Companies

Financial inclusion has not yet been fully achieved, especially in developing countries, leading to lost prosperity not only for individuals and SMEs but economies. In Nigeria, FirstBank has tackled the problem through innovative measures, including its agent banking network Firstmonie, which succeeds in including the previously excluded.

Colombia’s digital-banking maverick, Banco Davivienda, has strengthened its position through fully exploiting its app DaviPlata to meet the challenges imposed by the pandemic. By simplifying processes such as completing retail purchases to receiving government funds, DaviPlata has succeeded in financially including much of the population.

Produbanco, one of Ecuador’s top banks, has positioned itself as a leader in achieving two equally important goals: digital innovation and sustainability. Focused on both today and tomorrow, this dynamic bank is committed to meeting its customers’ current needs while ensuring that the bank of the future is better than the one of today.

The Czech Republic’s MONETA Money Bank fully employs digital channels to meet its clients’ needs and expectations while ensuring that its customer experience is “enjoyable”. The pandemic has caused the bank, like many others, to dig deeper into its digital treasure chest, but fortunately, MONETA was better prepared than many to face COVID-19 challenges. In his interview, CEO Tomas Spurný described this innovative bank’s impressive navigation skills through rough waters.

Serbia’s AIK Banka exists for its clients and is committed to exceeding their expectations by constantly seeking channels to innovatively expand its range of products and services while simultaneously living up to the trust its customers have placed in it. In her interview, CEO Jelena Galić explains how the bank is doing much more than just survive the pandemic by continuing its drive to explore new and promising customer-service frontiers.

Brazil’s population is large and diverse, with a varied medley of financial needs to match. Banco Santander Brasil, determined to not simply cope amid the uncertainties created by the pandemic, remains committed to its quest to maximize its efficiency and productivity for customers. Mr. Angel Santodomingo, the bank’s CFO and EVP, recently discussed how the bank’s speed, agility and ingenuity in responding to a changing landscape have sealed its success.

Brazil is among the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its banking sector has been tasked with providing urgently needed financial support to its hard-hit individual and corporate customers. One bank that has stood out during the crisis has been Banco de Brasília S.A. (BRB), serving the Federal District. BRB recently changed its strategy and has met the challenge head-on through timely and successful innovation, leading by example.

The banking industry of Greece, along with the population, was put through its paces during the past decade, as financial troubles snowballed into a national crisis. One of Greece’s long-established traditional banks, National Bank of Greece, withstood the turmoil to emerge today as its country’s pioneer in digital innovation, leading its millions of customers into a future filled with hope for greater choice, efficiency and satisfaction in their banking experiences.

A global crisis is the litmus test of a bank’s fitness to serve its customers. In Belgium, bank-insurer KBC Group has proven throughout the COVID-19 upheaval that it is equipped to weather the storm and make lasting improvements that will outlive the pandemic into the future. Guided by its PEARL+ cultural philosophy and dedication to digitalisation, KBC continues to help all of its stakeholders realise their dreams while protecting them.

Belgium’s bank-insurer KBC Group has learned through experience that thinking differently and aiming for the next level is the surest way to meet its goals of enabling customers as they realize their dreams and protecting them as they progress. In our interview, CEO Johan Thijs explains how KBC is leading through one of the most challenging times the financial and insurance industries have experienced, with its focus trained on customers.