DIAMOND BANK POSTS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS FOR 2013 …… declares N32.1bn PBT with 30k proposed dividend

Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank PLC, Dr. Alex Otti

Diamond Bank Plc has declared a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N32.1 billion for its financial year ended December 31, 2013. This performance represents a sustainable growth in profitability over the past 2 years.

The Bank’s PBT was achieved from gross earnings of N181.2 billion, an increase of 27 percent over N143.0 billion earned in the previous year.  The Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year grew by 29 percent to N28.5 billion as against N22.1 billion recorded in 2012. The PAT resulted in earnings per share of 197k for the year.

According to the Group Managing Director, Dr. Alex Otti, “We are pleased to announce that Diamond Bank has exceeded its N30 billion profit guidance to return a profit before tax of N32 billion in 2013. This result is rooted in our strength to attract low-cost deposits and deploy these into various assets at profitable yet acceptable risk levels”.

He added: “Despite the challenging operating environment, we continue to advance our competitive advantage with above industry balance sheet growth. We will continue to explore all opportunities to grow our business and market share responsibly as we leverage on our growing customer relationships, enhanced by our expansive delivery channels and excellent service delivery.

On the strength of the Bank’s impressive performance, the Board of Directors has proposed payment of dividend to shareholders at the rate of 30k per share.

Diamond Bank recorded some landmark achievements during the year under review. As a demonstration of accomplishments in Retail Banking, Diamond Bank was among the four banks in Africa appointed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) to manage $7.1 million (N1.1 billion) fund dedicated to bringing 1.3 million people from sub-Saharan Africa into the formal financial sector.

Furthermore, the Bank received an award from the World Finance Group as the Best Bank in Oil & Gas investment in 2013 (2^ndyear running).This is in addition to being awarded the Best Issuing Partner Bank in sub-Saharan Africa, 2013, by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). 

BEYOND THE BANKING HALL IN AKWA IBOM

AGAIN, DIAMOND BANK FEATURES BOVI IN NEW TELEVISION COMMERCIAL

Diamond Bank PLC, a leading player in the Nigerian Retail Banking space has launched a sequel to its highly successful master brand campaign. Titled 'You Need A New Bank part 2' the TV commercial demonstrates the Bank’s unique offerings which have won it the pride of place amongst Nigerians.

Featuring ace comedian - Bovi, the new TVC features various scenarios where people are faced with challenges in making basic banking transactions and Bovi shows up to offer them solutions to the challenges.

DIAMOND BANK FETES NIGERIAN WOMAN

Diamond Woman, a proposition of Diamond Bank Plc, solely committed to the success of women in business and the home, has extolled women for their dexterity, industry and increasing value addition in the production chain of Nigerian economy.

Speaking during an event organized by the Bank to celebrate women as part of activities to commemorate International Women’s Day, Aisha Ahmed, Head, Retail Directorate, stated that Diamond Woman is passionate about the continued success of women in all spheres of life and therefore is committed to providing women unhindered access to relevant information, access to finance and business networking that will stimulate and enhance capacity for growth in whatever business they are engaged in.

According to her, the progress made by women in the last 100 years validates the truth that women could and will continue to make the expected progress and impact positively on the economy if given access to the necessary tools and support in the business place. She pointed that Nigerian women are not only industrious but also have the capacity to manage businesses and make good results. She spoke on the topic: ‘Women, live your best’.

“In the last hundred years significant progress has been made by womenfolk in various spheres of life, paving the way for other women to follow. At no time has the issues facing women been more at the forefront than now. But women need to run their own race. It is who you want to be that determines whether or not you are successful, you can make it happen as a women” Aishah stated.

The 2015 International Women’s Day, with the theme, ‘make it happen,” was organized by Diamond Woman in conjunction with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) where over 100 women from all walks of life were hosted and celebrated by the Bank.

The women were unanimous that the progress required from them in the workplace and the various businesses women are engaged in could experience the expected growth as women network and create the enabling environment that would engender the discipline strong enough to produce good business outcome in the highly competitive business world.

Diamond Woman is a proposition of Diamond Bank Plc that is committed to the success of women in business and all spheres of life through the provision of access to information, access to finance and networking meetings that afford women the privilege to interact and get new business ideas and contacts.

DIAMOND BANK RECOGNIZED AS THE BEST ISSUING PARTNER BANK IN AFRICA BY IFC

L – R: Scott Stevenson, Senior Manager, Trade & Supply Chain, IFC; Antonio Alves, Head, Business Development, Americas, Trade & Supply Chain, IFC; Abdulrahman Yinusa, Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Diamond Bank PLC; Ricardo Bastos Salgado, Managing Director, Banco Espírito Santo; and Nuno Monize, Managing Director, Head of Financial Institutions Group, Millennium BCP; at the International Finance Corporation’s 6th Annual Global Trade Partners Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, recently.

