Over the years, the financial services industry in Nigeria has undergone various forms of transformation in terms of operations, service delivery and other indices of performance. Increased sophistication in the lifestyle of people, changing tastes, demanding schedules, technological savviness, amongst other modern trends, have seen operators in the sector constantly reinventing the wheel to meet and satisfy the needs of the ever-dynamic environment as well as the populace. These days, the assessment of financial institutions, particularly Banks, is largely measured by their level of connection with their stakeholders and the customer-centric solutions they offer. This fact was succinctly captured by Roy Spence, co-founder of GSD&M, a leading advertising firm in the United States, who declared that, ‘’every business needs to be in the business of improving customers’ lives” For FCMB Group Plc, a foremost holding company in Nigeria, its nine subsidiaries which are leaders in their respective segments, this declaration underlies the philosophy; serving as a roadmap in the firms’ drive to attain the highest levels of customer advocacy as well as experience. This is while also adding significant value to stakeholders. The operating companies of FCMB Group, with Mr. Ladi Balogun as the Group Chief Executive, are divided along three business groups – Commercial and Retail Banking (First City Monument Bank Limited, Credit Direct Limited, FCMB (UK) Limited and FCMB Microfinance Bank Limited); Investment Banking (FCMB Capital Markets Limited and CSL Stockbrokers Limited); and Asset & Wealth Management (FCMB Pensions Limited, First City Asset Management Limited and CSL Trustees Limited).

Having witnessed low and high moments in its many years of operation, the Group has continuously turned challenges to opportunities over the years to emerge as one of the leading institutions in corporate Nigeria. This underpins the resilience, endurance, robustness and viability of the brand to sustainably deliver exceptional financial services to individuals, groups and organisations across segments. Indeed, the performance of FCMB has been on the uptick. And there is no gainsaying the fact FCMB has proved its mettle as an inclusive lender by being a big player in all sectors of the Nigerian economy. The enduring establishments are transferring prosperity by impacting on businesses and individual aspirations The Group successfully acquired Legacy Pension Managers Limited (now known as FCMB Pensions Limited) by increasing its stake in the company from 28.3% to 91.6%. The development is engendering sustainable and diversified low-risk growth momentum as the pensions firm is leveraging FCMB’s extensive distribution network, alternate channels, digital innovation and investment research to rapidly expand its customer base. Speaking on the acquisition, Chairman of the Board of FCMB Pensions Limited and the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun said, “having distinguished ourselves in consumer finance over the years and gaining greater market share in retail payments solutions and savings accounts, a comprehensive suite of asset and wealth management propositions, is a natural addition to our growing base of 5 million customers. We have now harmonised the brand. This will enable us create greater marketing synergies alongside other initiatives and accelerate the growth of our pensions business. The change of the company’s name will also entrench a single brand identity across our pensions and retail banking businesses”.

Meanwhile the financial results of FCMB Group for the nine months ended September 2018 showed a significant increase in profit before tax to N14.77 billion, as against N6.84 billion recorded for the same period in 2017. Also, gross revenue rose by 11% to N132.9 billion from N118.8 billion. Net interest income witnessed a 7% Year-on-Year (YoY) upsurge from N49.9billion to N53.2 billion, just as non-interest income grew by 77% (YoY) to N33.0 billion from N18.6 billion for the same period in the previous year. Customer confidence in FCMB Group remained strong, as deposits were up 5% Quarter-on Quarter (QoQ) to N756 billion in September 2018, compared to N721.3 billion as the end of June 2018. In addition, the nine months financial results saw a surge in Loans and advances by 3% QoQ to N601.9 billion in September 2018 as against N586.0 billion in June 2018, which is an indication of the Group’s aggressive focus on financial intermediation and support for economic growth of the public and private sectors. The impact of the subsidiaries on the overall performance of FCMB Group has been profound as evidenced by their solid performance. First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the retail and commercial banking-led subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, has consolidated its position as a dominant brand by growing in leaps and bounds. The Bank has continued to boost its customers acquisition drive in the retail segment of the Banking industry. It has also sustained the tempo of becoming a more convenient and accessible Bank in alternate channels, with more than 800 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) spread across Nigeria as at the end of 2018 and over 15,000 Point of Sale (PoS) terminals deployed nationwide, while on-boarding almost 2 million customers on its electronic banking platforms. Added to these, is the strategic location of the Bank’s business outlets (branches and alternate channels) nationwide; providing prompt and convenient banking solutions as well as promoting financial inclusion in line with its values as a simple, reliable and helpful entity. So far, FCMB has 216 branches and cash centres in Nigeria the Bank has sustained the empowerment of customers through its reward scheme tagged, ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo’’. Almost 50,000 customers have benefitted from the promo by winning cars, cash rewards of between N1 million and N2 million as well as gifts like television sets, power generating sets and phones, among others.

