Wema Bank Clinches Multiple Awards at the Global Sustainable Finance Awards 2024

-Outstanding Sustainable Finance – SME Finance

– Best Digital Platform for Sustainable Finance.

– Sustainable Finance Professional of the Year

Sahara Weekly Reports That Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has received three prestigious awards at the 2024 Global Sustainable Finance Awards, which was hosted by The Digital Banker.

This prestigious event honors financial institutions leading in sustainable finance and responsible investment practices globally. The recognition underscores Wema Bank’s unwavering commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence across its operations and marks a significant milestone in the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and responsible banking.

The awards include:

– Outstanding Sustainable Finance – SME Finance: Recognizing Wema Bank’s innovative solutions tailored to bolster SME growth and sustainability.

– Best Digital Platform for Sustainable Finance: This award celebrates the success of ALAT, Wema Bank’s pioneering digital platform that champions financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.

– Sustainable Finance Professional of the Year – Africa: This accolade was awarded to Abimbola Agbejule, lauding her leadership in sustainability initiatives at Wema Bank.

“Winning these awards is not just a recognition of our sustainable practices but also a testament to our role as pioneers in integrating sustainability into our core business strategies, we are proud to lead the charge in fostering sustainable development and demonstrating robust financial services leadership on a global scale.”” said Moruf Oseni, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO.

“This recognition is a reaffirmation of our dedicated efforts at Wema Bank to weave sustainability into every facet of our operations. It propels us to continue driving impactful financial solutions that not only meet today’s needs but also secure a sustainable tomorrow.” Added Abimbola Agbejule,Wema Bank’s Head, Corporate Sustainability.

With over 200 entries from 87 banks across four continents, Wema Bank’s achievements signify its excellence and innovative approach to banking and places Wema Bank at the forefront of sustainable banking on a global scale, alongside notable institutions like HSBC, ING, and Caixa Bank.

The bank’s achievements at the Global Sustainable Finance Awards underscore its role as a leader in the global financial landscape, setting a benchmark for the industry and emphasizing its unwavering commitment to sustainability. Wema Bank continues to pioneer initiatives that not only meet customer needs but also promote a more sustainable and inclusive future.

EXCITING PRIZES TO BE WON WITH FIRSTBANK VISA GOLD AND VISA INFINITE CARDS IN THE 2024 SUMMER CAMPAIGN

FirstBank, the West African premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider announces its continuous VISA Cross Border and Summer campaign in partnership with VISA. The campaign, which commenced on 1 April 2024, is set to run until 31 August 2024 as a rewarding initiative for existing VISA Gold and VISA Infinite cardholders and prospective customers.

Throughout the campaign, 502 lucky Visa Infinite and Visa Gold cardholders will win $50 gift vouchers. 2 cardholders will enjoy an all-expense-paid trip for two to the Olympic Games in Paris, France. The promo offers an excellent opportunity for cardholders to enjoy the premium benefits of using their FirstBank VISA cards while standing a chance to win fantastic rewards.

To qualify for this exciting offer, Visa Infinite and Visa Gold cardholders must spend $500 and above in at least six transactions during the campaign period.

Speaking on the promo Chuma Ezirim, the Group Executive E-Business and Retail Products, FirstBank said, “We are excited to reward our loyal customers and users of FirstBank Visa Infinite and Visa Gold cards, whilst also welcoming new customers through this campaign. This promo underscores our commitment to reward our customers with innovative and impactful offerings designed to enhance their banking experience.

“We appreciate Visa for the partnership as we deliver value and create memorable experiences for our customers.”

The FirstBank Visa Gold card is an international premium credit card issued in partnership with Visa International. It is a US Dollar-denominated card secured by chip and PIN technology, ensuring both convenience and security for users.

On the other hand, the FirstBank Visa Infinite card is the pinnacle of the Visa card range, targeted at High-Net-Worth Individuals. This card offers an extraordinary selection of exclusive travel, dining, shopping, and lifestyle opportunities, providing unparalleled benefits to its holders.

