Banker S.A. January 2014 | Page 49

MEMBER BANKS Introducing Banking Association Member Standard Bank Q&A Who owns the bank? Standard Bank is a publicly listed company, trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Namibian Stock Exchange. Core business: The Bank is a leading African financial services group, with its head quarters in Johannesburg. It also operates in 20 other African countries. The Bank’s three main pillars of business are Personal and Business Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth Management through Liberty Holdings Limited. Target market: Standard Bank provides a full spectrum of banking, insurance and management services and serves corporate and individual customers. Core values or differentiators: The Bank’s key differentiator is employing people who are passionate in developing the company as a leading African financial services institution. It also employs people who are excited about Africa and its prospects. Standard Bank has a unified, experienced leadership team, that is committed to executing its strategy. It is committed to contributing to the socioeconomic development of the countries in which it operates, in a way that is consistent with the nature and size of its operations. The Bank provides financial services and products responsibly, bearing in mind the needs of society, its customers, its staff, its shareholders, the environment and future generations. Is there a key product or initiative you wish to highlight? The Bank is backing projects worth R10-billion as part of South Africa’s third round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. It underwrote R9.4-billion for wind and solar projects in the first round, and a further R6.4-billion during the second round. These commitments support individual projects and companies that are creating renewable energy assets in South Africa. International links: The world’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is a 20% shareholder in the Standard Bank Group. This strategic partnership with ICBC provides the Bank with exceptional opportunities to capitalise on the growing business, finance and trade flows between Africa and China. Name/s of the CEO and/or Chair: Standard Bank Group is run by joint chief executives, Sim Tshabalala and Ben Kruger. CSI at Standard Bank: The Bank believes that education is a critical area in which the bank can make a positive contribution to economic growth and job creation in South Africa. Our CSI programmes include bursaries for disadvantaged students at high school and tertiary level. JOINT CEO PROFILES BEN KRUGER Ben Kruger is the incoming joint group chief executive of Standard Bank Group (SBG), and an executive director of SBG and Standard Bank SA (SBSA). He is chairman of Standard Bank Plc, and a director of Stanbic IBTC Bank and Stanbic Africa Holdings. Kruger joined the group in 1985. SIM TSHABALALA Sim Tshabalala is the incoming joint group chief executive of SBG, current chief executive of SBSA, an executive director of SBG and SBSA, a director of Tutuwa Community Holdings and the chairman of The Banking Association South Africa. Tshabalala joined the group in 2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT STANDARD BANK ON Tel: +27 11 636 9111 or visit www.standardbank.co.za, Standard Bank Head Office: 5 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg, 2001 Edition 8 member bank Standard1.indd 3 BANKER SA 47 2013/12/19 3:33 PM