Fidelity Bank holds customer fora, reiterates support for SMEs

Fidelity Bank Plc. has pledged commitment to help Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) in Nigeria particularly, the South East grow the zones economy.

Nnamdi Okonkwo, managing director/CEO, disclosed this during the bank’s customer fora last week. The bank flagged off its nationwide customer engagement programme themed; ‘Connecting with you’ with the twin events in Owerri and Onitsha in the South Eastern part of the country.

Okonkwo who expressed happiness over the level of support and patronage, said the bank also needs to reciprocate by supporting them with finance to grow their businesses.

Consequently he planned to hold a much more detailed educative session with businesses and entrepreneurs to help them grow their export businesses as way of diversifying and solving their foreign exchange challenges.

“Our people are entrepreneurial in nature and there are plenty of small businesses all over the place. Some have export ideas, but the documentations involved they do not know. We are going to provide a more structured access to quality information that can help your business” he said to them.

Okonkwo disclosed that Fidelity Bank has so far disbursed a total of N2.3billion to 102 customers to support their businesses, while stating that so far the loans are doing well.

“What we appeal to people is to ensure they always pay back when they receive loans from the bank, so far, our loans are doing well and we do not have incidences of bad loan,” he stated.

Chairman, Board of Directors , Fidelity Bank Plc, Ernest Ebi who was also graced both occasions said Fidelity Bank has over the years become a big bank that cannot be ignored by any serious business concern, and has remained true to helping its customers break new frontiers in business. “We are here to connect with our customers, and to let them know that we do not take them for granted, and that we are ready to help them out with their businesses.”

This sentiments was echoed by the bank’s Executive Director, South, Aku Odinkemelu who said the bank placed a lot  premium on its customers hence the decision to bring executive management and board to meet directly with them with the customer fora. “We don’t take you our customers for granted. We value your feedback and will use this unique opportunity of engaging directly with you to organize to serve you better” she promised.

Two of the banks customers who spoke on behalf of the customers, Ikem  Osanakpo, managing director, Kate Associates Limited and the managing director of GUO Motors, Godwin Okeke praised the bank for their foresight, and ability to meet customers’ needs at short notice.