Africa-Press – Lesotho. Moving forward in terms of banking services smartness and efficiency, Standard Lesotho Bank is hooking up with civil society groups. On Wednesday it launched NGO (Non-Governmental Organisations) Client Value Proposition (CVP).
Many an association turned up in good numbers for the launch and firsthand information. The bank Relationship Manager, Mr Thabo Rampai told Informative Newspaper that as a financial services provider, the bank conducted a survey on civil society groups and came up with solutions to address their challenges.
CVP, he said, entails reduced banking charges; issues pertaining to Community Social Investments (CSI commonly known as Corporate Social Responsibility); coordinating NGOs needs and challenges via bank Relationship Managers and applying an active approach response to any query from any stakeholder.
Head of Marketing, Ms ‘Makeabetsoe Rethabile Mabaleha, indicated that every year, the bank sets aside one percent of its returns, which are then dedicated to initiatives on CIS. Organisations are welcome to apply for collaborations on relevant projects within that budget.
She disclosed their community social needs choices are informed by the National Development Strategic Plan (NDSP) by which are three pillar areas categorized in social needs and sponsorships.
She said: “We want to align ourselves with NDSP. ” In their three year plan, the social needs selection is on education, health and social welfare. Then they sponsor sports, art and culture (as a single category) and entrepreneurship.
She also revealed that the staff members voluntarily play an active participation on charity work financially. This they do through grouped internal teams from various departments.
She explained: “As a bank we match it by 100 percent. ” Some of the bank employees have after school session lessons whereby they impart their skills to students in an effort to assist them perform well in examinations, she said.
Then there is the Supplier Development Programme. She divulged it is a two legged programme meant to assist upcoming suppliers to satisfy the market needs through buying their products.
The intention is for the bank to spend up to 70 percent, putting in action its support and wisdom around supporting local businesses. She admitted: “At the moment we are (spending) at 55 percent.
” Training, incubation and mentoring is part of the package. The bank also links parties of such relevance to corporate potential buyers who happen to be the bank clients.
