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Tag: Access Bank

  • Access Bank bags IFBA award

    Access Bank bags IFBA award

    Access Bank has been recognised by the International Film and Broadcast Academy (IFBA) for its support to the growth of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

    The lender got the recognition during the award presentation ceremony in Lagos.

    Speaking  in Lagos, the founder, IFBA, Mr. Victor Okhai said the academy provided students the opportunity to network with film makers and broadcasters from all over Africa and the rest of the world.

    He said: “The truth is that the new generation has to take over and so we have to give them the opportunity to compete in the international level. If they are to start doing films today, you will find out that our standard will shoot up.

    “Of course, we needed to encourage this sector by creating a platform where talents can be discovered, nurtured and where they can get a springboard to the next level. With what we have done so far, the careers of many of them have exploded. So, for us, a natural partner was Access Bank.”

    In her remarks, its Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere, who represented the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the partnership with IFBA was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

    She said: “For us, it is about partnership and support. Here in Access Bank, we are encouraged to carry out CSR.  It is not just as a bank, we are also encouraged as groups to carry out CSR initiatives and at the end of the year when we have the CEO award, whichever group has the best CSR, the bank will refund the amount spent on the project to the group. We do a lot of things and we don’t make noise about it. We make sure that these projects have a lot of impact.”

    According to her, Access Bank believes “in catching them young,” hence the need for the partnership with IFBA.

    ”We have products for children and our partnership with the academy is also in line with our mission of catching them young,” she added.

  • Access Bank, NBA partner on customised card

    Access Bank, NBA partner on customised card

    Access Bank Plc has partnered with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to promote electronic payment by introducing a customised card that makes banking easier for members of the group.

    The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe who unveiled the card in Lagos at the weekend, explained that the partnership involves the introduction of an NBA customised payment card for members of the group is mutually beneficial.

    In his opening remarks, Wigwe said: “this partnership with the NBA is mutually beneficial and very exciting. This payment card is the first of its kind in the industry and signifies unique proposition. The card will serve as a payment tool and also as a means of paying bills online”.

    Wigwe said the world is fast embracing cash-less banking initiative, and the use of cards is another means of promoting the policy driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria, banks and other stakeholders.

    The bank CEO said the lender has built a strong franchise by adhering to socially responsible goals and is taking strategic steps to promote financial inclusion.

    “Access Bank has evolved over the past three years to become a largely diversified bank with a strong retail presence. Now, what we are doing is not just looking at the top corporates, we are looking at what we can do with each of our stakeholders. What that means is that whether it is a small business, or an individual, we strive to meet everybody’s aspiration,” Wigwe said.

    The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, praised the bank for the innovation and commitment to the group, adding that the partnership will benefit both parties. He said the value proposition embedded in the product is exceptional and will lead to the overall growth and development of the Nigerian payment industry.

    “Members of NBA will be able to enjoy services like salary advance, loan to lawyers, special car loan scheme and other numerous benefits that come with banking with Access Bank and using the card. The beauty of it all is that you do not need an Access Bank account to own one of these cards,” he said.

    Alegeh said the card which can also serve as an identity card will help to weed out quacks in the legal profession as well as deepening the Nigeria financial system.

  • EMEA Finance lauds Access Bank’s capital markets activities

    EMEA Finance lauds Access Bank’s capital markets activities

    The publisher and chief executive, EMEA Finance Magazine, Christopher Moore has commended Access Bank Plc for its impressive dealings in the capital market.

    This was done at the EMEA Finance award ceremony which was held recently in London. At the ceremony, Access Bank, which was nominated in a keenly contested category, emerged victorious as the Best Local Bank in Africa.

    While presenting the award to the bank, Christopher Moore said Access Bank’s interim results show impressive growth not just in income and profit, but also in the bank’s loan portfolio and deposit base.

    He said the bank’s profile underscored its strong management team and business.

    Tim Burke, editor of EMEA Finance Magazine said Access Bank was also considered because of its impressive capital markets activity, which includes the bank’s second international bond issuance raising $400 million and its upcoming rights issue.

    “Access Bank competes in a very tough market, Nigerian banks are among the most innovative and dynamic in Africa, and in many other areas are global leaders and fast adopters. It is a pleasure to recognize Access Bank as our Best local bank for 2014,” Burke said.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, head, brand and strategic management, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi thanked EMEA Finance magazine for recognizing and celebrating the humble dealings of the bank.

    “This award is a testament to the proactive and innovative approach to banking that Access Bank has adopted. While many might see it as a call to celebrate, we see it as a call to push further. Our promise is to deliver excellent services with lightning speed and on a secured platform and we will not disappoint,” Okobi said.

  • Access Bank begins ad via CNN

    Access Bank has embarked on an advertising and sponsorship campaign on CNN International to raise awareness of its brand in global markets.

    The campaign will see the Access Bank brand feature prominently across CNN platforms through spot advertising, digital presence and the sponsorship of the inspirational new vignette series Passion to Portfolio.

    The campaign will position Access Bank among CNN’s unrivalled audience in Africa and internationally as the pre-eminent provider of business, corporate, commercial and private banking.