In business banking, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), FCMB recorded a significant improvement in net revenue as at the end of 2018.  FCMB offers several cutting-edge products, services and solutions to meet and satisfy the needs of businesses in this segment. The lender has recently disbursed over N3.17billion to SMEs across the country under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention programme.  The Bank also offers free banking transactions for a period of three months to new to FCMB SME customers as well as free training and other capacity training programmes for businesses operating in this segment in partnership with private and public sector organisations, including the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Plans are also underway by FCMB to launch a proposition that offers zero-interest rate on loans to women-owned SMEs. Between June and October last year, the lender organised a promotion tagged, ‘’FCMB SME Race to China Promo’’ for customers. Three winners of the star prize of an all-expense paid trip (return flight ticket to Guangzhou, China and hotel accommodation for 7 nights), 8 winners of $500 preloaded shopping cards and 36 winners of consolation gifts have emerged and have been rewarded.

In agribusiness, FCMB recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) in a move that would substantially increase the Bank’s support to agribusiness, its value chain and overall growth of the Nigerian economy. The memorandum outlines a framework to deepen agency banking, financial inclusion and savings culture in the informal and agribusiness sectors.  The project involves FCMB rolling out an integrated savings account – named ‘Kampe Account’ – to offer financial services under phase one of its plan to 150,000 unbanked and under-banked farmers across five states through agricultural agents operating under the bank’s agency banking proposition. The first set of states to benefit in this first phase are Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Ogun and Oyo. The plan is to reach 2 million farmers across the entire nation by year 2023.  In addition to the financial support to farmers, it is understood, FCMB is deploying its state-of-the art technology and mobilising banking solutions to drive the project mainly in the rural and sub-urban farm settlements where most farmers are based. The bank is organising capacity-building programmes for farmers, aimed at facilitating their understanding of the sector and promoting innovative ideas to make the sector more attractive, thereby facilitating job creation and in turn, impacting on productivity and income generation with regards to corporate banking business, the renewed liability and transaction driven approach of FCMB has seen the lender fund several projects aimed at growing the Nigerian economy. In the oil and gas sector, the Bank was the major financier of the 300 million litres tank farm of Petrolex Oil and Gas Limited, located at Ibefun town in Ogun state, which was commissioned in December 2017. The lender also provided the funds for the construction of the 66,000 metric tonnes capacity petroleum products tank farm of Menj Oil Limited in Ijegun, Lagos.  Moreover, FCMB wholly financed the construction of the new 155-room Radisson Blu Hotel at Ikeja GRA in Lagos. The Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos, which is the third in Nigeria and second in Lagos, was opened in 2018. Speaking on these developments and the outlook for the year 2019, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mr. Adam Nuru says, the Bank has a great foundation to continue to build on and being confident of its strategy, will achieve the necessary resilience.

‘’We know we will need constant change, innovation capability and high productivity to thrive in a progressively fierce competitive environment. Based on this, we have a renewed strong commitment to our digital transformation journey with aggressive investments in putting the right structures in place. This is expected to facilitate efficiency in our operations and fuel our efforts to create the right momentum; expand our share of the market and increase our wallet-share of existing customers. We will leverage our digital capabilities to reduce our cost-to-serve; grow non-interest income; and improve our agility as a bank to deepen intimacy with our customers’’, he stated with this outstanding moves and achievements, coupled with the Bank’s niche for excellence and a clear understanding of its market and the environment, analysts are of the view that the FCMB brand is well positioned to create more value for its growing customer base and other stakeholders in Nigeria.

