Nations Trust Bank inaugurates Nations SME Business Academy
Thursday, 26 September 2013 00:41
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Nations Trust Bank in its endeavour to continuously develop its employees to be the best in the industry inaugurated the Nations SME Business Academy in collaboration with Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, the leading private business school and advisory institute in Germany. This is a project initiated under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between Nations Trust Bank PLC and the SME Development Program of the Duetsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) arrived at to improve access to finance for Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs).
The Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is directed and supervised by leading commercial banks in Germany, including Deutsche Bank AG, Commerzbank, Dresdner Bank AG, and Bayerische-Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG and ranked as one of top business schools in Germany. It offers wide array of degree granting and executive programs, masters and PHD programs.
The Frankfurt School of Finance and Management will standardise the training material used for the Nations SME Business Academy, introduce latest adult training methodologies and will conduct examinations and offer joint certifications for NTB staff that successfully pass through the academy.
Through the Nations SME Business Academy Nations Trust Bank intends to develop the skills and competencies of its frontline SME staff by offering comprehensive structured development program covering specific modules that are required to gain expertise in the SME business which will facilitate them to provide a better service to SME customers through the wide spread branch network.
Training will consist of ten modules, which aims at developing both technical such as credit analysis skills; building expertise on specialised lending areas as well as soft skills such as relationship management, negotiations and business management skills. All modules will be delivered by a panel of experts selected by the bank and trained by the bank.
An event was held recently to inaugurate the Nations SME Business Academy under the patronage of GIZ Office Colombo Country Director Dr. Wilfred Liehr, GIZ SME Development Senior Advisor German Mueller, GIZ SME Development Advisor Access to Finance Roshini Fernando, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Representative Mustafeena Ardak, NTB Director /CEO Renuka Fernando, DGM Retail and SME Banking Keshini Jayawardane, and the bank’s corporate and senior management.
Nations Trust Bank offers SME customers a range of product and services including working capital finance, long term financing for business expansion and investments, cash management services, trade services for importers and exporters, guarantee facilities, leasing and factoring solutions as well as specialised services such as bank at your doorstep and trade document delivery services for business customers.
All this is packaged are packaged into the bank’s Business Banking Account that offers Platinum, Gold and Silver categories, each providing a special set of benefits, including lucrative rewards points, for business customers.
Nations Trust Bank PLC is one of the fastest growing banks in Sri Lanka today. Its market positioning of being the benchmark of customer convenience is ably supported by a host of financial products and services to a wide customer segment. The Bank now operates 65 branches, five Personal Banking Centres, and an island-wide ATM network that is growing and accessible from 86 locations. Nations Trust Bank is also the sole issuer and acquirer for American Express® cards in Sri Lanka.