    The sponsorship of the year-long Passion to Portfolio series is the main element of the campaign. This will see Access Bank billboards appear before and after every instalment of the weekly vignette series, which will air every weekday during major CNN programmes – The Business View with Nina Dos Santos, CNN Newsroom, World Business Today, International Desk and Quest Means Business.

    The editorial content of the series will feature inspiring individuals from all over the globe who have found commercial and personal success through the pursuit of their passions in life. This could be entrepreneurs whose passions have become their careers or people who have hobbies that are lucrative investments or businesses.

    The sponsorship includes exclusive advertising on a Passion to Portfolio microsite on CNN International’s hugely popular website, and is supplemented by the 30’ and 60’ spot advertising campaign.

    “Access Bank will showcase its credentials internationally by aligning its brand message of supporting entrepreneurship and small and medium businesses in Africa with the inspirational editorial content of Passion to Portfolio,” said Antonio Canto, the Vice President, Advertising Sales, CNN International.

    “The combination of the scale of the CNN platform and the engaging nature of the associated sponsored content will drive Access Bank’s aim to position its brand on a global stage. It is refreshing to see a major African brand sponsor a series with a global editorial remit, and I’m certain that Access Bank will see real results from working with CNN on such a strategic integrated campaign.”

  • Access Savings Challenge makes debut

    Access Savings Challenge makes debut

    Access Bank has announced the commencement of the Access Savings Challenge (ASC). The product is aimed at promoting financial inclusion and literacy as the campaign seeks to encourage savings. The ASC campaign kicked off same day as the world celebrated the World Savers Day 2014.

    The ASC is designed to spawn consciousness of customers on the importance of having a savings culture as prosperity begins with the first coin in the piggy bank. The challenge is riding on the Access Bank Target Savings Account which is designed to help customers meet set target by saving a certain amount for a period of one year.

    Speaking on the Challenge, Head, Inclusive Banking, Access Bank Plc, Ope Wemi-Jones said: “What is seemingly a simple idea – setting aside small sums in a savings account – actually has profound consequences on economic development and on personal financial well-being. Savings guard against risks like illness, unemployment and other economic hardship. And they are crucial for the economy.”

    Head, Products and Segments Team, Access Bank Plc, Adeola Kusemiju said: “We have also designed various means of encouraging our customers to excel in the Access Savings Challenge. This includes attractive interest rates, Interesting and enlightening articles in our Quarterly Target Saver Newsletter and monthly reminders”.

  • Access Bank, FMO sign $30m facility to empower women

    Access Bank Plc and Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) have agreed on a $30million facility for on lending to Women in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) in Nigeria.

    The line of credit will provide financial resources to women owned small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. The facility will also be utilised in providing capacity building, debt capital support to women owned businesses, and promote the bank’s financial goal of reaching the unbanked through provision of cheap funding.

    The Women Empowerment Fund will be funded through a fifty-fifty participation from Access Bank Plc and Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) and will be available to Women owned SME’s operating in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Bank’s head office in Lagos, Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, said: “This for us is a milestone achievement and a step further in our relationship with FMO. We did collaborate in 2006 to promote the Gender Empowerment programme (GEM) but I think today’s facility for us is necessitated because of the large program we have for the W, the umbrella for anything for Women in Access Bank. Our aim is to inspire women through various strategic mentoring programs, a very interactive website which connects them, giving them better financial support and financial advisory services to enable them succeed as entrepreneurs.”

    According to Wigwe, the $30million which the FMO is contributing is part of a counterpart funding structured to support female entrepreneur. Access Bank is actually providing the second part, so the total amount is about $60million which is about N10billion.

    “This is a much larger facility than what we had before. We believe that through this process we will be able to empower many more women, support female entrepreneurs and even more importantly the educational process through which these women will get involved in terms of book keeping and how to run companies,” he stated.

    In the same vein, Frederik Kummersteiner, Manager, Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Services, FMO said: “This is another important partnership for us at the FMO as the women-driven SME sector represents a strategic pillar of Africa cum Nigeria’s quest for modernised and improved economy whilst encouraging inclusive banking in the economy.”

    Justifying the need for the project, Kummersteiner observed that: “SMEs account for a large percentage of all businesses in Nigeria and contribute 50% of employment to same. This why we are happy to partner with Access Bank in empowering the women led small and medium scale enterprises and providing business development  services to female entrepreneurs.”

  • Access Bank launches Accelerate TV

    Access Bank launches Accelerate TV

    Nigeria’s Tier 1 Bank, Access Bank Plc has launched an innovative social interaction platform known as Accelerate TV.

    The platform which is targeted at young adults has an array of creative content ranging from information and entertainment articles to punchy videos, fashion trends and real time reportage of world’s latest trends.

    Its Head, Inclusive Banking, Ope Wemi Jones described the platform as new, exciting and the most interactive platform for youths.

    She said: “Exciting premium services are available to youths who visit the platform and also to Solo Account holders. These services include discount on movie tickets and clothing, VIP access to some of the hottest events in Nigeria, internships, scholarships and other personal development opportunities.”

