Page 58 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES March 2020
P. 58

Banking Industry





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         to increase. Along with the risks, the   Why school cricket?      school cricket can certainly be a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         safety measures too will increase at   Cricket is the nation’s favorite sport.   initiative that Pr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         the same pace, if not faster.    Also taking into consideration the   considering following a discu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           with the cricket board. It would
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          fact that a large portion of the
             The                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         What is your take on             population is young, and notable   encouraging to revise the curre
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           structure into a two-tier model t
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         sustainable banking?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          players like Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           facilitate the participation of f
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza are
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         For any business to remain relevant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           students in the nation’s beloved
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          invariably looked upon as role
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         in today’s shifting landscape,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           sport.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          models, cricket seemed to be the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         sustainability has to be at the core of
             Transformer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 have to position themselves in a                                                                all activities. To be able to do so we   right platform to engage the youth of   Having discussed t
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           innovation and the industrial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          our country.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         have to approach a sustainable
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         manner where they directly reach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           revolution, I’d like to restress
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Additionally, school cricket is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ecosystem. Human beings cannot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         customers and create the demand.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           fact that technology is going to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          definitely the foundation of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         exclude themselves from the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Alongside, they need to repackage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the backbone of everything that w
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          tomorrow's cricket stars of the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         their products and services, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         it and it is our collective duty to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           morning to the moment we go to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         occupy the mind space of the                                                                    ecosystem, because we are a part of   country. Our victory in the ICC   do, starting from waking up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Under-19 Cricket World Cup is a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         population.                                                                                     jointly work towards establishing a   testament to this. Four of the first   sleep. Everything will
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         sustainable ecosystem. As a bank,
                       By Marjiya          Rahel Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO of                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The more we adapt to the use of                                                                 Prime Bank is doing its due diligence   eleven players in the U-19 squad had   technology in some f
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         technology, the less likely that
                   Baktyer Ahmed           Prime Bank, sheds light on the bank’s vision to                                                                                                                                                                              digitization has undoubtedly been   customers will be willing to                                                                 to create this ecosystem – foremost   previously played in Prime Bank’s   From a banking perspectiv
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           going to get more challenging, bu
                                           leverage the positives of the industrial                                                                                                                                                                                     the young population of the country.  physically visit the banks. Also, with   rule.  Fintechs will not replace the              by reducing our reliance on paper.   school cricket tournament, including   is the bankers’ respons
                                           revolution and reaping the benef ts of the                                                                                                                                                                                   Local startups like Pathao have given   the emergence of fintech, this is   significance of banks and vice versa.                Also, we take care to use eco-friendly   Shahadat Hossain who scored a   embrace the change as quic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          triumphant 74 runs against South
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        global players like Uber a run for
                                           demographic dividend; plus Prime Bank’s                                                                                                                                                                                      their money. These startups are   slowly going out of practice. Fintech   Fintechs have enabled a fruitful                       materials in our mementos to     Africa in the Quarter Final. We   possible. Banks have to be more
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         promote green practices. Even, in our
                                           initiatives to facilitate f nancial inclusion of the                                                                                                                                                                         definitely the result of our     offers convenience and technological   amalgamation of technology and                           investments, we look for options   believe we are creating the stars of   adaptive, leverage the st
                                           country’s women.                                                                                                                                                                                                             demographic dividend. With more   advancements to customers. Our   finance by developing the necessary                           where green banking can be       tomorrow’s national cricket team.  technology, and make services a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        facilitation and creation of a   lifestyles revolve around mostly   software and hardware; banks need                            promoted. In all aspects of      For a sustainable growth of the   products more convenient.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        conducive environment by the state,   making payments, and customers   to synergize with fintechs and reap                       sustainable financing mechanisms or   cricket team at the national level,   Convenience is going to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        we will see even more digitization at   nowadays seek to do that through   the benefits. Through collaboration,                  procedures, we are very much     training has to start at the root level.   game-changer, and this
                                             women have been the savers.                                                                                                                                                                                                different levels which will surely   the comfort of their smartphones.   the industry will be able to offer                      aligned with sustainable practices,   This has been proven in countries   technology will play a si
                                             Women today are not only the                                                                                                                                                                                               benefit the young population. My   Fintech platforms have facilitated   further convenience and benefits to                                                       like India and Australia. In     role. The face of the banking
                                             homemakers, they also make                                                                                                                                                                                                 take is that Bangladesh will embrace   this demand, creating the ecosystem   our clients.                                        and as we move into the future, our   Bangladesh this practice is yet to   industry is changing, it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         engagement will only increase.