A total of 2,576 customers of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) have won millions and various gifts at the end of the Bank’s reward scheme tagged ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 5’’. The promo, designed to reward and empower customers, ran from March to October this year with four regional and zonal draws, including the grand finale, on November 28, 2018.

Of the 2,576 winners, 16 lucky customers won cash ranging from N1million to N2million, while the remaining 2,560 were rewarded with LED televisions, generating sets, decoders, tablets and smart phones. At the grand finale draws of the ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 5’’ on November 28, four customers smiled home with N2million each, just as 640 others received gift items. The promo which targeted all existing savings account customers of FCMB with monthly account balance ranging from N10,000.00 to N50,000.00, was designed to give extra value and empowerment to customers of the Bank, while encouraging financial inclusion and savings culture.

Idi Awawu emerged winner of the star prize of N2million at the Abuja & North regional draw in Abuja, while Simeon Olanrewaju got the same amount at the Lagos Regional Draws held in Otta, a town between Lagos and Ogun state. In the same vein, Obioma Uzonwunne was the lucky winner of N2million at the South-East & South-South Regional draws in Asaba, Delta state and Ajani Mayowa won the same amount at the South-West Regional draws in Akure, Ondo state.

Speaking on the development, the winners expressed gratitude to FCMB for creating opportunities to reward and empower customers through the Millionaire Promo In his comment, a Director of the Consumer Protection Council, Mr. Dauda Waja, hailed the Bank for conducting the exercise with integrity and transparency. He said that FCMB followed due process from the beginning of the promo in March till the emergence of the various winners.

Speaking on the promo, the Executive Director, Retail Banking of FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said with the grand finale of the draws held nationwide, the Bank has fulfilled the promise it made to customers to reward those who participated and qualified for the promo and participated in the four draws organised during the exercise. “We are encouraged by the huge excitement and participation the Millionaire Promo has continued to receive. Beyond the various prizes won by winners, the fact the promo has provided us with an opportunity to encourage an enduring savings culture, financial inclusion and the empowerment of our customers is very exciting. We therefore urge members of the public who do not currently have a banking relationship with us to come on board to benefit from the various cutting-edge opportunities that are on offer by the Bank’’, he added.

Mr. Akanmu encouraged the lucky customers, particularly the star prize winners, to make wise use of their prizes, assuring, ‘’you can invest meaningfully and we are ready to offer you free advice if you so wish’’.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail banking and wealth management led Group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself through innovation and the delivery of exceptional services.

In line with its ‘customer-first’ approach to service delivery, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has rolled-out series of exciting and rewarding activities to further enhance customer experience during the celebration of this year’s international Customer Service Week from October 1 to 5, 2018, with the theme, “Excellence Happens Here”. The theme recognizes that, ‘’space where customers and service professionals come together; from the call center to the executive suite, from the loading dock to the home office, from behind the wheel to the front of a monitor. Where service happens is where Excellence Happens’’.

The Customer Service Week, which started 34 years ago, is a unique period when service organizations and global agencies extol the patronage and loyalty of their esteemed customers by introducing several unique and special activities to appreciate them. It is celebrated annually during the first full week in October and has grown into a global event, in which FCMB has always been involved over the years. In a statement, FCMB said the celebration of this year’s Customer Service Week promises to be a memorable one going by the number of activities it has lined up for her numerous customers. These includes, visit to some customers by the management of the Bank. In addition, the senior management members of the institution would serve as service advisors, teller and customer service officers in select branches of the lender nationwide, just as customers will have the opportunity to call and have telephone interactions with the Managing Director. FCMB will also visit her young customers (who operate its kiddies account) and whose birthdays fall during the customer service week to present them with gifts.  Moreover, FCMB will host some customers of its youth product, the “Flexx”, to an interactive session and reward staff who have demonstrated outstanding performance in customer service. Goodwill messages will also be sent to customers to appreciate them.