    To participate and enjoy premium service, she advised that interested people should go to any of Access Bank’s branch to open a solo account, then visit accelerateTV.com

    Speaking at the launch of the product, its Head, Strategic Brand Management, Amaechi Okobi said: “AccelerateTV is the ultra cool blog for professionals and youths interested in world trends. In fulfilment of the bank’s promise to cater for the needs of its heterogeneous customer base, we identified a gap and sought to fill it with the creation of this unique platform.”

    He further stated that AccelerateTV is a digital platform with design and content that are youth friendly and predicted that soon, it will take over the cyberspace and  be the number one website for information and entertainment content.

    Head Digital Communication, Toyin Henry-Ajayi described it as the next best blog in Nigeria. She said that the blog is going to be the richest blog in Nigeria.

     

  • Africa global economic hub, says Access Bank CEO

    Africa global economic hub, says Access Bank CEO

    The Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe has described Africa as a hub of international economic evolution where tremendous innovation in financial services, telecoms and natural resources have become important drivers of global growth.

    Speaking yesterday at the 2014 Institute of International Finance Africa Financial Summit held in Lagos, he said the forum is part of that paradigm shift in the economic trajectory of Africa.

    “A congregation of some of the best financial minds, financial sector leaders and economic policy makers from across Africa and beyond are gathered here today and I am proud to welcome you all to this important gathering,” he said.

    The bank chief who spoke on ‘Mobilising Resources for Investing in Africa’ said more wealth has been created in Africa in the last decade than at any other time in history.

    “Across the continent, we have seen a steady drumbeat of democratisation and political reform as governments are, with some exceptions, starting to provide the environment for businesses to thrive. They are creating greater feedback from and accountability to their citizens; ensuring that people’s needs are known and addressed,” he said.

    He said  from Rwanda to Nigeria, there has been a steady increase in security of title and the rule of law; investment in regulatory and physical infrastructure to ease the doing of business; and a low-debt, low-inflation macro environment.

    He said: “All of these factors together help to build the first pillar of the African investment story – no longer is this the continent of coups and generals; instead it is a place of democratic as well as economic growth.”

    Wigwe said that despite these achievements, Africa does still face challenges that are not peculiar to the continent, but the changing global financial landscape has made it ever more important that Africa catch up as quickly as possible with the rest of the world or risk being left behind.

  • Access Bank wins best customer service award

    Access Bank wins best customer service award

    Access Bank Plc has further consolidated its position as a service focused bank by winning the “2014 Best Customer Service Company Award”. The award was presented to the bank by the Nigeria Customer Service Awards (NCSA) at a ceremony held in Abuja.

    The bank won the coveted prize after beating several other contenders in the banking services category. The award recognises the impressive achievement of the bank over the past year particularly as it relates to the bank’s delivery of superior customer service experience at every of its location across Nigeria and Africa.

    Speaking on the award, Executive Director, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere said the award is a product of the bank’s investment in people and its processes which ensure that the bank’s customers are treated to excellent customer experience at every touch point.

    “I want to assure you that Access Bank will not rest on its oars in delivering excellent service. This award will also spur us to meet and surpass our customers’ expectations and remain the bank of choice for all Nigerians,” she said.

    Also speaking at the event, the Coordinator of NSCA, Dr. Aliyu Ilias, said the award was instituted to celebrate outstanding excellent service delivery across all sectors in the country.

    “I want to seize this opportunity to congratulate the winners in this year’s edition; you have served Nigerians efficiently based on the data gathered from your service consumers and we hope this award will propel and motivate you to improve in the area of customer service.”

  • Access Bank grants $250m loan to Sea Truck

    Access Bank grants $250m loan to Sea Truck

    Access Bank Plc has granted a $250 million credit facility to Sea Truck Group an international group of companies offering offshore installation, accommodation and support services to the oil and gas industry worldwide, in continuation of its financial intermediation role,

    In a statement, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, said the lender has recorded commendable expansion and growth in the last decade.

    The feat, he said, has positioned the bank within the top five banks in the country. “With regards to our regional spread, Access Bank is currently in seven countries inclusive of the United Kingdom and now has an office in China with plans to establish presence in Dubai next year,” he said.

    The bank chief described the Sea Truck Group as a company that is dear to the lender’s heart. “We will always support the company in its dealings, as we are confident that this mutually beneficial relationship will provide the backbone for future more robust dealings,” he said.

    President/Chief Executive Officer, Sea Trucks Group, Jacque Roomans praised the bank chief for arranging the signing ceremony and also commended the lender for the successful close on the transaction.

    “The manner with which Access Bank handled this transaction is highly commendable. This is a demonstration of how far the bank has come overtime. Sea Truck Group is proud to associate with Access bank and will not hesitate to build on this existing relationship. I admonish other financial institutions to emulate Access Bank,” he said.

    The Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Access Bank Plc, Elias Igbinakenzua in said the bank’s capacity to support big businesses is never in doubt. “In our bid to stimulate growth in the economy, we have established first class relationships with corporations and multi – nationals to position us to better support our customer’s businesses,” he said.