WITH GIANTS CAMPAIGN, FIRSTBANK IS TRULY WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY

Sahara Weekly Reports That The ‘Giant in you’ campaign of the FirstBank has again confirmed the common expression that ‘apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ given the history of the financial brand and its legendary relevance to the growth of enterprises, within and outside Nigeria.

In its usual creative conjecture, 13O-year-old FirstBank, has hit the airwaves and other media outlets with various visuals to articulate its new campaign ‘The Giant in You’.

Breaking down the central message, ‘there is a giant in you’ the campaign stylishly reminds the bank customer that ‘FirstBank Puts You First so you can’ before giving the match order, ‘Live the Giant-Life.

For a bank that settles for the big ‘elephant’, as logo and has remained strong for 130 years, worlds like giant, tall and strides, used in the various visuals are simply validations of its robustness, endurance, doggedness and tall ambition. As part of the ways to convey the bank’s message to its array of patrons, SO&U, the creative agency behind the campaign cleverly selected its cast and buildings, including FirstBank’s corporate headquarters, to reflect the bigness, the tallness and the boldness of the 130-year-old financial institution to rule the world as far as banking and business support are concerned.

Unraveling the ‘Giant’ strides…

Among other reasons, the new campaign must have been conceptualized to position FirstBank as a ‘giant’ and ‘future-ready’ institution that is dependable, innovative and proactive in supporting its customers and stakeholders win in the race to the future and be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities and possibilities of that emerging future.

Driven by the conviction that consumers want to turn their big dreams into giant successes, the new campaign reminds the consumer that in today’s world of constant disruptions and integrated experiences, the customer needs a strong, stable and supportive partner, with the appropriate platforms, innovative solutions and networks to not only support their aspirations but also be responsive and adaptive enough to anticipate their needs and empower them to success.

Looking through the visuals and the television commercial, it’s easy to conclude that the campaign narrative is not about the brand but the customer. For instance, the creative path illustrates the world as it moves and changes at lightning speed, the customer is reminded that just like the world, everything within it is also changing, from economies to businesses and even opportunities.

“We recognise that to be in sync with the world will require a forward thinking and future ready mindset …and we have created the atmosphere, products and services to help our customers,” the bank stated.

To underscore ‘the big idea’ and the ‘bringing out the Giant in you’ theme, key visuals speak to the essence of the campaign and are accompanied with long and straight legs in a demonstrative form to take the purported giant step. Here the messages are passed under the following; ready to take giant strides?, strides into the future, let’s take giant strides together, stand tall, stand out, think giant solutions, among others.

Facts and figures…

Like Coca-Cola, the world number one brand, one other thing that has consistently worked for the FirstBank brand is that the promoters have never, for once allowed complacency to set in. The implication of this is that the bank is not only the oldest, but also one of the most digitally compliant banks. Currently, First Bank stands tall via First Bank digital solutions, employs market-leading digital platforms and solution driven products and services. Besides, the use of AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) by the bank enables the financial brand to initiate 85 percent of its transactions via digital platforms leading to quick responses to customers’ needs and satisfaction. In this regard, FirstBank has been recognised by Interswitch as the first financial institution in Nigeria to achieve 100 million sustained monthly transactions in electronic payment and it has hit N1 trillion transactions through the FirstMonie Agent network.

Speaking during the unveiling of the new thematic brand campaign, Head, Brand and Stakeholder management at FirstBank, Yinka Ijabiyi, reiterated that FirstBank came up with the new campaign because of its belief that there is a ‘giant’ in every customer, every employee and every stakeholder.

He said, “This campaign was informed by our belief that there is ‘giant’ in every stakeholder a giant dream, a giant possibility, a giant idea, a giant life and a giant future waiting to be birthed. Our commitment is therefore to provide all necessary business support, financial know-how and platforms to bring out the giant in every customer,”

Ijabiyi further pointed out that the campaign was conceptualised by the bank in a bid to show customers in its 130 years, that it has been supporting and creating giants and that it has no plan to stop anytime soon. He said the bank, in its celebration of its 130 years in business, came up with a campaign that speaks to the business essence of its brand which is making giants of its customers.