                                             significant contributions to the                                                                                                                                                                                           the demographic dividend giving it   which banks need to consider                                                                                                 flourished to its full potential.   significantly changed in the l
                                             economy. Bearing this is mind, it   in the coming years, or                                                                                                                                                                the right direction. The one drawback   themselves a part of. This will enrich   Is digitalization a boon or a                                                    However, following the proud victory   years, and it is going to c
              With dialogue on               is crucial we bring them into the   does it have the                                                                                                                                                                       about having a young population   and expand the ecosystem which will   problem for the banking                                  Prime Bank has been              of our under-19 team, additional   much faster rate in the coming
              gender equality and            financial/banking net. In terms of   possibility of turning                                                                                                                                                                (20s-30s) is that they can be restless.   improve the banking industry as a   industry, especially in the                        promoting school cricket         investment in the infrastructure of   We all have to brace ourselv
              women empowerment              financial inclusion, we cannot   into a demographic                                                                                                                                                                        The responsibility lies with the older   whole. At Prime Bank in our R&D   context of cybersecurity?                             for the last five years, apart    root-level cricket can be considered.   up, and be ready for the f
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         department, we are focused on
                                             forge ahead by excluding the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           have to be proactive rather than
              taking center stage in         women of the country.         liability?                                                                                                                                                                                   generation to channel this       creating channels and options for   Digitization is definitely a beneficial                     from driving major CSR           We have every intention to continue   reactive to make the most of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          this promising association with BCB.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        restlessness through collaboration
              policy level discussions,      As of right now, we don’t     I am very optimistic about the                                                                                                                                                               into fuel for leapfrogging, because   customers which will allow us to   leap into the future, but every rose                    initiatives through the                                           digital phenomenon.
              how important do you           necessarily have a woman      demographic dividend. It is                                                                                                                                                                  the future of the nation depends on   expand on this ecosystem and   comes with thorns, and we need to                           Prime Bank Foundation.           Is this open to both male
              think is financial              banking section at Prime Bank,   definitely going to be the major                                                                                                                                                          it. As I said, I am highly optimistic   participate in it.        be prepared to tackle the challenges                                                            and female students?
                                             but we do have a women
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          head on. Cyber security is a concern
              inclusion of women?            entrepreneur division. We have   force behind the development of                                                                                                                                                           about it and I strongly believe that   With the financial          of the hour, not just for the financial                                                         Currently no. In Bangladesh we have
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        the demographic dividend is going to
                                                                           the country. There’s no denying it.
              What Prime Bank plans          been operating this division   If you look at all the other regions                                                                                                                                                        change the face of the country.  industry riding high on          industry, but for industries facing                                                             not yet explored the full possibilities
              to do to facilitate this?      humbly for some time now.     where the demographic dividend                                                                                                                                                                                                the back of the ever             disruption in the process of                                                                    of opening school cricket to include
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          female students. However, the
              Women empowerment is           However, I am happy to share that   has been the major force, you’ll                                                                                                                                                       What is the banking              expanding fintech                 digitization. In the age of                                                                     success of the nation’s women
              extremely important because if we   we plan to introduce a full-fledged   see that they have all benefited                                                                                                                                                industry doing to adopt                                           digitization, a popular debate is the                                                           cricket team cannot be overlooked.
              look at the demography, obviously   women banking section within the   from it. Perhaps the youth                                                                                                                                                                                          innovations, does Prime          notion that machines will take over                                                             The inclusion of female students in
              the female population constitutes   next few months with the   unemployment rate has prompted                                                                                                                                                             the 4IR?                         Bank consider it a               human kind. I personally don’t agree,
              a very large chunk of it. When we   intention to bring women from   critics to say that we can incur a                                                                                                                                                    The Fourth Industrial Revolution   competition, or does it see    because you need a human to
              are talking about banking, saving   every sphere of the society within   demographic liability. However,                                                                                                                                                  means that technology is going to                                 operate a machine. The machine can
              is one of the major factors of   the banking net.            it’s the state’s responsibility to                                                                                                                                                           take over operations pertaining to   scope of collaboration       only process data faster than the
              impediment. The women in the                                 facilitate the employment                                                                                                                                                                    our economy. As we shift towards a   with fintech in the coming    human brain, but it cannot decide
              family, especially mothers have   From the banking           infrastructure. Our country has                                                                                                                                                              tech-based economy, we as a society   years for greater growth?   the course of action. I reiterate, cyber
              been the prime savers for ages.   industry perspective, is   been evolving steadily;                                                                                                                                                                      need to embrace it. The banking   The banking industry cannot forgo   security is definitely a growing
              The fathers and the children are   Bangladesh set to         Bangladesh has been marching                                                                                                                                                                 industry is no exception, and the   the contributions of fintechs and   concern and we need to safeguard
              mostly spenders. From an                                     towards a digital infrastructure                                                                                                                                                             sector has been undergoing its own   refuse collaboration with them   ourselves to the best of our abilities.
              organizational point of view, men   embrace the              for the last 10-12 years. The                                                                                                                                                                evolution. Banking can now be    insisting fintechs are competitors.   The more science and technology are
              have been the cost centers and   demographic dividend        beneficiary of this rapid                                                                                                                                                                    considered an FMCG business; banks   Prime Bank is no exception to this   going to advance, the threat is going
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