Page 42 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES January 2020
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To cater to this        time for the reputed &          agents like banks and NGOs to                         How will this benefit the       online platforms. To cater to this
                       special segment, we           weel-managed companies.         sell insurance i.e. Bancassurance.                    banked population?              special segment, we have launched
                                                                                                                                                                           the first Life Insurance App of
                        have launched the            However for the rest, it usually   Our current regulatory board,                      Whenever a family loses a member   Bangladesh, namely EasyLife.
                                                                                     Insurance Development &
                                                     takes much longer to get
                                                                                                                                           who earns an income that goes
                       first Life Insurance           disbursed. It is mainly because the   Regulatory Authority Bangladesh                 towards supporting the family, it   Primarily, we started off with a
                       App of Bangladesh,            money was diverted in different   (IDRA), along with Bangladesh                       affects them negatively, insurance   term life insurance product and
                                                                                                                                                                           then introduced monthly savings
                          namely EasyLife.           units, and the cash flow was not   Bank, are seriously considering it.                works as a safety net in this   plan with profit. We are the
                                                                                     We are expecting the channel to
                                                     appropriately maintained.
                     Primarily, we started           The other issue is the customers’   come up sometime within next                      scenario. Likewise, if this member   pioneers of Digital Life Insurance
                                                                                                                                           becomes unable to support the
                        o  with a term life          lack of knowledge about finances   year. We are also hoping for some                  family due to disability, the   in Bangladesh. EasyLife is a suite
                         insurance product           and the industry as a whole.    policy changes by the government                      insurance company steps up to   of pull products aimed at sharing
                                                                                                                                                                           knowledge and inspiring
                                                                                     to promote insur-tech. There
                      and then introduced            Generally, people tend to compare   needs to be some regulatory                       provide the financial support   customers to buy our products.
                                                     insurance companies with banks,
                                                                                                                                           instead. Insurance benefits ensure
                    monthly savings plan             although philosophy is different   changes to make the process more                   social safety. It is the most virtual   Globally, insur-tech is going to
                   with profit. We are the            between the two. We have to     efficient.                                            strength of insurance, to bring   play a vital role in the next five
                                                                                                                                                                           years. We are preparing ourselves
                        pioneers of Digital          inform the customers of the     Currently, upon policy purchase,                      social stability and enable smooth   to cope up with what is happening
                                                                                     we need to send the documents
                                                     difference, such as when investing
                                                                                                                                           growth of the society.
                          Life Insurance in          money in insurance, they cannot   back to the customer to get a wet                                                   on the other side of the world. If
                                 Bangladesh.         withdraw from it whenever they   signature, this process is very                                                      we don’t upgrade ourselves and
                                                     want. Instead, it is a long term   inefficient. We also have to affix                 How do you see digital          keep us updated, then someone
                                                     investment for their future; but   BIMA stamp on the policy                           application changing the        else will come and capture this   discounts on medical bills.
                                                     usually, customers surrender their   documents. The documents are                     insurance landscape in the      market. So we are preparing     Customer centricity is also of
                                                     policy prematurely, resulting in   available online, but the entire                   coming years? How will          ourselves, and via this digital   paramount importance for
                                                     them not getting their full money   process is not 100% digital yet.                  consumers benefit from it,      platform, we are using our      Guardian Life. We launched the
                                                     back. To change this practice, we   Also, the KYC that has been                       recently you have               knowledge to take us forward.   first 24 X 7 call center in the
                                                     are encouraging the government   issued by the central bank is very                   inaugurated an app for                                          industry back in 2018 and still
                                                     bodies to include a subject or   complicated, which discourages                       your consumers, could you       What do you think about         now we are the only one in the
                                                     paper on financial knowledge in   customers. Consequently, people                     share some information          the future of health            whole industry. Our call center
 Having spent close to   Doing something outstanding   the idea of insurance?  two or three more companies got   the national curriculum. The aim   usually get frustrated and give   about that?  insurance for our country?  short code is 16622. When the
 three decades in the   and challenging the status quo   Looking back at how the   approval who had the intention to   is to create a way to educate   up. So, we are encouraging the   When I joined Guardian Life, we   We need health insurance. I am   doctor advises a medical
 sector, you are a veteran   is not easy and I was at a   insurance industry has evolved, it   create quality executives. Before   people on various investment   government to introduce eKYC.   looked into the opportunities and   stating this from my professional   treatment, the policyholder can go
 of the industry, when did   certain plateau of my career   becomes clear that we have not   they could realize that intention,   alternatives, not only in insurance   The operation will have the same   strengths that would take the   and personal perspective. People   to any of the enlisted hospitals
 you join Guardian, was   where I really wanted to dream   been able to bring much change   12 other companies came into the   companies but also in banks. The   user-friendly feature as BKash,   company forward. We focus mostly   do not necessarily anticipate and   and call our call center for smooth
 that a new leaf in your   big. When Guardian Life   to people’s minds in terms of   market in 2000 which resulted in   idea is to make people understand   enabling people to buy a policy   on corporate business and   prepare for sudden medical needs.   admission and processing. With
 career, did you want to do   approached me, they gave me a   service. It was primarily due to   further demand along with   the importance of insurance and   with the swipe of a finger.  microinsurance. Our sponsor BRAC   No budget is set aside to cope with   Guardian Life Health Card, the
 anything differently?  good understanding of their   misconceptions. By 1985, we had   shortfall of talented people.   its role in securing one’s future.  has 4.5 million microcredit   such situations. In reality,   policyholders can get treatment up
 When I joined the insurance   vision with the company. It is a   only one nationalized company   However, 2000 was a turning point   We have already graduated   lenders. When the microcredit   according to statistics, 70% of   to the coverage limit without
 industry back in 1991, I had no   Company sponsored by Apex,   and severe lack of professionals   for this industry, business was   What do you believe is the   from the list of LDCs. How   borrower dies, recovering the   treatment expenses are paid from   paying any cash, Guardian Life
 notion of what I could do to   BRAC and Square Group, who   in the industry. By the nineties,   good, although the potential   most crucial challenge the   crucial would be the role of   money becomes a challenge for the   out-of-pocket expense in   provides that guarantee of
 contribute to it, and how long I   have a very long track record of   market was much bigger.   insurance sector is facing?  financial inclusion for our   NGOs. It also becomes very   Bangladesh. The other 30% comes   payment to hospitals on behalf of
 would sustain here. Through   their commitment and ethical   Insurance is a long term business,   Currently the major channel of   country?  difficult for the family of the   from insurance facilities provided   the policyholder.
