The bank has also made significant investments in new branches and has revamped its existing branch infrastructure to ensure that resources are prioritised into high return areas. Standard has leveraged its strengths in corporate banking to reaffirm its leadership in domestic investment banking and further boost fee-based income and ancillary businesses.
Standard enjoys one of the lowest funding costs in the market. This, combined with a liquid balance sheet structure, provides the bank with flexibility for growing its asset base and focus on delivering premium service to customers. The bank has strengthened its suite of electronic banking products, thus increasing its share of business from certain key customers, particularly in the utilities, governmental and non-governmental sectors.
The group’s in-house team of specialists has worked steadily with clients to devise customised solutions to their electronic banking requirements. This has resulted in increased market share and penetration.
Customer-centric thinking led to the establishment of a dedicated customer service centre. This facility ensures efficient and effective responses to client’s requests, and at the same time leaves the account executives free to promote stronger customer relationships.
“We view this award as a recognition of our strong capital adequacy, our strong base of African expertise through our staff, and international networks that ensure world-class banking practice and services,” says managing director Antonio Coutinho.
