Companies

Malaysia is amongst Southeast Asia’s most prosperous nations, with consistently high economic growth. It is also amongst the region’s most progressive; one of its top five banks, Hong Leong Bank, is leading the widespread adoption of digital solutions in finance. We were pleased to be joined by two of HLB’s senior executives, Domenic Fuda and Charles Sik, to discuss HLB’s newest strategies toward being “digital at the core”.

Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, boasts a varied industrial landscape, with all bases covered from manufacturing to tourism. Kiatnakin Bank Thailand is on a mission to pursue operational excellence in each core business in commercial banking and capital markets. Our interview with Mr. Aphinant Klewpatinond, CEO, provides an in-depth look at a multi-faceted bank thriving in the heart of this seminal unitary state.

Thailand, the second largest ASEAN economy, is increasingly at the forefront of the digital-finance push in the region as part of the Government’s Digitization 4.0 strategy. With its citizens readily embracing technology and especially mobile solutions, Thailand’s financial-services providers have been heavily challenged to put aside traditional approaches and transform radically to compete with the tech giants, the new titans of e-commerce. One Thai bank, Siam Commercial Bank, has made great strides advancing in the digital age.

The Southeast African nation of Mozambique, rich in natural resources with a predominantly agricultural economy, is a land of opportunity but with a seriously underbanked population. One of its most pioneering commercial banks, Moza Banco, is determined to make the most of the nation’s economic rebound with a full range of innovative products and services molded around its customer-centric relational model offered to clients in a variety of markets.

Nedbank is among South Africa’s top four banks, offering a range of wholesale and retail banking services to an equally varied clientele. In our interview, three of its top executives, Ciko Thomas, Mike Brown and Mfundo Nkuhlu, discuss a bank that aims to use its financial expertise “to do good for individuals, families, businesses and society”.

The UK’s Metro Bank is eight years young, and its drive to grow exponentially doesn’t show any sign of letting up. While providing traditional banking services to its swelling number of personal and business customers, or FANS, it also distinguishes itself with non-traditional services such as ultra-fast account opening, coin-counting machines and pet-friendly perks. Vernon Hill, its founder, explains where Metro Bank is today and where it plans to go in the future.

Nigeria is known as the “Giant of Africa” due to its substantial population and economy to match. Its banks are constantly challenged to meet evolving needs, and one bank in particular, Keystone Bank Limited, stands out for its determination to do just that. Having recently undergone a management transition, Keystone has a fresh vision and willingness to do all it can to make its customer service dependable and convenient.

Although Sierra Leone has been hard hit by a number of devastating factors, not the least of which the deadly Ebola virus, it is richly endowed with resources, human and natural. Making the most of the best the country has to offer has kept Union Trust Bank at the forefront of the country’s economic development. In our interview with him, CEO Dr. J. Sanpha Koroma explains how.

The picturesque Caribbean island of Jamaica is home to three million people, and many of them turn to one of the country’s oldest and today its largest financial institution, National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCB). Serving a diverse group of customers ranging from individuals to government agencies, NCB is committed to offering a broad selection of financial products and services from retail accounts to pension funds.

One of Ecuador’s leading banks, Produbanco, has refused to allow unfavourable national economic circumstances to get it down. By staying true to its customer-centred culture, the bank is successfully fulfilling its long-term strategies. CEO Ricardo Cuesta discusses how the bank’s commitment to pushing its objectives forward by utilizing technology, exploiting its own brand, honouring CSR goals has paid big dividends, and not just financial.