FNB takes over BAN chairmanship

FNB Namibia CEO Erwin Tjipuka took over the chairmanship of the Banker’s Association of Namibia (BAN) at an event held last week.

The responsibility of chairing the association rotates annually among the managing directors or chief executive officers of commercial banks in Namibia. Tjipuka takes over from Bank Windhoek’s managing director, Baronice Hans.

Speaking at the event, Hans highlighted key milestones achieved during her tenure, which centred around customer centricity as the core of every decision achieved by the association during the 2022/23 period.

These milestones included the finalisation of the BAN strategy, which solidifies the association’s vision and mandate in the Namibian economy through advocacy, market conduct, and corporate social responsibility; the implementation of various regulatory projects aligned with industry requirements; as well as the contribution of N$600 000 to the Bank of Namibia for the population census and an additional N$200 000 to the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) for crucial legislative interventions in the foreign investment space.



Important mandate

Tjipuka applauded Hans and the Bank Windhoek team for a job well done in ensuring that BAN fulfils its mandate and for establishing a solid foundation on which FNB can continue to build and strengthen BAN despite the challenges.

"Banks serve as the lifeblood of any economy, facilitating economic growth and driving progress. We are the guardians of financial stability and intermediaries of capital allocation. The decisions we make and the actions we take have a profound impact on individuals, businesses, and the entire nation," Tjipuka said.

"Therefore, we must remain committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. We must proactively contribute to inclusive growth, empower underserved communities, and support initiatives that promote financial literacy and entrepreneurship. By embracing our role as responsible corporate citizens, we can make a lasting positive impact on the lives of Namibians," Tjipuka added.



New reign

While delivering the keynote address, Bank of Namibia (BON) deputy governor Leonie Dunn commended Hans on her leadership in ensuring Namibia’s banking industry works with regulators to foster a progressive financial system that provides equal opportunities to all Namibians regardless of gender but based on merit.

She welcomed the new chair, saying: "Mr. Tjipuka, you are today taking over the reigns as BAN president in an environment where the banking industry is actively challenged to do more to ensure growth of the Namibian economy is positively impacted, the prosperity of Namibia and her people is duly ensured, and the changing economic infrastructure is well supported with financial products and services that will assist with national content enhancement. Whilst these are by no means easy tasks on the table, we are assured that your exemplary leadership style is what will pull the banking industry together to navigate this perfect storm," she said.

At the same event, BAN CEO Brian Katjaerua launched the code of banking practise, which is aimed at promoting sound banking practices by setting minimum standards for banks when dealing with customers, increasing transparency to foster a better understanding of what customers can reasonably expect of the bank’s staff, products, and services, promoting a fair and open relationship between customers and banks, and fostering confidence in the banking system.

Customers can download the code of banking practice from the BAN website.