Skye Bank Explores Opportunity In Vast Unbanked Market

Posted by African Examiner Banking & Finance, Business News Wednesday, November 13th, 2013

As a way of bringing the teeming percentage of the unbanked population on board the banking train, Skye Bank Plc has intensified efforts to provide financial services to this class of people through a range of product offerings.

The Executive Director in charge of South South Business Development/Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Ibiye Ekong, who disclosed this during an interaction with the press, said the bank had perfected plans to enhance opportunities in the retail segment of the market.

“There are about 64 million unbanked adult populations in the country, and another 16 million youth population that is unbanked. So, a lot of opportunities abound out there for players in the industry”, she said.

Ekong said the bank has customized savings products for various categories of people to take care of their peculiar banking needs. Such products, she said, include Skye Save, Skye Wise Account, Skye Rainbow account, Skye Treasure account, among others.

She also disclosed that the bank’s customer loyalty programme known as Skye Dreams, has been enhanced with additional benefits for customers of the bank who win points based on the number of transactions they carry out. Such customers stand the chance to win air tickets to some destination, among others.

The bank director also spoke about her bank’s activities in promoting businesses in the South South where she said the institution has empowered industrialists and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

She said the bank understands the peculiar business terrain of the South South and has entered into strategic partnerships with both state and local governments in the region in revenue collection, infrastructure financing and others.

Ekong who noted that some entrepreneurs have been unable to access bank facilities due to the structure of the businesses which are without accounting and book keeping, said Skye Bank has responded to the challenge by organizing seminars for customers to make them better business people and entrepreneurs.

She disclosed that the bank would hold other capacity building seminars for customers in various parts of the country as part of its efforts to provide technical and advisory support to its customers.