First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) says the political, economic, social and monetary environment in which the bank has operated over 25 years has enabled the bank to thrive.
Speaking recently at FNBB’s 25th anniversary celebration dinner, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steven Bogatsu said the government and people of Botswana had always provided an environment of peace and tranquillity. Bogatsu said the environment had allowed the banking system to expand considerably and for their services to become diversified and more efficient.
“Over the years we have seen the birth of the WesBank and RMB brands as we continue to diversify our portfolio,” he said.
He further said they had come from an era of being products and solutions focused to now putting their customers at the centre of everything they do. He stated that their journey with the customer has seen them move from manual processes to automation in 2016. He added that they now offered self-service options on their online banking and cellphone banking platforms to perform actions such as changing one’s pin number and producing bank statements.
Bogatsu added that currently more than 280 000 customers enjoyed banking at their convenience.
“Indeed an apt time to give back to our customers, thanking them for banking with us for 25 years,” he said.
He spoke of the bank’s award of best Commercial Bank in Botswana 2016 by the International Finance Magazine and also RMB Botswana which was awarded the Best Trade Finance Bank in Botswana 2015 by Global Trade Review (GTR).
For his part FNBB acting Chairman of Board of Directors John Macaskill said the FNNB growth journey continued under leaderships of Alex Park, Danny Zandamela, Lorato Boakgomo-Ntakhwana and Bogatsu. He believes that all the leaders together with their teams have driven the bank’s vision of growth to what it is today.
“Many of the milestones that the bank achieved include Botswana’s first Pula-based credit card, which introduced local card holders to international markets,” said Macaskill.
He observed that as the years progressed, Botswana became one of the fastest growing economies in the world, developing her infrastructure and building her skills in a stable, multi-party democracy; peacefully.
“FNB has contributed greatly to Botswana’s socio and economic development by means of infrastructure development, employment creation and community uplifting projects,” he stated.
Macaskill said from their humble beginnings in 1991 and slowly over the years the bank broadened and shifted from a predominantly retail and business focus to one that successfully services the entire market spectrum from large corporate companies to small businesses and individuals.
