The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Diamond Bank

  • Diamond Bank conducts annual performance review

    Diamond Bank has concluded its Annual Performance Review. It said is in line with global best practices where institutions periodically review their human resource to drive their corporate growth agenda.

    In a statement, the bank’s Head, Corporate Communication, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, said the review is a yearly exercise for the bank as it seeks to recognise and reward members of staff who have excelled.

    She also said the review was hinged on the bank’s Enterprise Assessment Framework called the Balanced Score Card. The framework spells out parameters with which members of staff are measured and these are communicated to staff at the beginning of each financial year.

    “With well over 1,600 new recruits in the last financial year, of which 1,352 are fresh graduates from reputable universities around the country, Diamond Bank is the largest employer of talent in the industry. The bank boasts of a robust personnel engagement strategy that helps it to continually attract and retain the best talent in the industry.

    “This is in fulfillment of its corporate vision of becoming a leading financial institution, with the best people, providing unequalled customer experience and delivering superior shareholder value,” the bank added.

     

     

  • Diamond Bank sacks 61 workers

    Diamond Bank sacks 61 workers

    Diamond Bank Plc has sacked 61 of its workers after the lender concluded its Annual Performance Review exercise. In a statement, the bank said the exercise is in line with global best practices where companies or institutions intermittently review their human resource talent as a means of achieving their corporate growth agenda.

    The bank’s head of corporate communications, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell said the review is an annual exercise meant to recognise and reward members of staff who have excelled.

    “We believe that a bank’s performance is linked to the quality of the staff it retains. As such, we have promoted over 650 staff members who have excelled in their performance as well as disengage 61 members of staff who performed poorly in the last financial year,” she said.

    The statement also indicated that the performance review exercise is hinged on the Bank’s Enterprise Assessment Framework called the Balanced Score Card. The framework spells out carefully itemised parameters with which members of staff are measured and these parameters are communicated to staff at various points in the year under review. The framework equally stipulates the parameters for disengagement for underperforming staff.

    Meanwhile, outsourced staff of the bank, yesterday disrupted banking operations in some of the bank’s branches in Lagos. At the Victoria Island (Law School) branch of the bank, the protesting workers demanded that the bank review their remunerations.

    But the bank said the third party support personnel had challenges with their Employer –C & M Exchange. “As these issues are yet to be resolved, the third party personnel would like Diamond Bank to intercede to resolve the differences. Diamond Bank remains concerned about the working conditions and welfare of its entire staff, both contractual and full time,” the bank said.

    The bank said it is discussing intensely with C & M Exchange to ensure they resolve the issues with their employees in a swift and amicable manner.

    An insider in one of the bank’s branches who asked not to be named said the protest will continue today because the bank’s management has not taken any concrete step to address poor wages in the bank. But the bank said “normal banking operations will continue at its locations nationwide.”

  • Promasidor, Shell, others submit entries for CSR awards

    Promasidor, Shell, others submit entries for CSR awards

    SOME big names like Promasidor, Shell, Olam, Total, Diamond Bank and 27 others have submitted entries to contest for the coveted awards of the most responsible Corporate Social Citizen being organised by TruContact Ltd.

    In a statement made available to The Nation by the organisers, they said the firms submitted their entries well ahead of the May 2013 submission deadline for the 7th edition of the SERAs.

    Over the past six years, TruContact Limited has implemented the SERAs in collaboration with key partners including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). From inception, The SERAs team has made it a standard practice to verify all entries. This year’s verification of over 30 companies has commenced. The 2013 edition of the Nigeria CSR Awards is scheduled for September 21, 2013 at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

    This year’s theme, ‘Shaping the Future Through Innovative Value Creation: Making a World of difference’, will continue to identify key players and showcase how business is creating shared value in a manner that benefits the business enterprise as well as its various stakeholders.

    According to Managing Partner of TruContact, Ken Egbas, “This year, we are increasing the stakes by promoting innovative thinking and strategies that explore the less trodden paths. We are looking for businesses that are creating value while differentiating their brand; and who are bold, deliberate and not afraid to stand apart in a bid to rewrite history.”

  • Diamond Bank’s three-month profit hits N8.7b

    Diamond Bank’s three-month profit hits N8.7b

    The management of Diamond Bank Plc has expressed optimism that the bank would achieve stronger performance in 2013, citing the early strides in the first quarter.

    In a review of the first quarter performance of the company, Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, said that the profit before tax of N8.7 billion in the first three months of this year signifies the resolve of the bank to grow its capacity and increase profitability this business year.

    Interim report and accounts of the bank for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 showed that gross earnings increased by 31 per cent from N30.7 billion in March 2012 to N40.3 billion in March 2013. Net interest income increased by 21 per cent to N24.5 billion as against N20.2 billion in comparable period of 2012. Profit before tax increased from N7.8 billion to N8.7 billion.

    According to Otti, the first quarter performance results was an affirmation of the bank’s resolve to deliver better returns to its shareholders in the current financial year.

     

  • Diamond Bank to enhance service delivery in Delta

    Diamond Bank Plc has hosted a customer forum for its customers in Delta State. The event was held at the Chevron Club in Warri, Delta State.

    Executive Director, Regional Businesses, South Directorate, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr Victor Ezenwoko stated that the job of the bank is service and if one is not being serviced well, the bank has failed in its responsibility.

