Digital innovations have enabled us to deliver seamless services – Ecobank MD

Ladesope Ladelokun

The Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan has asserted that the bank’s focus on technology and innovation is what drives it to be a leader in the provision of financial services across Africa. This was contained in a statement obtained on Monday in Lagos, where the Ecobank boss stated that the bank which commenced operations in five countries in 1989 has grown to become a formidable financial institution of repute in Africa and boasts of its presence in 40 countries in less than 30 years. According to him, we provide full-service banking right from the wholesale business to the small, medium scale and to individuals. To do this, we’ve built technology services that enable us to deliver our services in a convenient, accessible and reliable manner. This is affordable and sustainable to our customers, while also ensuring good returns to our shareholders,” he stated. “We were established from day one as Pan African entity with shareholding from sixteen countries, and within our first year of operation, we had established in five countries – Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Today, we are present in 36 African countries and four outside Africa which are UK, UAE, China, and France essentially to provide linkage to global reach and facilitate financial transactions of our customers.” “We have a customer base of over 20 million as a group, with Nigeria accounting for about nine million of this figure; over 400 branches and 4,000 agency locations; and a balance sheet in the region of N2 trillion that shows that we have demonstrated ability to be a reliable keeper of customers funds and a reliable supporter of those who wish to borrow money to grow their business,” Akinwuntan continued. He ascribed this growth to the quality of services the bank renders to its numerous customers, which hinges on the bank’s focus on innovativeness as a way of driving customer satisfaction. The Managing Director listed some of these innovative products to include the deployment of over 4,000 agency locations known as Ecobank Xpress point which aimed at bringing banking to every neighbourhood; the Ecobank Mobile which brings banking to your palm; the Ecobankpay which is a payment solution that enables you to scan and pay with a mobile phone; the Ecobank Value card, an e-wallet that worked like a prepaid card which was introduced as far back as year 2000 when none of the international credit cards were available in Nigeria.