Bank of Ceylon celebrates 79 years of yeomen service to the nation

The No. 1 bank in the country, Bank of Ceylon celebrated its 79th anniversary on Wednesday, 1 August with its main ceremony at the bank’s head office premises with the participation of distinguished customers, well-wishers, the Chairman and the Board of Directors, the CEO/General Manager together with members of Corporate and Executive Management and staff. 

Similarly every BOC branch celebrated the day with their distinguished customers, well-wishers and staff. In line with the anniversary celebrations the bank held a multi religious service and a blood donation campaign to mark the significance of the day. It launched its upgraded “Smart Online Banking” system that includes added features. As a reward to all new-born babies in the month of August 2018, the Bank of Ceylon presented its free gift “Upathaka Mathakaya”, a baby record book to capture precious moments of the baby till he/she grows up and a free Ran Kekulu Account with the initial deposit of Rs. 250. Further to the ceremony on 1 August, the bank’s Buddhist Association has organised a “Pirith ceremony” on Friday 3 August night and an alms giving on the following day morning to invoke blessings of “Triple Gems” on the bank, its staff and all its customers.

“As celebrations begin for the 79th anniversary, it necessarily calls us to look back at the bank’s journey as the No. 1 Bank in the country. It has been a strenuous path to travel with many success stories to share but a well paid off journey. I must say the Benefits of all these achievements have been uncompromisingly shared with all Sri Lankans. I would like to take this as an opportunity to thank all our distinguished customers, the Government of Sri Lanka, the staff of BOC and all our stakeholders for support and well wishes,” stated the Chairman, President’s Counsel Ronald C. Perera. 

“Moving forward with the digital revolution the Bank of Ceylon has now reached its customers through the latest technology that empowers them throughout the day. This was done by confronting challenges that came from all directions by developing market leadership, confronting market volatility, tunnelling and aligning resources to ensure business growth and transforming the banking landscape digitally.” 

The Chairman further added. The bank has made its services available to customers through many unconventional modes such as Social media and online modes. B-App, Smart Online Banking, Smart FD, Smart Passbooks, “Apply Online” Loan facility are some of the initiatives that assist customers to access the Bank without having to visit a branch to get their banking needs fulfilled. Then, newly introduced facilities such as BOC Digi – the state-of-the-art self-serving banking facility outlet in Kandy City Center and which will be expanding to 10 other strategic locations, “Branch on Wheels” – mobile branch allocated to each province that goes to the customers door-step to provide service, wide-spread ATM/CDM network consisting over 900 machines, over 190 SmartZones and 24 hour banking counter at the bank’s head office Personal branch ensure customers have access to seamless transactions throughout 24 hours a day.

“BOC believes that it has genuinely added value by these initiatives that empowered customers to carry out their banking anytime, anywhere whenever they need to. Whilst retail banking unit offers smart banking products for individuals from any walk of life, Micro, SME and Corporate banking offers the best-in-class facilities for entrepreneurs in the country to live their vision. Working hand-in-hand with the Government’s vision to develop the entrepreneurship in the country through financial inclusion, Bank of Ceylon is at the forefront to reach the grass-root level young Sri Lankan entrepreneurs through programs such as “Thurunu Diriya” and Enterprise Sri Lanka,” stated the CEO/General Manager Senarath Bandara. 

The bank promotes several Micro and SME industry entrepreneurship development schemes in support of the Government’s mission to accelerate the country’s economic development through enhancing contribution coming from these segments. The recently launched enterprise Sri Lanka program is one of the most prominent in this regard whereas entrepreneurs in every industry is covered by formulating different types of loan schemes where the bank can cater to a variety of entrepreneurs whose requirements and fields of competencies are unique and needs to be addressed in a tailor made way. The Bank of Ceylon has so far disbursed over Rs. 13 billion among deserving Micro and SME entrepreneurs and have taken all measures to extend these facilities to many through its branch network. 

“Blending with the Sri Lankan community to bring out the best in their lives, the Bank of Ceylon is one of the key financers behind the country’s economic drive and has become a profound house-hold brand for banking services as – BOC,” the CEO/General Manager further added.

The history of 79 years as the No. 1 Bank in Sri Lanka is an extraordinary story to tell. Being recognised as the No. 1 Brand in the country by Brand Finance Lanka for the 10th consecutive year, the saga of “Bankers to the Nation” began with the need that arose for a state aided bank to assist Ceylonese businessmen just before the World War II. With the essential combination of quality customer service and integrity “the Bank of Ceylon” came to be known as “BOC” over the years, building a base of 12 million loyal customers who consistently seek a credible financial service. 

By 2018 the brand “BOC” was rated with a brand value of Rs. 42.87 billion by Brand Finance Lanka which is the highest brand value recorded. In recognition of this achievement the “BOC” was awarded as the “No.1 Most valuable consumer Brand” and “No. 1 Rank Banking Brand” in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance Lanka in 2018. It also gained Rs. 31.12 billion from InterBrand Sri Lanka fortifying itself as the unwavering No. 1 Brand in Sri Lanka. With the brand equity that was built over 79 years, “BOC” acquired a title as one of the “Asia’s Best Brands” from Chief Marketing Officer’s Council (CMO Council) based in Mumbai-India and graciously accepted the “Peoples Service Brand of the Year” at the SLIM – Nielsens Peoples Awards 2018- a voicing of the true acceptance of the people, for lodging an unequivocal brand image in the minds of the people. This indigenous brand was yet again recognised internationally as a MasterBrand for the year 2017-2018 by the CMO council Asia and was named among of the “Top 1000 Banks in the world” for the seventh consecutive year by the “The Banker” UK Magazine.

With the fundamental strength that was built over the years and the adapting to the agile nature of the banking industry with new technology, the Bank of Ceylon has become the house hold banking brand – “BOC” throughout Sri Lanka. BOC encompasses a structure that is sustainable in the longer-run which is developed around a profound vision, mission and a set of corporate values. The assurance the bank has earned throughout these years is by now validated by all stakeholders especially all Sri Lankans. 

With the essence that was built to serve the nation, Bankers to the Nation – “BOC” has created a powerful image within the Sri Lankan community as a credible and a trusted financial partner that delivers to the genuine need of the people for more years to come.