly described as a demonstration of a vision to expand the horizon of customer satisfaction beyond the ordinary level. In this regard, the bank’s well-earned reputation as a front liner has again been demonstrated.
