Tree Planting Initiative at Ngong Forest, where we planted 500 indigenous trees A partnership committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
SBM Bank and DHL Strategic Partnership and MOU
Jijenge Biashara Savings Account launch
Effectively building a reserve for future business growth
FOREWORD
As the last quarter of 2024 unfolds, we are reflective of the highlights in Q3. One of the highlights of the quarter was our Customer Appreciation Cocktail Events, which were hosted in Nairobi and Pwani regions to recognize and celebrate the trust and loyalty from our customers. These intimate gatherings provided a moment to not only celebrate our journey together but also to toast to an exciting future ahead, where your success remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our sustainability agenda continues to be a key priority, and we are proud of our environmental contributions this quarter. One standout event was our Tree Planting Initiative at Ngong Forest, where we planted 500 indigenous trees. In line with this commitment, we also launched the SBM Sustainable Card, which embodies our focus on eco-friendly practices. This card, made from 100% recycled plastics, is a visual reminder of our commitment to environmental conservation, represented by the sea turtle, which is a species at risk and close to our hearts.
Our focus on empowering businesses and enhancing Kenya’s trade capacity saw us sign a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DHL Express Kenya. Through this partnership, we are committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing them with access to financial solutions, logistics expertise, and specialized training programs.
Additionally, we are excited about the launch of the Jijenge Biashara Savings Account, an enhanced value proposition tailored to our SME customers. With this account, SMEs will enjoy competitive interest rates and the opportunity to access twice the amount saved in their account, effectively building a reserve for future business growth.
This quarter also brought with it a number of accolades, which we are immensely proud to share with you namely: Digital Banking Innovation of the Year Award by FDI Insider, Leader in Rewarding Banking Programs by FDI Insider Awards and Excellence in Customer Experience award by the Global Business Magazine.
Cheers to more accomplishments as we pursue a Smarter Tomorrow. Happy Reading!
Customer Appreciation Cocktail
Events
In staying true to our value of Customer Centricity, we hosted our customers for cocktail dinners where our team engages them with a view to relay our appreciation to them as we forge strategic partnerships. The presence of the SBM group CEO, Raoul Gufflet, and SBM Bank Kenya CEO Bhartesh Shah, serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and customer experiences.
As we raised our glasses to the future, we expressed our sincere gratitude to our customers for their continued trust and support. These engagements serve as a reminder that our success is inextricably linked to our customers, as we look forward to many more years of collaboration and growth.
Tree planting at Ngong Forest/Bomas of Kenya
In yet another demonstration of SBM Bank Kenya’s steadfast commitment to supporting environmental sustainability in the country, the bank organized a tree planting initiative at the Ngong Road Forest, Bomas of Kenya block where we planted 500 indigenous tree seedlings. We continue to forge further on our target of 20,000 trees in view of our group commitment on environmental conservation.
Introducing the SBM Bank Sustainable card
SBM Bank Kenya recently launched the Sustainable card in view of our sustainability focus as abank. The card features attractive images of the sea turtle and is produced using 100% recycled plastics. The sea turtle image is in relation to our turtle conservation agenda as we aim to create positive environmental impact along the Indian Ocean rim where the SBM Brand is present.
Bank and DHL Strategic Partnership and MOU
SBM Bank Kenya signed a strategic partnership with DHL Express Kenya, aimed at enhancing trade opportunities and fostering economic growth for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. This pioneering partnership brings together SBM Bank Kenya’s extensive financial network and DHL’s global logistics expertise to empower SMEs through the ‘Power Up Your Potential’ program under DHL’s ‘GoTrade’ initiative. The program is designed to help SMEs navigate the complexities of exports and e-commerce, thereby expanding their market reach and operational capabilities.
Through this partnership, SBM Bank Kenya and DHL Africa will offer specialized training programs to at least 400 SMEs, focusing on those involved in export activities. These programs will cover essential aspects of export processes, logistics, compliance, and best practices, equipping SMEs with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of international trade.
By leveraging DHL Africa’s expertise in global shipping and logistics, SBM Bank Kenya aims to help SMEs optimize their export operations and expand their reach. This partnership aligns with SBM Bank Kenya’s commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and value creation for its customers.
Jijenge Biashara Savings Account launch
In a bid to empower our customers to achieve their ambitions, we have enhanced our Customer Value Proposition for the SME segment with the ‘Jijenge Biashara’ Savings account. Through this solution, our SME customers will be able to access loans at more competitive interest rates. They will also build a cash reserve to seed business growth and opportunities where they will access twice the amount in their Jijenge Biashara Savings Account. We are excited about the growth possibilities for our SME customers.
Polo September tournaments
Sports sponsorship is a significant impact area in terms of building strong communities. A key highlight of this involvement was our sponsorship pact with the Nairobi Polo Club, for the 6 and 10 Goal International September 2024 tournaments. The sponsorship was part of the bank’s commitment to preserving the Polo sport’s long-standing legacy in the country and enabling the new generation of players to thrive.
The contest was the culmination of the annual Nairobi Polo Season that has been a staple of the Nairobi Polo Club social calendar, showcasing some of Kenya’s top polo players and providing world-class entertainment for spectators.
The tournament served as an opportunity for the bank to showcase its range of financial products and services to the polo community - fostering stronger relationships with both existing and potential clients.
SBM Bank at the Africa
Fintech Forum
SBM Bank Manager, Digital Banking Lindah Madaga and Head of Customer Experience, Nyambura Ndung’u shared their expertise and experiences during the Africa Fintech Forum on 25th September at Glee Hotel Nairobi. The forum theme was “Empowering Innovation, Driving Inclusion: The Future of Fintech in Africa where our team demonstrated thought leadership in terms of banking innovation and impact for customers and the economy. In her presentation titled ‘Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication,’ Our Manager Digital banking shared insights on the convergence of customer friendly solutions, security and user experience to elevate banking innovations which become enablers for customer’s financial growth.
We won awards in three key areas and we are committed to raising the bar on excellence and quality delivery to our customers as we advance our purpose ‘For A Smarter Tomorrow’ These areas are on digital innovation, women empowerment and customer experience.
FDI Insider Award
SBM Bank won the Digital Banking innovation of the year by the FDI Insider Awards which is a prestigious recognition program that highlights companies that have successfully contributed to global inflow and outflow activities as well as industries that are pivotal to global economic development. A key highlight we would like to celebrate is the upgrade of our Mfukoni App which has been enhanced to provide faster speeds and features, to enable seamless transactions for our customers.
SBM Bank bagged Awards!
Banking on Women awards
SBM Bank was awarded the Leader in Rewarding Banking Pro-
