Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Botswana said it is able to confidently create and develop intelligent solutions that give its corporate clients greater flexibility, choice and control over the transactional banking activities.
Led by Pauline Motswagae, RMB Botswana Head said that their corporate clients have unique transactional banking needs. She added that they are ranging from custodial and trustee needs, to complex cross-border payments; trade collections; supply chain financing; receipting and cash management requirements.
“We have positioned ourselves to be able to offer our clients solutions that meet these needs. We also believe in making a difference in the communities within which we operate through involvement in funding sectors that support economic growth,” said Motswagae.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, Motswagae revealed that her brand has participated in funding different sectors across the economy, including financial institutions; mining and resources have rolled out some risk management structures to some of their clientele and are working on some corporate advisory activities. “Our client base has also grown”
She pointed out that RMB, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is a leading African corporate and investment bank and part of one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. Motswagae added that their brand promise Traditional values. Innovative ideas are the pledge that underpins everything they are and everything they do. She said t is described as the DNA or core business philosophy of RMB.
“My vision is to see RMB Botswana taking and keeping its rightful position as the corporate and investment bank of choice. RMB is a premium brand which has unique offerings,” she said.
She also emphasized that whatever their current and potential customers would be seeking, be it transactional, advisory, funding, risk management or expansion opportunities they should experience the essence of RMB brand throughout their client engagement journey.
Motswagae also spoke about her vision being to see RMB Botswana being top-of-mind adding that it would result in local and regional companies thinking RMB Botswana when they think of expanding into Africa.
Asked on the challenges, RMNB Head pointed out that the economic growth is a bit sluggish and opportunities are getting narrower for the local companies. She added that they can mitigate the challenges by assisting the companies with expansion initiatives into the rest of Africa as they have extensive expertise on Africa.
She stated that they also assist clients identify efficiencies in their businesses to maximize their capital investments, cash-flow management and general cost management.
“The market response has been very positive as can be evidenced by our growing market share across most of our products and services, including Custody; Trade and e-solutions products. Superior customer experience is at the core of our business. Our clients appreciate our ability to address their banking needs through world-class IT architecture and infrastructure,” said Motswagae.
RMB Botswana Head is of the view that growth in the next two years will come from large infrastructure projects, increased risk management solutions. She added that they are most of the complexity of their clients increases and as the need to diversify income streams by thr clients becomes pressing and corporate activity as companies structure and become more aware of opportunities outside Botswana.
Commenting on the opportunities for RMB following the relocation of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) functions from London to Gaborone, Motswagae revealed that RMB has access to a wider clientele in the diamond industry who they can offer services to in terms of sight holder finance and transactional banking to maximize local economic contribution.
Motswagae highlighted that since launching the premium brand in November last year, RMB Botswana has engaged a significant and diverse portfolio of clients adding that their clients have shown confidence in the business acumen and admirable offerings.
“We want to ensure that we are highly efficient as a business, provide shareholders with good returns under acceptable levels of risk as well as warranting high levels of compliance with regulatory framework. RMB understands that exceptional performance is only possible with exceptional people. One of the brand’s key strengths is that it is a talent brand,” she said.