“We have always done it and the fact we have been around for such a long time means good to everybody as we have been supporting businesses, individuals and government in those years.

“We are making giants and there is no business that interacts with us that does not see the benefits in their business. We are making giants in our customers and we will not stop.

“We are the partner with tailored solutions for every customer, employee, and stakeholder. We have what it takes to turn dreams into giant successes. FirstBank’s services are designed to help customers “giant-size” their dreams, offering businesses the platforms and solutions needed to grow, innovate, and achieve remarkable success.”

Ijabiyi added that the array of products, solutions and services offered by FirstBank cannot be compared with any financial services in Nigeria.

For its customers, the bank said “We would enable, inspire and support you with our world of financial services to help you to giant-size your dreams and live your best life”. It also said it “would give businesses and business owners the right platforms and solutions they need to grow, initiate and execute bold ideas.

Meanwhile, the creative agency behind the campaign has hinted to the media that the unveiled materials were mere ‘tip of the iceberg’ as efforts are ongoing to domesticate the same campaign in local languages to connect with customers across the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

A peep into the past…

When the promoters said First Bank was “truly the first, many grudgingly agreed. But deep inside its competitors – the possible grudging camp – is the truth regarding the extreme distance the bank has given others in performance and people relevance of its operations! They knew the bank was not bluffing. Not only has it rediscovered itself, but the ability to shed its ancient mindset in terms of operations and blend with modern trends in banking have left many agreeing that perhaps, the saying that the older the wine the better it gets in taste actually applies to FirstBank. To this end, it’s not by accident that First Bank has produced at least two former governors of the CBN and a Finance Minister, including Chief Joseph Sanusi and the current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Perhaps the current campaign is an offshoot of a story-telling Television Commercial, by the bank to reflect the beginning of modern banking and how the bank has consistently grown with Nigeria’s enterprises through partnership and innovation.

The referenced TVC says it all: A combination of historical renaissance and quite prescient validation of the innovation that usually drives its bewitching communicational ads. From the groundnut pyramids of the north, which was the symbol of the regions commercial edge and the cocoa bean mountains of Western Nigeria to the rubber plantations of the East and Mid-eastern region, First Bank has applied its new campaign to remind its decades-old patrons, customers, and even competitors, that the beat has refused to abate.

Throughout the campaign, FirstBank subtly registers itself in the minds of the banking public that it’s entirely Nigerian – past, present, and the future. The well-crafted historical simulation captures how FirstBank opened its first branch in Lagos in 1894 and started helping merchandise and local traders to grow their businesses. The excitement and enthusiasm on the faces of the bank’s early customers after getting their cash books from the Lagos office say it all. Like someone who has gotten a glimpse of what the future holds with banking, the customers express surprises and happiness. The commercial captures the mood and goes back in memory lane on how the bank has helped many people succeed in their ventures. Subtly, the narrator takes viewers to Kano and reveals how the then richest men in the commercial city were making their deposit of 20 bags of Silver in an atmosphere that looks like the first operational day of the bank.

Perhaps the beauty of the commercial lies more in the way it strikes a balance between the ancient and the modern days through setting and swapping of background colours. This was cleverly explored in referencing the way the bank transformed into an online haven, driven by technology.

While reminding the patrons of the bank’s transformation and technological advancement, the narrator is quick to talk about the expansion of the bank beyond the shores of Nigeria to the West-African region and beyond. The TVC also positions FirstBank as a socially responsible brand by touching on various initiatives it has embarked on. Specifically, First Bank’s contribution to Sports through its support for football and athletics is captured very well.

The ‘Giant in You’ is another chapter as the bank begins a fresh journey after operating for 130 years.

Culled from ThisDay