 the guidance of my mentors, I   business practice in   and the premium we collect is a   distributing insurance is via   Regarding financial inclusion,   deceased to continue with their   by multination companies or the
 began to understand that this is   Bangladesh. They also conveyed   liability. The money belongs to the   agents & agencies. Insurance is   currently, around 45-50% of the   livelihood. We formed a joint   government. So, there is a vast   What is your vision with
 a very vital industry for   that they aim to brand Guardian   people, not the company, so it   not a consumer good, it is a   population has got banking   committee with BRAC to get a   market for health insurance. We   Guardian?
 sustainable development of the   Life as one of the trusted life   must be used judicially to meet   service that usually needs a bit of   access. Insurance companies   better understanding of their   are a life insurance company, but   The vision of Guardian is to be
 economy, and also to bring   insurance company operated via   future commitments. Eventually,   persuasion. We use our field force,   cover people both banked &   needs and to develop a plan. With   we also offer health insurance as a   number 1. We believe and follow
 social safety at large. To get a   ethical practice. I soon realized   the money has to reach the   agents who have been trained to   unbanked. People outside the   Guardian-BRAC Bima Project, we   supplementary product, selling it   our theme, “Insurance for all”.
 better understanding of the   that this is the opportunity for   policyholders.  recognize prospective customers.   banking system show more   have covered more than one crore   to corporates and individuals.   Earning reliability &
 industry, I devoted myself to   me to materialize my dream,   A problem we face is peoples’   After making appointments, they   interest in insurance products   lives, annually we are settling up   Currently, around 300000 lives are   trustworthiness is pivotal not only
 expanding my knowledge and   which was a major factor for   misconception of insurance   convey the benefits of the product   and want to open an account and   to 22000 claims. It has been a   covered by our health insurance.   for Guardian Life but also for the
 focused on delivering service   consideration while joining   companies not being managed   adequately, analyze all the   make regular deposits. Most of   massive achievement for Guardian   We settle about 32000 claims   industry as a whole, we aspire to
 that customers expect from this   Guardian Life.  well. I often hear complaints from   information, and eventually sell   them are micro-insurance or rural   Life, we are now the largest   annually amounting to a sum of   be the flagbearer of that
 industry. By the time I joined   customers that they are not getting   the product. In recent times, due to   insurance, which is now the main   insurer in terms of lives covered   24 crore taka.       revolution. We see a bright future
 GLIL, I had accumulated two   Throughout your   their money back at maturity. At a   time constraints, it isn't   focus of insurance companies.   and in terms of beneficiaries.  Currently, we have over 300   where Guardian Life plays a lead
 and a half decades of   experience, how do you   bank, when the FDR gets matured,   straightforward to set up   The unbanked population is the   As for the younger generations,   hospitals enlisted with us, the   role in bringing about changes to
 experience. My aspiration has   think the sector has   customers get the cashback on the   appointments with clients as they   major focus area now. As a result,   i.e. those who are 25-35 years old,   people who are covered with us   the insurance industry by
 always been to deliver the best   evolved, and do you   same day or the following day. In   have become very busy. As a   the bank and the insurance   ideally the digitally active   under health insurance, can get a   generating a positive mindset and
 customer service, which became   believe that our   the insurance industry too, the   solution, we are advocating the   companies are complementing   population; we are conveying the   wide array of services from these   credibility regarding life insurance
 a challenge at some point.   consumers match up to   fund disbursement takes very less   government to permit corporate   each other for financial inclusion.  insurance knowledge to them via   hospitals and avail exclusive   amidst the greater population.


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