By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
ZB Financial Holdings Limited, chief executive Shepherd Fungura says the acquisition of a number of subsidiaries over the years has allowed the Group to offer a wide range of services which include commercial and merchant banking, leasing as well as trust and executor services.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary held over the weekend, Fungura said ZB Financial Holdings was one of the most diversified financial services companies in the country.
“The 30th of October 2006 was a momentous day as the Group which had just acquired the Intermarket Holdings Limited Group, adopted a new monolithic brand and formally changed its name from Zimbabwe Financial Holdings Limited (Finhold) to ZB Financial Holdings Limited (ZBFH).
“However, in line with our thrust to be at the cutting edge of financial services, we have now rationalised our offering to fall under an integrated business approach that speaks to – One Digital ZB – taking pride in our core offerings of Banking, Insurance and Investments.”
He continued: “This means that in the various moments of business and life, we are able to support and assist our customers and partners to achieve their objectives, through our ability to cross-sell, effectively delivering a single-source solution to financial services.
“This speaks well into our Purpose, which Team ZB has understood with clarity, to improve people’s lives through sustainable and innovative financial solutions.
“Indeed, internally, we continue to emphasize that we are not in the Financial services business, but we are in the business of facilitating life and business.
“This dovetails well with our vision of being a globally acclaimed provider of total financial solutions, firmly rooted in Zimbabwe,” he said.
And being globally relevant, he said, had taken on a new meaning since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein, the globe has become even smaller with the access that individuals now have to global providers.
“Therefore our benchmarking has changed from offering solutions relevant in Zimbabwe, but ensuring that when our customers compare us to global best practice, that comparison is favourable to us.
“In this regard, digitalisation of our processes has meant that we can offer products that are more relevant and available at a click or a tap.
“Paperless banking has ceased to be an ideal, but rather a mandatory element of providing service,” he said.
“We have many of our products available in the digital cyber sphere, down to our WhatsApp banking, where you can message your bank, give instructions and get service.
“In ensuring that the Group is as progressive as it is and has been, I would like to pay tribute to our team that continues to work hard to ensure that our customers get the service they require and beyond,” he said.
The restructuring allowed the Bank to concentrate exclusively on providing commercial banking services to the public.
The new holding company was ideally placed to explore other profitable business activities, which were not previously possible because of restrictions placed on the investment activities of the Bank in terms of the Banking Act.
In some very challenging circumstances, he said, Team ZB had been a shining light that shows that when we come together, nothing is impossible to us.
“Celebrating our 70th Anniversary is a testament to our resilience yes, but it is also attributable to our phenomenal customers, who have partnered with us, trusting us to be part of their stories and lives.
“This is why we have dedicated this celebration to you, because as you’ve gone through life, we have been, and will continue to be THERE FOR THE JOURNEY.
“The journey of life is fulfilled with partners and friends by your side to uplift, support and assist in every way. In our small way, we have endeavoured to be that to you, as much as you have shared in our journey as a Group,” he said.
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