It was in 1981, Tomori Ajayi, a N100, 000 loan in addition to the N150, 000 she had to start a building project, had walked up to the commercial manager of her bank to request for the facility. The manager told her she needed a male figure before she could be granted the loan, hence he put a call through to her husband asking for permission to go ahead with the approval.
“I was furious,” recalled Ajayi. “I don’t know why he had to call my husband. I am a complete human being!”
This is no longer the experience for Ajayi who has since discovered the treasure in the Ruby. She has been a customer with United Bank for Africa (UBA) for 41 years. But she was only able to reclaim her feminity when she was encouraged to open a Ruby account with the bank by her account officer, after complaining about the removal of COT on her current account. Ever since, Ajayi has found solace in Ruby.
Ruby account, explains Olumide Osinyomi, head, retail banking, UBA, at the re-launch of the account on Tuesday, “is a unique current account designed specially for the discerning woman of substance; it is a zero COT account that offers its customers exclusive privileges.”
Some of the privileges include attractive interest rates of up to 2 percent for balances above N500, 000, access to discounts at partner shops and concierge services nation-wide and cash collaterised loans for up to 80 percent of account balance. In addition, account holders stand the chance of getting 10 percent off travel insurance, group medical accident, funeral cover insurance plans with UBA Metropolitan Life.
Avis Nigeria, a partner with UBA Ruby account, says Kolawole Ogunbajo will offer Ruby account holders 30 percent off car rental on London route and 15 percent discount on local routes, Lagos and anywhere within Nigeria, through online registers on AVIS Nigeria website.
Uzoramaka Okorie, a representative of Fine Country, another Ruby account partner, says Ruby account owners stand a chance to enjoy 5 percent discount on client service for buying any unit of the phase two of the housing sale called The Belvedere at Lekki Phase 2. Also, existing Ruby account owners and new ones who buy a housing unit before the end of Friday, will get a free furnishing of the living space for free.
Kennedy Uzoka, deputy managing director, UBA, says the Ruby product isn’t accidental as it is a well thought out plan on the part of the bank’s management to create a special product for women, saying “46 percent of our workforce is women, on our board we have four women. It is for this reason women are important to us. We are thinking of how to appreciate these women and that is why we came up with the idea of Ruby account.”
According to him, a re-launch of Ruby account, which was formally launched a year ago, became necessary after getting feedback from consumers.
In the same vein, Onari Duke, special guest at the event, extolls the virtue of the woman as a good home maker who always ensures that she saves money for her household, saying “I am happy that UBA has singled out women. We must not keep this good news to ourselves but tell other women.”
Perhaps, the high point of the event was the rendition of a poem by Chinwe Ofule, branch manager, Ikoyi, titled: ‘What Women Want.’ In her poem, she praises the very essence of women in relation to care, attention, appreciation, love, among others.
She argues that a woman does not mind to be bought ‘a trinket or two’ by her husband as she loves to be appreciated and celebrated.