    “Our job is service. Banking is like the job of an insurance agent. If one is not doing well and fails to listen or take corrections one has failed in his responsibility. We might be working and think we are doing well and that our customers are happy while that is not the case. We are here today because without our customers we will be nowhere. Some have been with us from the get-go and their businesses have grown and their children are grown also and they are still with us. We are here to ask how we have served you and how we can do better,” Ezenwoko said.

    ATM Service Supervisor, Mr Chukwudi Ibeh spoke on the importance of cashless banking as it has been embraced in Lagos State stating that it is of great importance and he further encouraged Deltans to embrace the culture.

    Group Head, Technology and Business Solutions, Mr. Edafe Omojughare highlighted the benefits of having a cashless Nigeria.

    He said: “We have the infrastructure in place and I can assure you that your online transactions are safe with Diamond Bank. You can do immediate transfers. You can download the Diamond Mobile banking application on your smartphone and even transfer foreign currencies.”

    Head, Customer Experience, Diamond Bank Plc, Mrs. Shirley Uyakonwu said: “Alongside hosting forums like this, there are other opportunities that allow for feedback from you. Customers may choose to complain by telephone, in person or in writing. We have the toll-free phones in our banking halls and ATM points where you can call for complaints or enquiries. There are people by the phones waiting for you to call”.

     

    Continuing, Mrs. Uyakonwu said, “There is the dedicated email address, complaints@diamondbank.com, complaint/compliment cards in branch banking halls, an online complaints form on our website and also face-to-face interactions with customers. We also have the customer satisfaction base where we have a consultant who goes through our database to find out how we are dong from our customers.”

    Some of the customers of the bank used the opportunity to clarify some issues. Mr. Dukuye Erakpouri, Regional Manager Diamond Securities asked for more information on the measures put in place to help voluminous cash withdrawals.

    Responding, Mr. Edafe Omojughare, Head of Technology of the bank, said the bank has put in place several measures to ensure that customers’ funds are safe. The event had in attendance His Royal Majesty, James Omeruo, Ogurimerime, Ukori 1, Ovie of Agbor Kingdom who served as the Chairman of the occasion, WAZOBIA FM, Honest Akpos who compered the event, Nigeria top comedian, Gandoki and others

     

  • Diamond Bank opens UK subsidiary

    Diamond Bank opens UK subsidiary

    Diamond Bank Plc, has secured the approval of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), UK to own and operate a bank in the United Kingdom.

    In a statement, the Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, said that the bank was pleased with the approval as it signals the conclusion of a process that started months ago.

    He said the bank was delighted to secure the affirmation of the FSA for its bid to set up a UK subsidiary to enable it offer wholesale financial services, including facilitating international trade to new and existing clients, adding that the approval also provides a unique opportunity for Diamond Bank to establish its presence in London, which is a hub for finance and banking activities in Europe.

    Following the approval given by shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting in May 2012, Otti had hinted during the bank’s investors conference call in July, 2012, that the bank was determined to leverage on its international banking license with the acquisition of a niche bank in Europe.

  • Diamond Bank unveils enterprise seminar

    Diamond Bank Plc said it is paying attention to instant delivery to assist in creating a market beating customer experience for gaining competitive advantage.

    Speaking during the bank’s business xpress enterprise series, the Head Retail Banking ,Jade Anele said the bank is building the managerial capacity of entrepreneurs to the level they can easily succeed in their respective businesses.

    He reiterated the commitment of the bank to impact positively on small and medium enterprises. Speaking at Diamond Business Xpress Seminar in Lagos, Anele explained that Diamond Bank is providing a lot of benefits targeted at developing the macroeconomic landscape of the country.

    He said the business Xpress enterprise seminar is designed for incubating and growing Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME’s) across the country, adding that it was developed bearing in mind the problems facing the real sector of the economy. “Diamond Business Xpress was developed specifically to add value to your business whether a micro, small or medium scale enterprise. The Business Xpress account aims to help you grow your businesses,” said Mash.

    He said said the objective of the seminar was not to win customers for the bank but to ensure that enterprises get rid of one of the challenges to their growth, which is lack of proper business and management information. He pointed out that besides the seminar, the bank aids businesses and enterprises with products and services that make it easy for them to do transactions at little or no cost thereby boosting their profitability.

    According to him,, Diamond Bank offers its SME customers a business account with three variants designed to take care of micro, growing and established businesses, all of which among other benefits, enjoy free Cost of Transactions (COT) in their daily banking activities. “With Diamond Business Xpress, the customer can attend our quarterly enterprise business seminars where he can learn the latest trends in management. In addition, the customer has access to affordable loans and business advisory services,” she added.

    He enjoined participants at the seminar to always imbibe the principles of planning, which according to her is imperative for success in all business endeavors. the bank is building the capacity of entrepreneurs to ensure that their businesses flourish and outlive them by teaching them to be better managers in order to reduce the tendency of business insolvency.

    The quarterly business seminar, dwell on empowerment of entrepreneurs and small-scale traders, will be graced by business consultants, entrepreneurs, bankers and customers. According to the statement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Superflux , Mr Tokunbo Talabi who was the key facilitator at the seminar, took the entrepreneurs through various avenues of maximising interactions to the benefit of their businesses.