Commenting on the Customer Service Week and while thanking the bank’s customers, the Senior Vice President and Divisional Head Service Management and Technology, Mr. Oluwakayode Adigun noted that FCMB will continue to focus on initiatives that will continually meet the needs and aspirations of her customers, as the bank understands clearly the power of the customers in her business and this is clearly reflected in the entire model for the Digital transformation of the bank which is customer lead. On his part, the Group Head, Service Management of FCMB, Mr. Moshood Adelotan, said: ‘’For us at FCMB, the theme of this year`s celebration is very significant to u, s as our strategic thrust as a bank is to compete using service as a pivot. And this has further been re-affirmed by our recent position in the latest KPMG BICSS where we came 3^rd in both the Retail and SME segment from our 5^th placed rating last year. We are committed to continually offer our teeming customers across all business segments, top notch customer experience that will clearly stand us out, not just in the financial industry but in the service industry generally, as we believe service us universal. I say a very thank you to our customers for banking with us and we look forward to more patronage as we progress on our service experience journey’’.

FCMB has over the years introduced several initiatives to enhance customer experience. Among these are the strategic growth of its branch network for better accessibility to more people, extended banking hours beyond normal business hours at the branches nationwide, provision of additional alternate channels, such as *329# USSD code, ATMs, PoS, FCMBMobile, FCMBOnline, Quick Recharge and other self-service terminals, increased hours of service at the call centre and introduction of multilingual services, among others. FCMB has in place, a team of highly dedicated and professional staff that go the extra mile to give its customers a sustainable excellent customer experience.  With a clear understanding of its market and the environment, analysts are of the opinion that the FCMB brand is well positioned to create more value for its growing customer base and other stakeholders.

Credit Direct Limited (CDL), a member of FCMB Group Plc and a market leader in the provision of unsecured consumer loans to individuals in Nigeria, has again raised the standards in customer experience and employees’ engagement by commissioning its state-of-the-art new head office at an impressive ceremony in Lagos on Friday, September 14, 2018. Credit Direct Limited, established over 10 years ago, is a non-bank financial services company with operation in 25 States across Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory– Abuja. The Company which has a staff strength of over 1,000 employees has given out over 1.5million loans worth over N150 billion since it began operations. With an active customer base of over 200,000 individuals in the public and private sectors, Credit Direct is poised to continue leading the Market with its innovative offerings and excellent customer experience, as attested to by its teeming customers, Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Chairman of Credit Direct Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun, said, ‘’this edifice is another milestone in the history of Credit Direct. It is a reaffirmation of our commitment to raise the bar in the manner in which we operate and the kind of environment in which we provide services. We are excited that within 10 years of the establishment of Credit Direct, the company has added significant value to Nigerians and the country in general’’.

Mr. Balogun, who is also the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, assured that FCMB Group will continue to invest in projects and initiatives that would develop entrepreneurship. Also speaking, the Managing Director of Credit Direct Limited, Mr. Akinwande Ademosu, said, ‘’our story changed the face of the financial services sector, the people we are servicing today are those not well served (underserved) and unserved by the conventional financial services sector. We believe so much in the future that has been created – from just giving out loans to giving our customers peace of mind’’.

He added that with its wide national reach, robust financial strength, top of the range proprietary technology and dedicated workforce, Credit Direct has translated its offerings into making real positive impacts on the lives of many Nigerians across different socio-economic strata in line with its vision to be the preferred financial services partner in Nigeria and beyond. As the Company embarks on this new phase of development, its growing variety of innovative products and services are focused on creating exceptional customer experience among its ever-evolving customer base. The pursuit of excellence and commitment to delivering best in class service, even while the firm is domiciled in Nigeria, her product offerings and standard of service delivery are seen to be at par and appealing to any discerning customer as well as investors, anywhere in the world.

The true mettle of Credit Direct Limited was tested during the economic recession of 2015 through 2016 when most companies of its kind suffered bitter losses and, in many cases, had to wind-up. Credit Direct proved its firm and resilient foundations and posted a profit year on year throughout that period. This remarkable achievement underscores the fact that the Company is driven by a team of highly qualified and technically sound Management with more than 75years collective managerial experience backed by a skilful workforce regarded as front-liners in the Financial Services space of today while still attracting the best talent across its operations. Credit Direct Limited has therefore put together the components for sustainable growth and profitability.  The formal inauguration of the new ultra-modern corporate headquarters is another indication of the Company’s resolve to remain the preferred partner in her market space while positioning the company for both local and international growth.