Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) has assured the financial markets that customers and investors, individual and institutional, are being paid promptly when their deposits and investments mature.

Daniel Addo, Managing Director of the bank, told the B&FT in an interview that the task the bank took on was huge; but management and staff have been able to surmount the challenges and regain the confidence of customers.

“It is a huge task, but we have executed our mandate professionally and in the best interest of our stakeholders. Inevitably this has involved balancing competing needs while ensuring that no stakeholder group is unduly disadvantaged,” Mr. Addo said.

While admitting that there were initial challenges with customers’ access to their investments and deposits after the bank’s establishment, he was quick to add that those challenges have been surmounted and CBG has moved swiftly to draw down on the GH¢7.6billion bond it was issued with and now has enough liquidity to meet customer requirements.

“The bond of GH¢7.6billion was issued in two tranches of GH¢3.2billion and GH¢4.4billion. The central bank, in November 2018, monetised the first tranche and we are currently in talks with third-parties to securitise the second tranche of bond by June 2019,” Mr. Addo assured.

Regaining customer confidence

“Initially, customers were understandably not confident about the changes that had occurred. But within a month, when they noticed they had access to their funds with ease and maturities were being settled, customers’ confidence was increased/restored.

“Customers now realise CBG’s importance in terms of its role to facilitate and ensure seamless transitions and continuity in banking when banks have failed. Customers are now very receptive and have confidence in CBG and the banking sector as a whole,” he added.

Integration and rebranding

Asked about the status of the move to integrate operational systems of the collapsed banks, Mr. Addo said the bank has made considerable progress on the system integration while also moving to establish a technology architecture that will deliver a simple, secure and differentiated banking experience.

While on integration, he pointed out that the bank has also initiated a project to right-size the branch footprint based on its Target Operating Model. “You will see new branches opened and old ones that do not meet our rigorous standards closed. This will be phased, and will be completed by end of 2019,” he said.

Assumption of Heritage and Premium Banks

Mr. Addo pointed out that the assumption of Heritage and Premium Banks have not negatively impacted CBG; rather, it has increased the balance sheet size of the bank, which allows it to become one of the biggest in the country.