STANCHART'S Chandra is banker of the year

KEIKANTSE LESEMELA
Correspondent | Monday August 13, 2012 00:00

 

At the awards, contestants were recognized in different categories, with the most promising banker of the year award going to Kaelo Galeage, from Bank of Botswana. It also included the University of Botswana excellence in banking related studies awarded to Tshepiso Mmolai and the best overall primary school essay competition scooped by Silvia Owezarek from Kediretse Primary School.

These awards are held annually by the Botswana Institute of Bankers (BIOB) as a forum where bankers from different corporate member banks have the opportunity to interact on matters of mutual interest. BIOB Director, Brenda Lloyd said the awards act as incentives to raise the banker's profiles and create a sense of professional pride:

'The BIOB plethora of activities provides a forum for banking members and guests to interact on matters of mutual interest and to come up with harmonized strategies to ease the intricacies and iron out any differences we may have in providing banking services,' she said BIOB's mission is to promote and develop professionally qualified and competent bankers in Botswana, primarily through a process of training examinations and continuing professional development programmes.

Since its establishment in 1991, the BIOB has been the educator, enabling citizen employees of financial institutions to gain practical knowledge and professional skills and consequently, be able to play a more dynamic role in the banking industry.This year's ceremony was held under the theme, 'Stop Fraud.' First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) CEO Lorato Boakgomo-Ntakhwana highlighted that financial institutions should safeguard and build the security and integrity of Botswana's financial system:

'Botswana's financial institutions have fully supported the call to combat fraud by engaging in activities such as creating awareness, training staff to identify suspicious transactions and inter-sharing best practices with local as well as international law Enforcement Agencies,' said Boakgomo-Ntakhwana. These combined efforts; she noted are critical to promoting legitimate economic activity and growth.