Even though 2009 was a challenging year for the banking industry, uniBank Ghana Limited, one of the finest indigenous banks operating in the country, increased its Profit Before Tax by 80 percent, compared to GH¢1.9 million in 2008.

Though the bank’s accounts are yet to be audited, this impressive performance by the bank indicates that its five-year strategic plan (2009 –2013), which is  centered on a well-focused management and highly motivated staff, has began the year on a good note.

Importantly, the bank also recorded an overwhelming growth in deposits as total deposits for last year exceeded 100 percent, as against GH¢65.2 million in 2008.

The customer base of the bank also shot up.

Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Managing Director (MD) of uniBank, told CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE in an exclusive interview that “the bank’s performance in 2009 was excellent because of good planning and a potent strategy.”

The Bank has a five-year strategic plan (2009 – 2013), which is mainly driven by a well-focused management and a highly motivated staff.

Indeed, uniBank is the financial institution to watch and in SME-banking sector.

On whether the Corporate Initiative Ghana (CIG) Banking Awards had impacted positively on the bank’s operations, the indefatigable MD noted that the awards, which honors the best performing banks based on customers-retail and corporate clients, had enhanced uniBank’s service delivery to customers.

“Moreover, the publicity created by CIG is highly commendable as it created and enhanced brand awareness,” he added.

With regard to branch expansion, Mr. Owusu-Amoah emphasized that the bank would concentrate on Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) and would expand roll out an expansion strategy.  

“A national coverage is seen as a competitively and advantageous move; hence, our customers and potential ones would see the bank rolling out more branches in the second half of 2010 along these two potent lines,” he said.

The bank also intends to open agencies and cash collection points across the country in line with its policy to get closer to its customers.

Mr. Owusu-Amoah pointed out that the branches would cover the Brong Ahafo Region, the Northern sector and the eastern corridors of the country.  

In addition, various technology-driven products would be introduced by the bank.

It has also resourced the E-Banking department and has started releasing various customer-friendly banking products, including uniAlert, uniMobile and the uniWeb.   

For instance, any debit or credit transaction is registered on the customers’ mobile phone in less than sixty seconds.

Other sector-specific products, including collateral management product for the fishing industry and post import financing for international trade customers, would be introduced.      
Presently, the bank’s minimum Capital Adequacy Ratio requirement, which is 12.30 percent, exceeded the industry threshold of 10 percent.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah