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Business Reporter

STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe is celebrating 30 years of service provision this month, which has seen the giant financial services institution contributing significantly to the socio-economic growth of the country and communities in which it operates.

In his celebration message chief executive, Mr Solomon Nyanhongo, said the bank has supported the full spectrum of Zimbabwe’s economic sectors over the last three decades in addition to looking after the needs of its customers.

He said the bank has weathered all sorts of socio-economic challenges to become a solid and consistent financial services provider with a focus to drive Zimbabwe’s growth.

The quest to drive Zimbabwe’s growth has seen the Standard Bank group subsidiary supporting industry and commerce, the agricultural sector, infrastructure development, as well as propping up the needs of communities it operates in.

“We have contributed millions of dollars to support several infrastructure development initiatives with a direct bearing on the economic development of the country,” said Mr Nyanhongo.

“As we always say, Zimbabwe is our home and we are determined to drive her growth. We are more than committed to make Zimbabwe great.”

He said Stanbic’s operational thrust was premised on putting its customers first hence adoption of the concept of “Customer Centricity” as the navigation phrase applied when employees go about service delivery.

“We are here for our clients. We love our clients and we will continue to work for them and come up with innovative growth strategies for their benefit,” said Mr

Nyanhongo.

He said Stanbic Bank does not just exist to make profits but to also promote interest of the community hence continued rollout of sustainable and comprehensive corporate social responsibility initiatives that include health and sanitation, education and sports.

“Our CSR initiatives are carefully structured to ensure that they positively impact the community in which we operate. Through these initiatives we have helped construct community bridges, classroom blocks, mothers’ waiting homes, supplied life-saving equipment for health institutions throughout the country, provided bursaries, drilled boreholes and supported various associations who look after the disadvantaged just to mention a few,” said Mr Nyanhongo.

That human face has also seen Stanbic Bank respond to natural disasters and calamities that have hit Zimbabwe over the years such as the cholera outbreak, Cyclone Idai, and most recently the menacing Covid-19.

Mr Nyanhongo said it was fitting that the institution was celebrating 30 years at the same time its parent company, the Standard Bank Group, was also celebrating 160 years of operating.

“Our parent company is also celebrating 160 years of serving customers this year and this gives us a sense of not only pride but assuredness that we are standing on the shoulders of a giant who has seen it all and is on hand to show us the way we need it,” he said.

Mr Nyanhongo applauded employees for their service and paid tribute to all Stanbic Bank stakeholders past and present who played a pivotal role in establishing the bank from its inception in 1992.

Over the years Stanbic Bank has been recognised for its outstanding financial services performances by renowned global institutions such as Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Finance African Banking Awards, Global Banking and Finance Review.

In 2020 Stanbic Bank was named best bank in Zimbabwe at the Europe Middle East and Africa Finance African Banking awards, as well as by The Banker during the Global Bank of the year awards.

Last year Stanbic Bank was named Best Investment Bank by Global Banking and Finance Review; Best Bank in Zimbabwe by EMEA Finance African Banking Awards; as well as Best CSR Initiatives Zimbabwe at the Global Banking & Finance Awards.

This year Stanbic received the Best Corporate Governance Award at the Zimbabwe Independent Banks and Banking Survey.