finance
photo: Charles Lawson mon-tage-Gh.tumblr.com
First National:
The People’s Bank
TopGuide l 2014
History First National is a wholly Ghanaian owned financial institution, licensed by the Central Bank of Ghana to operate as a non-bank financial institution since 10th May 2006. We provide excellent banking services to people and develop small and medium scale entrepreneurship.
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Products and Services First National boasts of innovative and bespoke products and services, set apart from traditional current and savings accounts. Wo Daakye, which is a savings account, allows customers to save with as little as 50 Pesewas. Daily savings are mobilised by the institution’s mobile bankers with the POS device. This has created huge amounts of confidence and trust in our cherished customers about the safety of their deposits. The SikaPlus, which is also our domestic money transfer service, has become one of
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Aerial View of the Danquah Circle, Osu
our most patronised banking services across the nation. The service allows traders etc. to travel freely and safely without cash and the fear of being attacked. Other products include the Susu Account and Susu Loans, to mention a few. Banking the unbanked First National has managed to reach the unbanked people in areas such as Widana, Saboba, Pusiga, Wulensi, Elubo, Garu, etc. (categorised as unbanked) and provide effective close-toclient and doorstep financial services to its customers. This has significantly increased the Company’s branch locations, taking banking to the doorsteps of the ordinary person.
FIRST NATIONAL RECENTLY INTRODUCED AND DEPLOYED SOPHISTICATED ATM AND MOBILE POS DE VICES IN OVER 68 LOCATIONS
Financial and Growth Perspective The last seven years has seen First National grow from $10.7m in total assets in 2007 to a remarkable $189.7m as of December 2012. This is to improve by December 2013. The Company’s Capital adequacy stood at 20.18% as of December 2012, favourable when compared with BoG mandatory requirement of 10%. The institution currently has an impressive active diverse customer base of about 350,000 scattered over its fully networked locations across the country. Technology and Human Resources In the last 2-3 years First National has invested heavily in technology and will continue to do so to achieve its goal of being the People’s Bank. This drive has undeniably made our e-banking service a force to reckon with. First National recently introduced and deployed sophisticated ATM and mobile POS devices in over 68 locations across the nation. E – Zwich, SMS (First Alert), E-Statements, Internet Banking (First Net) and ghLink were recently launched to make banking even more convenient and easy for the ordinary Ghanaian. CCTV cameras have also been deployed in all our branches to ensure safety whilst banking. In light of the above, First National has found high achievers to help carry out its vision. The staff is comprised of professionals with diverse backgrounds; financial, legal, banking, human resource management, business management, ICT and more. With steady growth, the current strength stands at an impressive 1,200. This will increase as our market presence widens.
12/12/2013 15:52