LOTUS Bank has celebrated its first year anniversary by partnering the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) for tree planting, and opening its 20th branch in Idumota, Lagos Island, Lagos State.
The bank also launched its first agency banking, LOTUSMART, to help expand the campaign for financial inclusion.
LOTUS Bank launched on July 7, 2021, as the third Non-Interest Bank (NIB) in Nigeria, obtaining its regional license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate as a commercial bank.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Kafilat Araoye, underpinned the significance of the exercise on the core values of the institution since its foundation a year ago. According to her, the commitment of LOTUS Bank to environmental friendliness is beyond just a symbol on its logo, but also reflects on its modus-operandi and architecture.
She said: “If you look at our logo, it is a tree, and this is not by accident. We believe in helping the environment and sustainability. What you see happening around the society is alarming, instead of people planting trees, we are cutting them. And part of our core believes as a bank is that we must support growth in all its ramifications. Having trees in our environment adds so much value, such as absorbing carbon dioxide which is hazardous to human health, creating shade and being productive, generally.
“Due to its growth significance, we choose a tree as our logo and committed ourselves to supporting environmental friendliness. In our bank, just to show that we support afforestation and not deforestation, we have paperless devices. We have tablets where you can make transfers without filling out forms to encourage people on the need to protect the environment. Part of the cause of climate change is the fuel we are burning. To mark our anniversary, we decided to support a cause that we believe in…”
General Manager of LASPARK Adetoun Popoola, at the tree planting ceremony, described the bank’s partnership as a critical plan in helping the United Nations’ and humanity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We have planted trees in commemoration of the first-year anniversary of LOTUS Bank. I believe it is the beginning of a bigger partnership where we will be planting more trees around Lagos, as well as embarking on beautification and landscaping in Lagos. It’s very important for organisations like LOTUS Bank to partner the Lagos State government because it shows that they are conscious of their environment, and that they want to ensure the environment is preserved for future generations…”