Diamond Bank PLC has once again been recognized for its market leadership in the Nigerian Banking industry as it was recently presented the award of the Best Issuing Partner Bank in the sub-Saharan African category by the International Finance Corporation.

The award was presented to the Bank’s officials at the inaugural Global Trade Partners Awards dinner held at the conclusion of the IFC 6th Global Trade Partners Meeting. The meeting took place last week in Lisbon, Portugal and it attracted over 350 delegates from 56.

Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas delivered the opening keynote address, kicking off two days of insightful discussions on building cross-border banking networks, developing innovative solutions for agribusiness and commodity finance, and enhancing global value chains by financing small and medium enterprises.

“Our annual conference provides an unparalleled opportunity for our partners to learn from global experts and develop business leads in all regions,” said Georgina Baker, Global Head of Trade and Supply Chain Solutions at IFC. “We are pleased to acknowledge those banks that innovated or worked extensively with IFC last year to support the growth of emerging market trade and help more countries and firms integrate into global supply chains.”

The Global Trade and Supply Chain Solutions team at IFC was formed in 2010 to integrate working capital financing and trade facilitation initiatives with IFC’s award-winning Global Trade Finance Program and Global Trade Liquidity Program. The team boasts of a suite of innovations that addresses gaps in the financing needs of underserved clients in emerging markets through trade finance, supply chain finance, structured finance, commodity finance and advisory services.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in more than 100 countries, the organisation usesits capital, expertise and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. In the 2013 financial year, IFC’s investments climbed to an all-time high of nearly $25 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges.

Diamond Bank is a leading and respected bank in Nigeria, with over 250 branches around the country, noted for its excellent service, driven by innovation and delivered through the most advanced banking technology platform in the market. It currently offers full range of banking services through its offices in Republics of Benin, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal and the United Kingdom. Diamond Bank has over the years leveraged its underlying resilience to grow its asset base and successfully retain its key business relationships.

DIAMOND BANK ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF CENTENARY WRITING COMPETITION - 'WHAT MAKES YOU A TRUE NIGERIAN'.

Choosing the winners has been very competitive and took a lot of deliberation. Finally, 12 winners have emerged- although there were meant to be 10 winners there were so many fantastic entries it was hard to choose only 10. However, everyone who has participated is a "true Nigerian."
These winners have been selected based on;
- Creativity
- Uniqueness
- Grammar
- Inspiration

The winners of the iPad mini are;

• Ekelaka Eunice
• chizi4jesus@gmail.com

The consolation prize winners of N10,000 are;

• Anthony Osemeke Ogbechie
• Sanya Jide
• Timothy Chukwunwogor
• Saudu Clement 
• Abdulrahman Jogbojogbo
• Sirajo Haladu
• Auwal A. Ahmad 
• jolseluv2005@yahoo.com 
• Aribisala Damilola Olalere
• Iliya Idi

Well done and keep the flag flying.

THE RESILIENT SPIRIT OF A YOUNG NIGERIAN BY EUNICE EKELAKA

Fingers poised over the keyboard, doubts assuaging senses, if this essay would grace the winners' tablet, when it hits me!

The search for money, feeling of incapability when money-making opportunities open, worry over deadlines, apprehension over what excuse to give, pangs of hunger, bearing one's-self for according importance to something 'wey we no sure of sef', muttering 'eeyahs' in conversation, irritation at the sight of traffic-jam, devouring 'gala' and 'lacasera', joy as sleep encroaches, heart-felt groan as alarm-clock blares, realization that nothing's changed. Dreams, hopes, desires crushed. Wistful sighs. these are what make me a true Nigerian.


I SEE A GREAT FUTURE IN NIGERIA BY chizi4jesus@gmail.com

The true mark of nationalism is the true spirit of patriotism. Nigeria is a nation bedeviled by enormous and perplexing challenges; Boko Haram, youth restiveness, educational decadence, political thuggery and misappropriation of public funds all stare at us in our faces. And with the approaching 2015 general elections, the socio-political tension is heating up like boiling oil.

Nonetheless, i believe strongly that Nigeria will surmount all her challenges and stand up tall. I see a great future in Nigeria and have high hope for a better tomorrow. This is my Nigerian testimony.
Nigeria: good people, great nation!